Agatha Houndsler, Rosamond Burkes throw wrenches into Sam Baskingwood's reelection plans

DANAECKE, Ans. -- Troubling news has emerged this week for the campaign of Ansleigha Gov. Sam Baskingwood, who is seeking reelection this fall.

First, oil tycoon and political firebrand Rosamond Burkes announced her candidacy governor.

After roiling the 2020 governor's race, Burkes initially said she would sit out the 2024 election.

But the unpredictable businesswoman changed her mind, and announced earlier this week that she will seek the governorship again this year.

Burkes' candidacy poses a major challenge for Baskingwood, who was hoping Burkes would stay out of the race.

Polls show Baskingwood leading all of his NAT opponents in head-to-head match-ups.

But with Burkes in the scenario as a third-party candidate, Baskingwood's lead diminishes.

For example, Baskingwood has a decent 53%-45% lead over oil businessman Pete Coble (N-Hawkinson).

Baskingwood holds a 55%-43% lead over art teacher and yoga instructor Agatha Houndsler (N-Danaecke).

And against state Sen. Paul Biddington (N-Churchtown), Baskingwood leads 58%-41%, respectively.

But those polls omit Burkes.

With Burkes in the mix, Baskingwood's lead evaporates.

He earns 36.7% to Coble's 33.9% and Burkes' 27.4%, respectively.

In a three-way race with Biddington and Burkes, Baskingwood receives 37.9% to Biddington's 35.3% and Burkes' 25.6%, respectively.

But in a hypothetical race with Houndsler and Burkes, Baskingwood falls out of first place.

The poll shows Houndsler leading with an astonishing 41.3% to Baskingwood's 34.1% and Burkes' 24.1%, respectively.

All the polling was conducted by the Grantham Institute, a nonpartisan polling firm and advocacy group.

The polls paint a grim picture for Sam Baskingwood.

What would ordinarily be an easy march to reelection has turned into an unpredictable three-way race.

The situation is particularly concerning for Baskingwood if Houndsler wins the NAT's primary election, which is scheduled for May 28.

Houndsler, 66, a self-proclaimed "hippie," has risen from political obscurity to frontrunner status.

With a Bachelor's degree in art and a Master's degree in psychology, Houndsler is well-received by Ansleigha's highly-educated electorate.

She polls particularly well in places like Murray County, home to the progressive St. Mary's University, and Tidewell County, home to the University of Ansleigha.

While Houndsler scores well among Ansleigha's educated voters, she fares poorly in blue-collar communities, such as Ebendale and Port Aitken.

Still, many Nationalists are looking to Houndsler as a potential "hero in waiting." They're pinning their hopes on the first-time candidate, hoping she can claim the governorship for the party for the first time since statehood.

Party leaders are increasingly concerned Paul Biddington, who is known for his scorched-earth politics, is too abrasive. 

The other three NAT gubernatorial candidates -- businessman Pete Coble, epidemiologist Bill Seiffert of Gilliam, and former minister and state Sen. Chuck Yore of Rhodes County, are not well-known and have little outside funding.

Thus, Houndsler is increasingly seen as the party's savior: a capable candidate who can rally all factions of the party, raise large sums of money, and possibly wrest the governorship from a popular Conservative incumbent.

As her profile and political stature grows, her NAT opponents are shooting, figuratively, more arrows at Houndsler.

"It's easy to be popular when you don't take a firm stand on any issues and when you don't hold firm to NAT values," Biddington told reporters at a campaign stop in Cordeyon, Thursday, speaking of Houndsler.

Pete Coble, who is known for his centrist views, fears Houndsler's educated background and left-wing politics will turn off blue-collar voters.

"I'm sure a lot of progressive voters who have Masters degrees will love Agatha Houndsler," said Coble. "But what about the mechanic who just has a high school diploma? Or the small businessman or woman who just has an Associates degree? Or the single mom who had to drop out of high school? Can Agatha Houndsler identify with those people? Can she earn their support?" he asked reporters last week.

"You can't win an election just by winning over college-educated voters. They only amount for a small portion of the population, even in Ansleigha, which is one of the most-educated states in the country."

As for Houndsler and her surrogates, they say her education does not preclude her from empathizing and identifying with less-educated voters.

"Yes, Agatha Houndsler is well-educated. But she's more than a college instructor. She's a mother. She's a grandmother. She's a mentor. She's a cancer survivor. She's so much more than the diplomas hanging on her office wall," said spokeswoman Stephanie Snider.

As she fights to tone down her ivy league image, Houndsler is also coming under increasing attack from the Baskingwood campaign.

"Agatha Houndsler is a nice person. But Ansleighans don't want a radical hippie in the governor's mansion. They want a sensible, stable leader, who governs with a steady hand and doesn't cave to extremism," said Austin Denneck, a spokesperson for the Baskingwood campaign.

The Houndsler campaign responded, saying "Sam Baskingwood should be afraid of Agatha Houndsler."

"Agatha is a tough woman leader, who has fought for her students, her family, and her community. Now she is ready to fight for all Ansleighans. To fight for a compassionate government that believes in people instead of taking away their rights. She's ready to create a government that empowers people, that makes society more equal, that protects people from gun violence and climate change, and that elevates women and minorities."

Rosamond Burkes has also targeted Houndsler.

The colorful businesswoman, who is known for her controversial comments, has been using a new nickname for Houndsler, calling the frontrunner "Hagatha."

"'Hagatha' Houndsler is another failed liberal candidate who is highly educated but not very bright," Burkes said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, last week.

Burkes excoriated Houndsler for her proposed tax increases to pay for treatment for homeless addicts. And she took issue with Houndsler's "incredibly stupid" climate change tax plan, which would raise taxes significantly to combat carbon emissions.

In response, the Houndsler campaign called Rosamond Burkes "unhinged" and said she "represents the very worst of far-right politics."

Senate overwhelmingly confirms Leandra Kemmes as transportation secretary

MAVOCKE -- After months of entreaties from President Jim McCaren, his longtime friend and political ally Leandra Kemmes has been confirmed as McCaren's transportation secretary.

Kemmes previously served in the Menuhaeo administration as an under-secretary of transportation. She then was elected governor of Armana, a position she held until a few weeks ago, when she resigned to pursue the transportation secretary post.

On Friday, the senate voted 87-9 to confirm Kemmes. All nine dissenting senators were hardline Conservatives, who primarily took issue with Kemmes' policies on electric vehicles and public transport.

Her confirmation was a breeze for the McCaren administration, which is seeking to maintain the president's healthy approval rating, last measured at 54%, according to the Grassadellia City Times newspaper.

McCaren lobbied Kemmes for months, according to aides close to both the president and former Armana governor. Kemmes had previously been courted by the McCaren administration for other cabinet-level positions, but she had always declined them.

With her gubernatorial term winding down, however, Kemmes decided to accept the offer.

In addition to serving as transportation secretary, she will also serve as a senior advisor to McCaren on public safety and veterans issues. Kemmes is a veteran of the navy.

Her resignation as governor comes at the end of her term, which was set to expire in January 2025. She had mulled running for an historic third term, but decided against it, telling reporters back in February that it was "time for fresh blood" in the governor's mansion.

Upon Kemmes' resignation as governor, Armana's Lt. Gov. Ed Stanton (N) took over as governor.

Stanton is eligible to run for a full term in the fall election, but announced he will not seek the governorship in November, and will instead only fill the role until a permanent successor is elected.

That means there is a wide-open contest for governor in both parties.

For Nationalists, who hold an edge in the NAT-leaning state, Attorney General Rochelle Gotby, Secretary of State Mark Duggan and Marchande Mayor Tom Mallowrey are the three leading candidates.

Former Treasure Secretary Jay Goodling is also running as a Nationalist.

On the Conservative side, businessman Eric Malvron was the first to enter the race. However, former appointed Gov. Dale Fulbright is considering running for his old position. Fulbright was never elected to the governorship, but was instead appointed by the state legislature. He is considering running for the position this time.

Other Conservative candidates include 2020 Conservative nominee Bob Hefner, who lost to Kemmes in that race.

Otter Creek Mayor Tom Ungerhart is also running.

Former CNS gubernatorial nominee Dave Charm, who unsuccessfully challenged Kemmes in 2016, is also considering running again, sources close to him say.

Because of Armana's strong NAT lean, Nationalists are certain to have an advantage in the fall governor's election. However, moderate Conservatives, such as Sen. Chuck Danbury and former Sen. Dana Glow, have had success.

Thus, Conservatives see an opening and a potential pick-up opportunity in the Coalwood State.

Dr. Kerry Rudgley, from Dulkalow University, currently rates the race as "Leans NAT."

Tom Muddleford clings to narrow lead in N. Ceona NAT gubernatorial contest

MENZIE SPRINGS, N. Ceona -- The crowded race for the NAT nomination in North Ceona's governor's race is remaining a deadlock, a new poll finds.

State Senate Minority Leader Tom Muddleford, who represents the southeast suburbs of Parkins, remains in a tenuous first place, garnering 16.75% of NAT voters' support in a recent University of North Ceona poll.

Normally, a candidate only receiving not quite 17% would not be worth celebrating. But in North Ceona's crowded NAT primary, there are eight candidates, and Muddleford's 16.75% support is more than any of his seven competitors.

Close behind Muddleford is Lexerna businessman John Thurgood, with 16.44 percent. 

Rounding out the top three is Forward Industries CEO Susie Forszak, who has 13.68 percent support.

Arab-Grassadellian activist Sajid Roushan receives 12.88% support, according to the poll. Lexerna lawyer Blair Elliott receives 11.45%, while south Parkins state Sen. Katie Pollock receives 11.14%, respectively.

The final two candidates, state Sen. Lisa Campion of Cape Goodwin, and state Sen. Tom Denton of central Parkins, receive less than nine percent -- Campion clocks in at 8.91% and Denton with 8.74 percent, respectively.

The poll shows the race for the NAT nomination is still anyone's for the taking. Muddleford has held on to a minuscule lead, and he remains the favorite. But with less than 17% support, and several opponents in striking distance, it's very possible another candidate could leap-frog into first place.

The expansive breadth of candidates was an issue that was debated heavily during the opening minutes of Friday night's debate in Cherry Valley at North Ceona State University.

Muddleford called on the four lowest-polling candidates -- Denton, Campion, Pollock and Elliott -- to drop out.

"We have to be unified if we're going to win this election in November. And we can't be unified when we have everybody and their brother running for governor," said Muddleford.

Thurgood made a similar entreaty.

"At some point, you have to look at the polling data, you have to look at the fundraising numbers, and you have to ask yourself, is this a viable race for me? Is this a race I can win?," said Thurgood.

But the bottom-four candidates declined to exit the race.

State Sen. Tom Denton, the lowest-polling candidate, pointed out that he was the first candidate in the race. 

"I was the very first person on this stage to stand up and say, 'I am willing to take on Ty Jaimeson and represent our party.' I was the first person on this stage to go down to the county elections office and submit my paperwork. I was the first person to get enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. So why should I drop out when I started his race longer ago than anyone else?," said an annoyed Denton.

Lisa Campion, the state senator from Cape Goodwin, pointed out that despite her low polling numbers, she received the coveted endorsement from EMILY'S List, a leading pro-choice left-wing interest group that fights for women's reproductive rights.

Campion also pointed out that "the race is in flux," and "a lot can change before May," when North Ceona holds its primary election.

Blair Elliott, the lawyer from Lexerna, said "all of us are in this race to win," and he applauded the group's passion.

"But ultimately, it will be the NAT voters of North Ceona who have the final say, and that's the way it should be," Elliott said, to applause from the crowd.

Besides electability, the group also debated important topics of statewide significance, including jobs and taxes, homelessness, hate crimes against LGBTQ+ and Muslim North Ceonans, education spending, environmentalism, and the possibility of increasing tolling on state highways.

On taxes and jobs, all candidates said they want to bring better-paying jobs to North Ceona. Only three, Muddleford, Roushan and Pollock, said they would support a $15 minimum wage state-wide.

All eight candidates called for more funding and treatment for homelessness. Susie Forszak was the most critical of current policies, saying increased funding, housing and treatment alone won't fix the problem. 

"If throwing money at the problem was the solution, we would have solved this problem a long time ago," said the first-time candidate for public office. "This is a complex problem that is going to require more than just extra money and beds to fix."

On hate crimes, Muddleford lauded his own efforts to pass hate crimes legislation in the state senate. 

"Because of my leadership, along with the leadership of my NAT colleagues, we have hate crimes legislation today in this state. If we left it up to the Conservatives, there would be no such thing," he said.

Still, the state "has a long way to go" to ensure all North Ceonans have equality and equity, Muddleford said.

Katie Pollock and Sajid Roushan took issue with Muddleford's characterization.

"When we have LGTBQ+ folks being attacked on the street, when we have mosques being attacked with hateful and threatening graffiti, and these are repeat crimes, I think we still have much more to do to make sure our state is a safe and welcoming place for all minority North Ceonans," said Pollock.

Roushan, who is Muslim, spoke poignantly of receiving death threats and even having an incendiary explosive device placed on his personal vehicle.

"Someone tried to kill me with a bomb. And that person was arrested and prosecuted. But I have to tell you, the prosecution and arrest didn't happen easily. It didn't happen automatically. It took a lot of outrage and anger and constant reminding of the authorities before any arrest was made. And that's unacceptable," said Roushan.

The group was unanimous in its support for increased education spending. And on the environment, all eight candidates said they want to increase conservation, reduce the state's carbon footprint, and give subsidies and tax incentives to green companies and businesses that reduce their carbon share.

On the issue of tolls, all eight said they were open to the idea of new tolls on state highways to help pay for new roads, environmental mitigation from new roads projects, and alternative public transportation.

"We live in a big state, geographically. People rely on cars to get around. We need to properly fund public transportation so that people can ride the train or ride the bus and still get to where they need to go in a reasonable amount of time," said Katie Pollock.

Her transportation plan has called for millions in new spending on light rail extension and smart bus operations.

Roushan also has a grandiose public transport proposal, calling for over $1 billion in new public transport spending.

The other candidates were generally supportive of public transportation, but called for less new spending.

"I think the first thing we need to do is do an audit of our transportation system in this state. Find out which roads are in most need of repair, which roads are used the most and have the most traffic, find out where smart busses and light rail make sense, and maybe in some areas, they don't make sense. Let's take inventory first before we start shoving money out the door," said Susie Forszak.

At the end of the debate, all eight candidates agreed that more needs to be done to bring North Ceonans together and to unite both sides of the state.

"We are living in a time where the eastern half of North Ceona is completely cut off and completely doing its own thing from the western half of the state," said John Thurgood. "It's not cutoff transportation-wise, we have freeways and railways that connect our state. But culturally, we are divided. People in eastern North Ceona have different priorities than folks in western North Ceona. And for years, people have only cared about what's happening in their own backyard. But we are one state, and we need to care about not only what's happening in our county or in our zip code, but also what's happening in the rest of our state. Because what happens up in the mountains of Charles County affects folks in Rexdrey County, and Levander County, and Lewis County, and Alapeo County. What happens anywhere in North Ceona territory affects the rest of us too. And we need to start understanding that and taking more of a concern for our neighbors as well as ourselves," said Thurgood.

His comments were echoed by the other seven candidates, and all were met with strong applause from the crowd.

The North Ceona NAT Primary Election is scheduled for May 14.

Dick Trau to challenge Diane Coke in comeback senate bid

LARCHMONT, POG -- Former POG Sen. Dick Trau (C) will seek to return to his old job this fall, sources close to the former senator say.

Trau is planning to run against his former colleague, Nationalist incumbent Sen. Diane Coke, who is seeking re-election this year.

Trau narrowly lost re-election to Nationalist Jim Mahenas back in 2022 by a margin of 48%-50%, respectively.

Now, sources close to Trau, who asked not to be named because they were asked not to speak to the media, tell GNN that Trau is expected to announce his plans to challenge Coke next week.

Trau's decision to challenge the incumbent Coke is interesting, especially considering fellow POG Sen. George Mercott is retiring this year, leaving his seat vacant.

Sources close to Trau say he believes he has a better chance of defeating Coke, who is controversial and one of the least bipartisan senators in the chamber, rather than run against an unknown NAT opponent in the race for Mercott's empty seat.

"Diane Coke will be much easier to beat. She's hyper-liberal, she's hyper-bitchy, she's hyper-unlikable. Dick Trau stands a strong chance of ousting her in November," said one source, who spoke exclusively with GNN, and who asked for anonymity to protect their relationship with Trau.

While the affable and moderate Trau may have a strong chance against Coke in the fall election, he will first have to navigate the CNS primary race.

Hardline Conservatives are not exactly thrilled with Trau, whom they feel is too compromising and moderate.

Contrary to Coke, Trau was ranked as one of the most bipartisan senators during his tenure.

He is known to frequently cross the aisle and work with Nationalists, something his supporters say is an asset.

"Dick is a Conservative, and he has strong Conservative credentials. But he also knows how to work with the other side and negotiate. He knows how to get things done. He can work with Nationalists. He always puts politics second and the good of POG and the country first," Derrin Taylor, a former aide to Trau, told the Lansdale Focus newspaper in a recent interview.

So far, besides Trau, there are no major Conservative candidates running for the chance to take on Coke. However, it's likely a more far-right candidate could emerge to challenge Trau for the CNS senate nomination.

Coke, who was first elected in 2012, is seeking her third term. She is currently the sole woman in POG's senate delegation.

A fierce advocate for women -- and a steadfast critic of Conservatives -- Coke is beloved by left-wing voters and activists.

Unsurprisingly, she is detested by many Conservatives. One CNS colleague recently described her as "toxic."

Coke has declined to apologize for offending Conservatives.

"If standing up to corporate money, and fighting for fair housing, and women's reproductive health, and accessible education and health care for all Grassadellians makes me 'toxic,' then I will happily wear that title," Coke told Grassadellian Public Radio (GPR) last month, in response to criticism from Conservatives.

Coke's campaign projected confidence in an email to GNN.

"Senator Coke is a committed advocate for POG. She has fought for fairness in employment, fair housing, health care and education for our poorest residents. She's fought for sensible climate change legislation. She's fought against needless wars and insane gun policies that let violent criminals terrorize our shopping malls and schools. On issue after issue, Diane Coke is a champion for the people of POG. Her policies are right in line with the average POGer, and there is no doubt Diane Coke will be returned to the senate by voters this fall," said Meredith Sierran, a campaign spokesperson, in an email.

Conservatives, however, are optimistic Coke can be defeated. Her divisive nature will be juxtaposed against Trau's amiable personality and diplomatic tendency, say Trau supporters.

On top of that, Coke is a close associate of Senate Majority Leader Debbie Madronas, who is a perennial scapegoat and villain in Conservative circles.

The Trau campaign plans to tie Coke with Madronas at every turn, surrogates of Trau say.

"Diane Coke is on record saying Debbie Madronas is a 'dear friend' of hers. We will remind voters of just how close they are every chance we get," said Damian Simon, an advisor to Trau, and a likely campaign staff member.

It's unclear, though, if voters will opt to send Trau back to the senate. In 2022, the docile Trau lost to another combative opponent, then-Assemblyman Jim Mahenas. 

In that race, Trau was criticized on both the left and right for being an "establishment" figure that had gotten too comfortable Mavocke's elite social circles.

Trau was seen as out-of-touch with regular POGers.

He'll have to work to overcome that perception this time.

National Conservatives are looking to the race too, as the CNS seeks to obtain a majority in the federal senate for the first time in a decade.

Currently, Nationalists hold a 54-42 majority. Conservatives will need to pick up seven seats in November to flip the chamber, a tall order.

Kerenbury leads fellow Conservatives in Harlyne governor's primary race

HARLYNEE, Harlyne -- Moderate former assemblyman Frank Kerenbury leads his Conservative rivals in the state's gubernatorial primary, a new poll finds.

The poll, conducted by the University of Harlyne--Ashford's Landing (UHAL) found Kerenbury, (pronounced "Karen-bury"), in the lead with 34 percent. 

Businessman and 2020 nominee Tom Marelo was next with 28 percent, followed by former attorney general Julia Giorchani with 23 percent, and Assemblyman Steve Frenitch from eastern Harlyne with 15 percent, respectively. 

H-Tel CEO Rich Tuller previously announced a run for governor, but dropped out of the race last week, so the poll did not include him. 

Tuller is instead seeking the state's lieutenant governorship. He's unopposed on the CNS side, as of now.

The poll was conducted in mid-February and surveyed 480 likely Conservative voters.

Previous polling shows in a hypothetical general election match-up, Kerenbury would tie or narrowly beat incumbent NAT Gov. Kate Morelda.

However, the moderate former assemblyman from the state's southwest has had trouble winning over Harlyne's more hardline Conservative voters, who view Kerenbury as too centrist and compromising.

The new poll results come as the four remaining Conservative candidates are set to square off at a debate in Henotia tonight.

Taking center stage in the debate will be a plethora of issues important to CNS voters, including taxes, gun rights, education, and most notably, the recent loss of federal Sen. Dick Ammons, who resigned his seat due to terminal cancer.

Gov. Kate Morelda (N) ignited a Conservative outcry when she appointed Nationalist Lei Chan to fill Ammons' vacant seat earlier this month. All four CNS candidates for governor have sharply criticized Morelda for the overtly partisan move.

The debate is set to start at 6:30 PM at the Emporium Theater in east Henotia. It will be moderated by journalists from around the state. 

Morelda wanted next senator to be a woman and minority

ASHFORDS LANDING, Harlyne -- After longtime federal Sen. Dick Ammons stepped down due to health reasons, Harlyne Gov. Kate Morelda knew she'd have big shoes to fill as she set out on appointing Ammons' replacement.

In deciding who to pick to succeed Ammons, Morelda specifically wanted a woman. Even better, a woman of color.

"Harlyne has only had white senators ever since statehood. And all except one senator have been men. So it was important to me that I pick someone who is not only a woman but preferably a woman of color. Someone who knows what it's like to be a minority, to struggle, to not be heard or seen in a room full of white men. And I knew Lei Chan was the right person, who understands the struggle that women and minorities face. And not only that, she is exceptionally qualified," said Morelda in a recent TV interview with WAFL-4 TV in Ashford's Landing.

Her decision to exclusively seek out a woman of color to fill the seat is upsetting to Conservatives, who have been vocal in their criticism.

"This governor didn't appoint the best person for the job. She didn't appoint the most-qualified person for the job. She appointed a liberal ally of her's who checks all the ethnic and gender boxes that she wanted," said Tom Marelo, a businessman who is running for governor as a Conservative.

Marelo previously ran unsuccessfully against Morelda in 2020.

"This was a diversity pick. Plain and simple. And not only that, it was a political pick. The governor chose someone from her own party instead of honoring the will of the voters and picking another Conservative to fill Dick Ammons' seat," added Marelo.

Morelda doesn't see it that way. The governor insisted her pick of Chan was not solely because of Chan's race or gender. 

"She [Chan] is uniquely qualified to serve as a federal senator," said Morelda. "It's just a bonus that she also happens to be a woman of color who understands the need for and the value of diversity and inclusion."

As for choosing a Nationalist over a Conservative for the previously Conservative-held seat, Morelda didn't dispute her choice of Chan was political.

"Every time a governor appoints someone, from any party, it's political. Every governor is going to and always does appoints someone who is of the same party they belong to, or who is favorable to them and their policies. Governors always appoint someone they agree with or see eye-to-eye with. That's just common sense," said Morelda. "And there's nothing illegal or ethically wrong with choosing someone you agree with. It's the governor's constitutional right and power to appoint senators to fill vacancies, and the governor has the prerogative to choose whomever they feel is best for the job," she added.

"There were many impressive candidates for the job, but I felt Lei Chan was the most-qualified and the best fit for the job, so I chose her. If people have a problem with that, well then, I would say to them that elections have consequences. When I won the governorship back in 2020, one of my jobs and responsibilities was filling a vacancy in our state's senate delegation. And I have fulfilled my constitutional duty. You may not approve of it, but I was the one elected and empowered by the people to do that."

Conservatives have long been critical of Morelda and her emphasis on diversity and inclusion. She has been an avid supporter of LGTBQ+ rights, and has gone to great pains to appoint women and minorities to high-ranking positions in her cabinet and state government.

But while Nationalists are largely thrilled at Chan's selection, some Nationalists are privately upset the governor overlooked them for the job.

In particular, Winsaret Metropolitan Council President Lex Martin (N), who is Chan's former colleague and boss, has privately complained to friends and associates of the governor about Chan's appointment.

Martin is among several fellow Nationalists who believe they should have been appointed instead of Chan.

"It's not that he's upset the governor chose Chan," said a source close to Martin, who asked for privacy because Martin spoke to them in confidence. "Lei Chan is a solid choice, she's a solid liberal, she's an effective liberal leader, she's well-qualified. Lex knows that and approves of her appointment. But it would have been nice to at least be considered for the job instead of automatically dismissed just because he's a white male," the source told the Ashford's Landing Current newspaper.

Former Lt. Gov. Mia Xhi, another liberal Asian-Grassadellian woman, is also reportedly upset she was overlooked for the appointment, according to sources within the state NAT party.

Xhi is also an ally of Morelda, and was hoping to at least be invited to interview with the governor, but that invitation was never extended.

A spokesperson for the governor said Xhi was not seriously considered because she moved to the state of Damoign back in 2018, and would have to move back to Harlyne and establish residency in the state first in order to be eligible to serve.

Several other women in the state NAT's ranks were also overlooked: former Assemblywomen Marin Holsh and Jill LaFraniere, Lt. Gov. Gayle Harmsen, and former Harlynee Mayor Kallain Carney.

Fellow WMC members Anne Pruitt, Christine Branchler and Marta Priscender were also never interviewed for the role, sources close to the governor say.

"It's clear Kate Morelda knew from day one that she was going to appoint the ultra-liberal Lei Chan to the senate seat," said Mark Nadler, state Conservative Party chairman. "She and her staff didn't even do a thorough search or interview process. It was a done-deal weeks ago."

Morelda disputed that characterization, saying she interviewed "multiple" candidates, and that Chan "stood out" from the others.

"Look, are there many great people in the Nationalist Party who would make wonderful senators for our state? Yes, of course there are. But I had to pick one person, and I chose the person who best fit and best fulfilled the role I was seeking to fill. I have no regrets or no second thoughts about appointing Lei Chan. She's exceedingly qualified, she's exceedingly in tune with the needs of Harlynians, and she has the integrity to serve our state and represent our state well. I know that doesn't sit well with some people, but that's just how it is," said Morelda.

"The decision has been made and I stand by it," she added.

Kate Morelda appoints Lei Chan as first Chinese-Grassadellian to federal senate

ASHFORDS LANDING, Harlyne -- In a first for the state of Harlyne, Gov. Kate Morelda (N) has appointed the first minority person to represent the state in the federal senate. 

Morelda chose Lei Chan (N), a longtime, liberal member of the Winsaret Metropolitan Council (WMC), to replace former Sen. Dick Ammons, 84, a moderate Conservative who stepped down from his seat recently due to terminal cancer.

Ammons, who has served in the senate in appointed and elected roles for decades, has been ill for the last two years, but was forced to retire his seat back in January as his health declined rapidly.

The moderate Conservative from Ashford's Landing is reportedly in hospice, according to a family spokesperson.

In her appointment announcement, Morelda expressed condolences to the Ammons family, calling the former senator "an institution" and "a model leader" who frequently crossed the aisle and worked with Nationalists. 

"No one can ever replace the great Dick Ammons, and we won't even try," Morelda said at a press conference announcing Chan's appointment.

"But Lei Chan is a worthy candidate to represent our state in the senate," Morelda said. 

Chan has "proven her willingness to lead time and time again," the governor said. And Chan is "wholly committed to ensuring and championing diversity, inclusion and awareness in the federal senate," the governor added.

During her nearly two-decades on the WMC, Chan, who represented central Bourneham County, arguably the most liberal part of the state, was a fierce defender of women's and LGBTQ+ rights, stood up for minorities and labor unions, and fought for fair housing for low-income residents.

She also championed safe needle sites for people struggling with addiction, and strong environmental laws.

Her appointment to the federal senate means she will become the state's first ever minority senator, as all previous senators have been of European descent.

Chan will also become the second woman to represent Harlyne in the senate, after former Sen. Cybil Ducheffrey (N), and the first Chinese-Grassadellian from any state to serve in the federal senate.

Nationalists control the federal senate, and Chan's appointment gives them an extra seat. The balance of power will now stand at 53 Nationalists, 42 Conservatives and one Democratic-Reformist. 

However, the lone Democratic-Reformist senator, Ayden Benning of New Portsmouth, caucuses with Nationalists. So, effectively, the NAT will hold a 54-42 majority.

Appearing alongside her long-standing ally Morelda, Chan said she was "unspeakably grateful" for the opportunity, and expressed gratitude to the governor.

"Thank you so much for your trust in me. It means so much to me. I will never forget who helped me get to where I am, who helped me along the way, and of course, the wonderful people I represent," said Chan.

While Nationalists praised Chan's appointment, angry Conservatives lashed out at Morelda for appointing a liberal Nationalist to fill a Conservative-held seat.

"The people of Harlyne chose Dick Ammons to be their senator. They elected him. They didn't elect a Nationalist to his seat, they chose him. So it's only logical and reasonable that the governor should appoint another Conservative to fill Senator Ammons' seat," said state Conservative Party Chairman Mark Nadler.

"Instead, Kate Morelda, a failing liberal governor, chose to ignore the will of the voters and appoint another failed liberal to fill the seat of the great Dick Ammons. The voters picked a Conservative, Kate Morelda ignored their will and picked a hardcore liberal. The governor went against the people, and we will remind the voters of this betrayal throughout the rest of the campaign," said Nadler.

In Harlyne, there is no constitutional provision that requires the governor to appoint a replacement senator from the same political party as the senator they are replacing.

The governor is free to appoint anyone from any party or political affiliation to fill a vacancy.

So, the governor didn't violate any laws.

But her decision to appoint a replacement senator from the opposite party may backfire with voters.

Morelda is seeking re-election this fall, and some voters may be angered that she appointed a political ally to fill a senate seat instead of making appointing another Conservative.

"Her decision to appoint Lei Chan, one of the most liberal politicians in our state, to the senate is just downright a slap in the face to the people of Harlyne," former Clevey Springs Mayor Todd Kren (C) told WAFL-4 TV in an interview.

"Dick Ammons was a Conservative. The voters chose him specifically to fill that seat. Conservatives are already outnumbered here in Harlyne, and if the voters wanted another Nationalist senator, they would have chosen a Nationalist. But they didn't. They chose Dick. So it's only natural that Kate Morelda should have chosen another Conservative to fill Dick's seat," said Kren.

Morelda's choice has already fired up angry Conservatives, who are already dissatisfied with the governor's new taxes, strict environmental laws, and drug and crime policies.

"Kate, you made a BIG mistake by appointing the LIBERAL Lei Chan!" tweeted Tom Marelo, a Conservative businessman and candidate for governor, who ran against Morelda back in 2020 but lost.

Frank Kerenbury, (pronounced "Karen-bury") a former assemblyman who is also seeking the governorship as a Conservative, told WHLN-TV in Harlynee that he is "disappointed" Morelda chose a liberal to replace a Conservative-held seat.

"Dick Ammons is a good man. He's been an effective leader for our state for decades. He's a very reasonable, moderate-minded man who understands the importance of bipartisanship and bridging the political divide. And for the governor to appoint not only a Nationalist to a Conservative seat, but for her to appoint someone like Lei Chan, who is deeply partisan, bought and paid for by the Nationalist Party, who will never work with the Conservative Party...it's troubling," said Kerenbury.

"This appointment is not a step up. It's not something that should be celebrated," said Kerenbury. "It's really a sign of disrespect to the voters. Governor Morelda should have honored the will of the voters and chosen another Conservative to replace Dick Ammons."

Steve Frenitch, (C), an assemblyman from eastern Harlyne who is also running for governor, was more pointed in his criticism of Morelda.

"This governor is a wannabe dictator," Frenitch told The Goldchristian newspaper. "She thinks she can do whatever she wants, appoint whoever she wants. She has no regard for the voters or for the people of our state. She thinks she's untouchable."

Julia Giorchani, a former Conservative attorney general who is campaigning for governor, also weighed in.

"I'm beyond disappointed at Kate Morelda's decision to appoint Lei Chan to the federal senate. She should have done what's right, which is appoint another Conservative to this Conservative-held seat. Instead, she chose petty politics and political expediency over what the people want. She disregarded and dismissed what the people of Harlyne want. And they won't forget it," said Giorchani.

The governor's office fired back, reminding its critics that the governor is free to appoint anyone to a vacancy.

"Gov. Morelda did what she is constitutionally empowered to do, and that is fill a vacancy in the senate with a qualified replacement. Lei Chan is exceedingly well-qualified to hold this position. Her decades of advocacy and leadership made her a stand-out candidate for the job. And Gov. Morelda is pleased to see Senator Chan take her seat in Mavocke," said Sarah Abrams, a spokesperson for the governor's office.

Polls in Harlyne's governor's race show Morelda leading Marelo, Frenitch and Giorchani in head-to-head match-ups.

However, Morelda is either tied with or slightly trailing Kerenbury in similar polls.

It's unclear which of the four Conservative candidates she will face, but her controversial appointment will almost certainly continue to be a source of contention among all the gubernatorial candidates.

Chan is expected to be sworn-in on Monday in Mavocke.

Because Ammons was elected back in 2020, and his term is more than halfway complete, there will not be a special election to permanently fill his seat.

Instead, Chan will serve until 2026, when she will be eligible to run for re-election or can voluntarily step down, clearing the way for other candidates.

She has not indicated whether she will seek re-election in 2026.

There's also no indication of who will replace Chan on the WMC, though the strongly liberal-favoring seat is almost certainly to be filled by another Nationalist.

Ty Jaimeson says Jon Ralston 'has no balls'

PARKINS, N. Ceona -- It's been a tense past month in North Ceona.

After weeks of deliberating, federal Sen. Pete Deetch, an ardent and controversial Conservative, ultimately decided against running for governor in the 2024 election.

Deetch had been considering entering the race, which would have pitted him squarely against fellow Conservative Ty Jaimeson, the incumbent who is seeking re-election.

Jaimeson is known for his more centrist and moderate views. And that rankles hardline Conservatives like Deetch, who want a less compromising Conservative in the governor's mansion.

But after publicly toying with the idea of challenging his CNS colleague, Deetch chose not to run for governor.

His decision caused a sigh of relief within the Jaimeson campaign. 

Recent polls showed Jaimeson leading Deetch in a head-to-head primary match-up, but not by much. 

Jaimeson campaign staff and surrogates were concerned that a tense primary campaign on the CNS side could damage the governor just as he gears up for the general election. 

Or worse, they feared, the outspoken, populist Deetch could even fan the flames of Conservative voters' angst and potentially beat Jaimeson in a primary, which would give the NAT a huge advantage in the fall election.

So, Deetch's decision to bypass a run for governor this year came as welcomed news for the Jaimeson team.

Perhaps the deciding factor Deetch could have been the polling or his personal history with the governor.

Jaimeson reportedly called the senator weeks ago and urged Deetch not to run against him.

"[Jaimeson] basically told him [Deetch] that the polls show Deetch losing to Jaimeson in a primary race, and even more damaging, the polls show several of the NAT candidates beating Deetch in the fall election, should he win the primary," a Jaimeson campaign operative, who asked for anonymity, told the North Ceonan newspaper.

According to that same confidential source, Jaimeson also reminded Deetch that he supported Deetch in his re-election comeback campaign in 2022 when many other Conservatives abandoned the controversial senator.

Deetch served one term in the Senate from 2013 - 2019, but lost re-election in the fall 2018 election to Nationalist Alexis Stotter.

His loss was largely attributed to his controversial comments on women and minorities.

When Deetch sought to return to the Senate in 2022, when Stotter was up for re-election, many Conservatives declined to endorse him or campaign with him, because of his proneness to controversy.

Jaimeson stood by Deetch, however. Though Deetch is considerably further to the right than the governor, Jaimeson said, at the time, that Deetch deserved a second chance.

The governor reportedly brought his past loyalty to Deetch's attention, in an effort to dissuade Deetch from challenging him in the 2024 gubernatorial primary.

A senior source from Deetch's office confirmed the details provided to The North Ceonan by the Jaimeson campaign.

Whether it was polling or loyalty, Deetch opted not to run for governor in 2024, though he left the door open to possibly running in 2028.

His decision allows Conservatives to avoid a nasty primary battle, and is good news for the CNS, as they seek to hold onto one of their most reliably Conservative-leaning governorships.

Now, both sides say the two men have buried the hatchet. Deetch has committed to supporting Jaimeson in the fall, though the senator has publicly said he hopes Jaimeson embraces a more strongly Conservative agenda in his second term.

Behind the scenes, though, Ty Jaimeson is still fuming, sources close to the governor say -- not at Deetch, but at Federal Senate Minority Leader Jon Ralston (C-Ansleigha).

The reason?

Before confronting Deetch directly over his consideration of a gubernatorial run, Jaimeson first made a phone call to Ralston, Deetch's colleague and boss in the Federal Senate.

According to accounts from multiple sources within the Jaimeson campaign, who all asked for anonymity due to not having permission to speak to the media about sensitive matters, Jaimeson phoned Ralston back in January and asked the minority leader to lean on Deetch to stay in the Senate.

"Ty Jaimeson called Jon Ralston and told him, 'We cannot afford to lose this seat. If Pete Deetch runs against me, Conservatives will lose the governorship to the Nationalists.' And Jaimeson asked Ralston to persuade Deetch to stay in the Senate and abandon his plans to run for governor," the source told the North Ceonan.

But Ralston declined to intervene, multiple sources confirmed. The minority leader apparently told Jaimeson he understood his concerns, but that he would not get involved in the situation.

"Basically, Jon Ralston told Ty Jaimeson that he wasn't going to do anything to help. He left Jaimeson out to dry," the source said.

That didn't sit well with Jaimeson, who privately told aides Ralston "has no balls" and the senate minority leader is "afraid to confront."

But Jaimeson not only seethed privately, he also spoke out against Ralston publicly.

"Sen. Ralston and I have always had a productive, cordial relationship. As one of the top leaders of our national party, I have had frequent interactions with him, and they've always been very positive. So I was a little disappointed when he declined to help me out," Jaimeson told the North Ceonan. 

He continued: "Jon Ralston has incredible influence over his fellow Conservative senators. They respect him and respect his opinion. If he would have intervened earlier and more decisively, we could have avoided a lot of the drama and political brinksmanship that we saw over the last month. So, it is disappointing. But [Ralston] is busy with his presidential campaign, and he's busy running the Senate. So I suppose our situation here in North Ceona probably wasn't pressing enough for him," said Jaimeson.

In response, Ralston told reporters Friday that his decision not to interfere in the North Ceona governor's race was not because he's too busy or distracted.

"My decision to not intervene had nothing to do with my time or my schedule or how busy I am. Or my lack of a spine. I have no problem telling my senators what I think they should do, when appropriate. But this situation was not appropriate for me to intervene in. I'm not from North Ceona. The people of North Ceona should decide who their next governor is, not a politician in Mavocke. If Pete Deetch wanted to run for governor, or if any other senator in our caucus wanted to run, I would not dissuade them from running. I could offer my opinion, but I will never coerce someone to run or not run for a position," Ralston said Friday.

"I'm sorry that Ty Jaimeson feels that way. I have always had a positive relationship with him, and I hope that we can continue to work positively together in the future. I know he's disappointed I didn't do more to help his campaign out. But it wasn't my place. And I am not going to apologize for minding my own business and keeping my nose out of another state's affairs," Ralston added.

Ralston is currently running for president, one of over a dozen CNS candidates seeking their party's nomination for the nation's top job. He was asked by reporters if he would step down from his leadership position in the Senate to focus on his presidential campaign, but the senator said he is "more than capable" of handling both roles at the same time.

"Sen. Ralston has been an effective minority leader, and he will continue his strong stewardship of the Senate while running for president," a spokesperson for his office wrote in an email to GNN.

Becky Grael clarifies relationship with Sam Baskingwood

ELMHURST, Ans. -- Speaker of the Ansleigha State House of Representatives Becky Grael (N) is clarifying her relationship with Ansleigha Gov. Sam Baskingwood (C).

Previous news stories, including a news piece in The Regent magazine, characterized Grael's friendship with Baskingwood as highly positive.

The governor and the speaker, former foes in the 2020 governor's race, are now dear friends, the piece insinuated.

The article immediately created backlash for Grael, with left-wing activists protesting her for being too friendly with a Conservative politician.

The outcry from her fellow Nationalists has led Grael to clarify her connections to Baskingwood.

In an interview with The Ansleighan magazine, Grael said she is not friends with Baskingwood, but instead a rival.

"Sam Baskingwood and I are not friends. I want to make that clear. I need to make that clear. We are not friends," she said emphatically.

"We are friendly, we are respectful to each other, we conduct ourselves with professionalism and mutual respect for the other's office and constitutional duties, but we are not friends," she clarified.

"A lady wrote this piece on me and the governor a few months ago, and ever since then, people think the governor and I are meeting for tea every week and going to each other's houses for dinner parties and sending each other notes of encouragement. And that's not true." 

"I do go to the governor's mansion to see him, but only in a professional capacity as speaker of the state house, not as a friend or a social call. And while I am friendly to him, I don't consider him a friend. He's a rival. He's a political opponent. He's a thorn in my side, with his policies that are diametrically opposed to mine. We do not see eye-to-eye. We do not agree. Sometimes we are able to find a compromise, but it's professional courtesy, not personal admiration," she said.

She continued, saying that she abhors Baskingwood's policies that "favor the rich and harm everyday Ansleighans."

And she can't be friends with someone who does not believe in full citizenship for undocumented immigrants, she said. Baskingwood has made clear his opposition to granting citizenship to undocumented immigrants, especially those who have committed violent crimes or not worked.

That said, Grael did say she and Baskingwood respect each other as political rivals. And the governor did send an encouraging note to her when her mother was ill with terminal cancer.

"We aren't friends, but we are human. And he did send me a very kind note, which was very thoughtful of him. That doesn't mean we are bosom buddies," she said.

She did admit that the two, while political foes, try to one-up the other.

"I've screwed him a few times, and I've rubbed it in his face. And he's pulled the carpet out from under me a few times, and he always gloats about it too," she said. "So we do have a friendly rivalry, a mutual respect for the other's political savviness. But friends? I think that's going too far."

Baskingwood's office was contacted for comment, and a spokeswoman for the governor said that, while the two politicians are political challengers, the governor continues to view Grael as a friend.

"Gov. Baskingwood is saddened to hear that Becky Grael does not consider him a friend. He always has and continues to consider her a friend, and will continue to treat her with the utmost respect and professionalism, no matter what," said Angela Marktz, Deputy Press Secretary for the governor's office.

Grael ended her interview with The Ansleighan by saying she is "all in" on supporting whoever the NAT nominee for governor is in the 2024 election.

There is "absolutely no way" Grael will support Baskingwood for reelection, she said.

Jaimeson leads all NAT challengers, but is losing some Conservative voters: polls

PARKINS, N. Ceona -- As he gears up for his reelection bid, North Ceona Gov. Ty Jaimeson is in a strong position, according to new polling.

Jaimeson, first elected in 2020, leads all of his eight NAT challengers, most by a comfortable margin, though a few do come close to running even with him.

However, that same set of polling data found that while Jaimeson does well with independent voters and even pulls some moderate NAT voters, he is struggling with the state's far-right Conservative voters, who are disillusioned with his more centrist policies and positions.

The trend is most notable in the state's most conservative counties, which cover a swath of rural desert terrain, miles way from the more diverse metro areas of Parkins, Lexerna or Berwick.

In those jurisdictions, many right-wing voters simply can't stomach voting for Jaimeson, who they feel is a "faux Conservative," that is, too liberal for the Conservative Party.

Still, despite losing some of the most ardent Conservative voters, Jaimeson is well-positioned heading into the November 2024 election. He is not facing any fellow Conservative challengers in the primary election, and most of his NAT opponents are little-known and first-time candidates for statewide office.

Sen. Elizabeth Graham, who narrowly lost to Jaimeson back in 2024, has declined to run again this year, as has former state Attorney General John Ennis.

Senators Anthony Campanelli (N) and Wendy MacDonald (N) also declined to challenge Jaimeson, and former Sen. Alexis Stotter also ruled out a run.

That's left eight NAT candidates who are relatively unknown. The most prominent name in the race so far is state Senate Minority Leader Tom Muddleford, who previously ran for governor in 2020 but lost to Graham and Ennis in the primary. Muddleford came in third place in that contest.

Muddleford is the best-known candidate on the NAT side, yet his polling numbers are not as favorable as some of his opponents. His strong personality and his history of refusing to compromise with fellow state legislators are a turn-off to many voters, polling shows.

The latest Jaimeson-Muddleford poll conducted in early January found Muddleford trailing the incumbent governor by seven points (46% - 53%).

So far, the NAT's best-polling candidate is Forward Industries CEO Susie Forzsak (pronounced "For-Zack").

Forward Industries is an aeronautics company that makes parts for large commercial aircraft. Forzsak, who lives in the far eastern Parkins suburbs of affluent Mantionne County, has never ran for office before, and is little-known outside of state NAT Party circles.

However, Forzsak has already been running television ads statewide promoting her candidacy and her friendship with some of the state's top NAT leaders, including Graham and MacDonald.

Forzsak has made the economy and bringing living-wage jobs to North Ceona a central part of her campaign, while other candidates in the race have made labor and race relations their central themes.

In a head-to-head match up, Forzsak trails Jaimeson by just two points, according to a poll from the North Ceonan newspaper.

Also a leading contender against Jaimeson is Lexerna businessman John Thurgood, a self-made millionaire who founded and runs his own logistics company. Thurgood trails Jaimeson by a similar margin, according to the polls.

State Sen. Tom Denton, of north-central Parkins, is also a leading candidate, though his polling numbers fall far shorter against Jaimeson (45% - 53%).

Fellow State Sen. Katie Pollock of south Parkins comes closer to Jaimeson (48% - 51%), while businessman Blair Elliott of Lexerna also comes within shouting distance (47% - 52%).

Arab-Grassadellian community organizer and journalist Sajid Roushan garners 46% to Jaimeson's 53%, respectively, while State Sen. Lisa Campion of Cape Goodwin has the lowest numbers against Jaimeson, 45% - 54%, respectively. 

The numbers show the race is far from a clinch for Jaimeson. However, the popular, young governor will be difficult for Nationalists to unseat.

In his first term, he's made education, business, low taxes, and the environment chief areas of focus for his administration. He's also acutely followed crime and homelessness in the Parkins metro area, which has seen a spike in crime and homeless activity in recent years.

Another advantage for Jaimeson is his side job of running the Conservative Party's nationwide gubernatorial campaign strategies. As the chair of CGA, he is personally responsible for recruiting top-notch CNS candidates for governor in all 24 states, and that position gives him easy access to wealthy donors and party elites.

Jaimeson is sitting on a $4.6 million campaign bank account, at the moment. His NAT challengers are starting from virtually ground zero, in terms of fundraising.

But North Ceona is a fickle state, often delivering narrow wins for both parties. Previously firmly in the Conservative Party's column, the state, in recent years, has become a battleground, with both parties holding nearly equal strength.

The state continues to lean to the CNS, but many moderate and independent voters who break for both parties have the ability to sway elections into the NAT's favor. While the NAT has never won a governor's race in North Ceona, three of the state's current four federal senators are from the NAT.

And even an unsuccessful run against Jaimeson could still be helpful for aspiring NAT candidates.

A loss in 2024 could still provide much-needed name recognition and donor networking, which could help a losing candidate rebuild and grow in strength for a future run for office.

It's a race that will be worth watching for, analysts say. Longtime veteran pollster Dr. Kerry Rudgely from Dulkalow University currently rates the race as a CNS-favored, which means the race is favoring the CNS but could become more competitive with the right NAT candidate.

In the NAT primary race, Muddleford continues to lead the field, although with eight candidates in the mix, several of whom are great fundraisers, the NAT nomination is far from certain.

Carten says future run for office 'unlikely'

LUNDEN PLAINS, WEL -- Former Wellington Gov. Pierre Carten told a Wellington radio host Friday it's 'unlikely' he will run for governor again.

Speaking to Wellington Public Radio in Lunden Plains, the former NAT governor cast doubt on a future run for office after two unsuccessful candidacies.

"When you've lost twice, what you notice is that supporters are harder to come by. Endorsements are harder to come by. Donations and funds are harder to come by," said Carten. "People want to support a winner, not a loser. So if you've lost twice, like I have now, it's much more difficult to convince the donors and the party leadership that you're the right guy for the job."

His response came to a question about his political future from host Mike McGee.

"Do you envision yourself running for elected office again?" McGee asked.

Carten said he wouldn't entirely rule out running for governor again, or for federal senate, or even for president.

"I never say 'never.' But is it likely? Probably not," said Carten.

His announcement is disappointing news for Wellington Nationalists, who view Carten as one of the party's statesmen and elders, even though he's only 53 years old.

The only NAT governor in Wellington history, Carten served just one-and-a-half terms from 2009 - 2015, before being replaced by Conservative Wade Quanson in 2015.

Carten ran again for governor in 2022, narrowly losing to Conservative Bob Kozzy by less than 40,000 votes out of more than 5 million cast.

Many Nationalists are hoping Carten will run again in 2026, when Kozzy is up for re-election. But for Carten, that's a long time.

"I have to make a living. I can't just be a full-time politician," he said with a laugh. "But we'll see when the time comes around."

In the meantime, Carten has gone back to a part-time teaching job at the University of Wellington--Lunden Plains.

He also works part-time as a lawyer for the private firm Nellis, Haddock and Ingles in Lunden Plains.

The former governor still travels the country to campaign for fellow Nationalists. And occasionally, he even gives a paid speech, sometimes getting paid $100,000 or more (he won't disclose exactly how much he gets paid for speaking gigs).

But for now, he is not focused on elected office, but instead on his current work and his family.

"There are so many other things to life than politics. People forget you have a family, you have a spouse, you have a personal life. And when you're a politician, you sacrifice so much of those things. So I'm excited to get back to enjoying my family and spending time with them and doing the things I love to do," Carten told McGee.

"I'm very blessed," he added.

Emaria will not run for Harlyne governor

FORESTVIEW, HLN -- In a blow to state and national Conservatives, Harlyne Attorney General Julio Emaria will not run for governor in 2024, he announced yesterday.

The state and national parties had pinned their hopes on Emaria challenging incumbent Gov. Kate Morelda in the 2024 race, especially since Emaria previously beat Morelda in a previous race for attorney general back in 2016.

But the two-term attorney general will not seek the governorship in 2024, he said Friday.

"While I am flattered that many people, many important people, have asked me to run for governor, this is not the right time for me or my family," he said.

Emaria will not be seeking re-election to the attorney generalship either, he said.

"I need a break from politics. My time in the AG's office has been great, and we've done a lot of great work for Harlynians. I'm very proud of that work. But now it's time for me to get back into the private sector and start a new chapter," he said.

He did not disclose what exactly his "new chapter" in the private sector would entail, although sources close to Emaria say he is likely to re-enter private law practice or to take a job as a CEO at a major organization or corporation.

By stepping aside, Emaria is clearing a path for the other Conservative gubernatorial candidates.

Emaria was seen as the favorite candidate, favored especially by state and national party leaders. His ability to satisfy the right-wing of the party, as well as the moderate center, was seen as an asset.

But now, Emaria's exit from the race leaves open the way for other candidates, like Assemblyman Frank Kerenbury, former Attorney General Julia Giorchani, and former gubernatorial nominee Tom Marelo.

Marelo announced his third attempt at the governorship months ago -- he was the first candidate to enter the race on the CNS side.

Kerenbury has yet to formally announce a bid, but is expected to do so soon. Giorchani immediately announced her candidacy after Emaria bowed out Friday.

Also considering a run are H-TEL CEO Rich Tuller, Assemblyman Steve Frenitch from eastern Harlyne, and WEST Council member Ann Magiscanti, the wife of Federal Sen. Bourret Magiscanti.

In hypothetical match-ups polling, Morelda leads all Conservative contenders by varying degrees -- except Kerenbury and Emaria. She tied both men with 49% apiece.

Harlyne is a liberal-leaning state, so any Conservative candidate faces an uphill battle. But moderate Conservatives, such as Sen. Bourret Magiscanti and former governor-turned-Senator George Garesby, have found success among Harlyne's sizable swing voters.

With Emaria out of the race, CNS party leaders are likely to rally around Kerenbury, another noted moderate candidate whom party leaders believe could knock off Morelda in next year's election showdown.

But Kerenbury will have a battle winning the party's nomination. As a moderate, he has struggled to win over the more right-wing voters of the party, who dominate the primary electorate.

Emaria declined to endorse anyone in his press conference Friday afternoon. But sources close to him say he is likely to back Kerenbury or Giorchani.

The Morelda campaign has not commented on Emaria's announcement, but a campaign spokesperson said the announcement will not change the campaign's strategy.

"Governor Morelda is not taking this race for granted or being complacent. She knows she must convince the voters to re-hire her in 2024, and with her strong record of accomplishment and her strong progressive values, she's confident the voters will hire her again," the spokesperson said in a written statement.

Emaria hesitant to challenge Morelda for Harlyne governorship: sources

FORESTVIEW, HLN -- All eyes in Harlyne political circles this week are on state Attorney General Julio Emaria and Assemblyman Frank Kerenbury.

Both men are considering running for governor next year, in what would surely be a hard-fought match against incumbent Gov. Kate Morelda (N).

Emaria already beat Morelda back in 2016, when the little known Conservative newcomer inched past the progressive Morelda by the narrowest of margins (51% - 49%). Morelda was seeking a second term as attorney general at the time, and the election was so close, a recount was needed.

After the heart-breaking defeat in 2016, Morelda ran for governor in 2020 and won, easily dispatching Conservative businessman and Christian activist Tom Marelo.

That same year (2020), Emaria won re-election as attorney general over a little-known NAT opponent. 

He's now wrapping up his second term in the AG's office, and hopeful Conservatives are encouraging him to challenge Morelda again in 2024, when she runs for re-election as Harlyne's governor.

But sources close to Emaria -- who did not want to be named because they were concerned speaking to the media would damage their relationship with the attorney general -- told the Harlyne Sun newspaper that Emaria is reluctant to challenge Morelda for the governorship.

While Morelda is loathed by Conservatives, she is widely popular among liberal and progressive circles. And her approval rating, at last check, was at 57 percent.

After eking out a win against Morelda back in 2016, Emaria is reportedly hesitant to run against Morelda a second time, fearing another close race. Or worse -- losing to his old rival.

"Julio beat Kate back in 2016, but just barely. He remembers how close that race was. And she's fairly popular now. Not with Conservative voters, but with the NAT and independent voters, she's fairly solid. He's concerned that if he runs against Kate again, he may lose. And then he'll forever be another also-ran," said one source, who asked for anonymity so as to speak candidly.

Another source, who works in the governor's office, told the Sun that "Julio feels right now that he has the upper hand. He beat Kate Morelda seven years ago. He won, she lost. If he runs again and this time he loses, then he won't be as popular or respected as he is now," the source said.

"Right now, everyone talks about him as the only person who has ever beat Kate Morelda. He's kind of seen as a giant-slayer. But if he runs again and loses, then all that clout, all that notoriety, all that fame and success goes out the window," the source added.

Emaria himself has been reluctant to discuss his political future. Earlier this week, a gaggle of reporters in the state capital building rotunda followed Emaria as he walked down an empty corridor. When asked about his future political plans, he told reporters he had nothing to say.

"I'm looking at all the options," he said, as he ducked into a state Senate committee meeting.

On Friday, after news of Emaria's political conundrum leaked, state Sen. Kevin Zandevin (C-Hollis) defended Emaria, telling reporters that the attorney general would 'welcome' another head-to-head match up with Morelda.

"Julio's the only person who has beat Kate Morelda. He's the only one who's done it. We know he can do it, he did it before. So there's no doubt about his ability to win. He's not afraid of Kate Morelda," Zandevin said.

He quickly backtracked, saying he couldn't "speak for Julio," and that the decision to run for governor "is a decision Julio and his family will have to make, and we owe it to them to give them the time and space to make that decision."

But there may be another reason Emaria is dragging his feet on running for governor.

Other sources tell The Harlyne Sun that Emaria does not want to eclipse Assemblyman Frank Kerenbury, who has publicly expressed his interest in running for governor.

Kerenbury (pronounced "Karen-bury"), has served as an assemblyman from southwest Harlyne for over a decade, and the moderate assemblyman reportedly wanted to seek the governorship years earlier, but declined because then-Conservative frontrunner George Garesby was seeking the state's highest office.

"Everybody knows that Frank Kerenbury wants to be the next governor," said a confidential Conservative source in an interview with the Sun. "So I think Julio is maybe a bit cautious, a bit hesitant to jump in the race and step on Frank's toes."

Kit Gaffney, a Conservative strategist who spoke on the record with the Sun, said some Conservative politicians in Harlyne feel 2024 is Kerenbury's 'time.'

"A lot of people feel like Frank Kerenbury is getting up there. He's in his 60's. He's waited patiently for a chance to run for governor. This is his time, this is his moment to shine, and there is some apprehension by other top-name people to jump in the race, out of respect for Frank. People feel like they should demur and let Frank have his moment," Gaffney said.

Emaria told the media earlier this week he has 'the utmost respect' for Kerenbury, and Kerenbury exchanged the kind words, telling The Mavocke Capitol newspaper that he considers Emaria a 'friend as well as a colleague.'

And indeed, both men are known to be on friendly terms with each other, though a possible primary election race between the two could change their friendship.

Kerenbury has not officially announced plans to seek the governorship, but he has stated in the past he would be open to the possibility. And he's been openly critical of Nationalist policies at the state level.

But so far, the only candidates officially in the race for governor on the Conservative side are Tom Marelo, who lost to Morelda in 2020, and Rich Tuller, the CEO of H-Tel. Libertarian businessman Craig Boden is also considering a run, but has not officially thrown his hat into the ring.

Recent polling shows all three men fall far short of beating Morelda.

However, a poll conducted this week by the University of Harlyne found both Julio Emaria and Frank Kerenbury tied with Morelda in separate head-to-head match ups.

For now, the Harlyne Conservative Party is split between those who favor Emaria and those who favor Kerenbury. There's also a substantial third group, perhaps even larger than the pro-Emaria and pro-Kerenbury factions, who favor someone else more right-wing.

While Emari's policies and record is considerably to the right of Kerenbury's, both men are viewed as "too moderate" by the Conservative Party's hardline right voters.

Those folks may favor Marelo or Boden, who are the most right-wing candidates who have emerged.

Assemblyman Steve Frenitch is also considering a bid for governor, and as a strong Conservative, he too could win over the hard-right faction of the party.

Party leaders, however, including former Governor and current Senator George Garesby, are hoping the party and its voters quickly coalesce around their gubernatorial nominee, whoever it ends up being.

The goal is not just to make Morelda a one-term governor, but to undo the liberal policies she and her allies in the state legislature have enacted in recent years, according to Conservative activists.

"When all the dust settles, what really matters is not so much who our CNS candidate is, but getting rid of Morelda and her minions," said Conservative activist Shannon White, who spoke with the Sun.

"We want Harlyne to become the next Ansleigha...a blue state that turns red and vanquishes liberals. That's our goal," she stated with determination.

Grael gets along well with Baskingwood, but will support his NAT opponent

ELMHURST, Asl. -- The Nationalist speaker of Ansleigha's House of Representatives says although she has a 'good working relationship' with Conservative Governor Sam Baskingwood, she will not endorse the incumbent governor in the 2024 election.

Grael, who ran unsuccessfully against Baskingwood back in the 2020 race for governor, made the comments in an interview with Ansleigha Public Radio (APR). 

She told host Megan Allexis that she and Baskingwood have found a way to get along, despite their past rivalry and ongoing political differences.

"Do I agree with everything Sam Baskingwood does or all the policies he espouses? No, absolutely not. We disagree often and vehemently. But we get along well," she told APR.

"He listens when I speak. I listen when he speaks. His staff have a good working relationship with my staff. When I need to talk to him, he and his staff make time. There are times we can't agree and we're at an impasse. But usually, we can negotiate a compromise. We have a good working relationship."

Indeed, while the two may get along well, they have had real differences of opinion on key issues.

Baskingwood balked when Grael and her fellow Nationalists attempted to raise the state's minimum wage to $16 per hour. The measure failed in the Conservative-controlled state Senate, and Baskingwood vowed not to sign it into law if it passed both houses of the legislature.

The two also rammed heads over a proposed tax to help fund early childhood development and free pre-school in the state.

Grael and her NAT colleagues championed the proposal, and engaged in a fervent publicity campaign. But the governor refused to budge.

But on other issues, the two have found common ground, or at least compromise.

When Conservative state lawmakers wanted to completely scrap the state's gas tax to fund roads, Baskingwood sided with Grael and struck down the idea.

When the two parties couldn't agree in the legislature on a state budget, the governor and speaker sat down together and personally went through the state budget line by line, finding common areas and projects they were comfortable cutting or amending.

"We do have a positive working relationship," Baskingwood told APR, when contacted for comment on this story. "Like Becky said, we do often disagree. And sometimes our disagreements are very serious and very intense. But we both recognize it's in the interest of both of us and also the people of Ansleigha to negotiate and find common ground when we can."

"Sometimes you can negotiate, sometimes you can't. But more often than not we can, and I attribute that to our mutual respect for each other. I don't always agree with Becky, but I respect her expertise on issues in the legislature, and we both respect each other's position and constitutional authority," the governor added.

Still, even though the two work well together and consider each other friends, as they both told APR, Grael made it clear she is not endorsing Baskingwood for a second term when he runs for re-election in 2024.

"I like Sam, I respect him. But I still am a Nationalist, I still believe in Nationalist values, and I think our state would be better served by a strong, pro-union, pro-labor, pro-environment NAT governor," she said.

Earlier this year, she announced she would not run for governor again in 2024, clearing the way for another Nationalist to carry the party's torch into the 2024 election campaign season.

While she has not endorsed any candidate yet, she pledged to support the party's eventual nominee.

"I'm not sure who I support yet, to be honest," she told APR. "I think we have a lot of really well-qualified candidates on the NAT side, a lot of passionate progressives who believe in protecting the environment, who believe in funding education and health care and having a safety net for vulnerable people. Whether it's Paul Biddington, or Paris Westerman, or Agatha Houndsley, or whoever it ends up being, I know the NAT will offer the people of Ansleigha a strong candidate and a compelling case for people to vote NAT," she said.

Baskingwood, who already announced his intention to seek re-election, is hoping voters will stick with him for another four years.

"In the last three years, we've done a lot for Ansleigha. We've reformed education so our kids can graduate from high school and be prepared for employment in the adult world. We've lowered taxes, we've reformed health care policies that hurt working class people, we've reduced state bureaucracy, and most importantly, we've gotten violent criminals off the streets and kept them in jail," he said.

Some statistics do point to a reduction in recidivism during the past few years, but critics say it's not Baskingwood's policies that are responsible for the reduction in crime, but instead social factors, such as people going back to work after a long period of high unemployment during COVID-19 shutdowns.

Before he reaches the general election in fall 2024, Baskingwood will also have to navigate the CNS primary election.

His former CNS opponent, car dealership owner Lou Gibbs, has promised to challenge Baskingwood for the party's nomination again in 2024.

Gibbs, an avid supporter of former US President Donald Trump, campaigned against Baskingwood back in 2020, running strongly to the right of Baskingwood, and painting the eventual governor as weak and insufficiently conservative.

Gibbs has been openly and frequently critical of Baskingwood during his tenure, and may seek to rally the far-right of the party and oust Baskingwood from the ticket in 2024.

The governor is not scared of a rematch, Baskingwood spokesman Tyler Denver told APR.

"Sam Baskingwood soundly defeated Lou Gibbs in 2020, and after a record of strong achievement over the past three years, Sam Baskingwood will defeat Lou Gibbs soundly again, if Mr. Gibbs runs," said Denver.

"The governor is focusing on the general election in fall 2024, and planning to present Ansleighans with a clear, conservative, common-sense agenda," added Denver.

In his re-election campaign, Baskingwood has focused on many of the talking points and campaign themes his predecessor, former Conservative Gov. Dale Lindstrom, focused on during his eight years in office.

Nationalists are hoping to elect their first governor since statehood.

Since Ansleigha became a state, Nationalists have never won a gubernatorial election.

"We're hoping to change that," Grael told APR. "It's time for a change. The people of Ansleigha know it and we are going to do everything we can to bring that change next November."

Senate easily confirms Mona Rodgers as next Secretary of State

MAVOCKE -- Former Roddenshire Gov. Mona Rodgers sailed through Senate confirmation Monday, after her formal nomination for Secretary of State by President Jim McCaren.

Rodgers received broad bipartisan support, with 83 senators voting to confirm her and only 13 voting against.

The 13 senators who voted against confirmation were hardline Conservatives.

All 52 Nationalist senators voted for her, along with 31 Conservatives.

Appearing at an impromptu press conference immediately following the vote, Rodgers thanked Senators for their support and pledged to 'hit the ground running.'

"Our national security issues don't take a day off. And I won't either. I have been preparing for this role ever since President McCaren asked me to accept it, and I will work from this moment forward to put our national interests first and to advocate for peace and freedom around the world," she said.

Rodgers nomination was a rare moment in the Senate. Both Majority Leader Debbie Madronas (N-Damoign) and Minority Leader Jon Ralston (C-Ansleigha) voted to confirm her.

"It's very rare that Debbie Madronas and I agree on anything, but we were both happy to vote to confirm Mona Rodgers," said Ralston as a press conference he held jointly with Madronas.

He added that while Rodgers' politics are 'very different' from his own, he was impressed when he met with her.

"Would I have voted for Mona Rodgers for governor of Roddenshire? No, I would not have. But she was nominated for Secretary of State, and when it came to national security issues and foreign policy, I was impressed with her breadth of knowledge and with her answers."

Ralston said he won't always agree with Rodgers' positions, and with the policies of the McCaren administration.

"But she is qualified and in my opinion, she's a step up from her predecessor," he said, referring to outgoing Secretary of State Joseph Milhaughley.

Madronas also praised Rodgers, saying she is a 'born diplomat.'

"Mona has brought people together from day one of her political career. She is a uniter, she is someone who finds common ground. She is perfect for the position of Secretary of State, where diplomacy is key."

Collester also thanked the members of the Senate for their support of Rodgers' nomination.

"I want to thank not just our NAT senators but also the 31 Conservative senators who crossed party lines to support a qualified and eager nominee," McCaren said in a press conference.

Meanwhile, while the opposition to Rodgers' confirmation was small, it was vocal in some circles.

Sen. Bob Mellon (C-Wilkonshire) called Rodgers 'deeply unqualified' for the nation's top diplomatic role. He said her 'pacifist NAT policies will make Grassadellia weaker.'

Fellow Wilkonshire Sen. Liam Rekvar (C) also spoke vocally against Rodgers, saying she is 'another soft Nationalist who will coddle dictators and continue the status quo of appeasement.'

Rodgers did not respond to the criticism, choosing to remain positive in light of her historic confirmation.

She is the third woman to serve as Secretary of State, after Dawnelle Hunter-Garrett and Donna Almone. 

Poll shows Trinton's Dorothy Grischaltz vulnerable for re-election

WILLIAMSTOWN, Tri. -- A new poll released Monday shows bad news for Trinton Sen. Dorothy Grischaltz as she gears up for re-election in 2024.

The poll, conducted by the Golden Shore Tribune newspaper in conjunction with the University of Trinton, finds Grischaltz trailing her Conservative opponent, former fighter pilot Mack Anderson.

In the poll, Anderson receives nearly 52% of support, while Grischaltz, a self-proclaimed socialist, receives only 47.5 percent, respectively.

Grischaltz, a former progressive Liberal Democrat turned Nationalist, served decades in the National Assembly before winning her Senate seat in 2018. That year, she beat Conservative Kelsey Frascanio by a comfortable 54%-41% margin.

This time around, Anderson is the Conservative frontrunner. Unlike Trinton's open governor's race, where no incumbent is running and dozens of candidates have expressed interest in running, other Conservative candidates have been reticent to challenge Grischaltz, who has long been viewed as unbeatable.

This new poll pours cold water on that theory of untouchability.

Anderson is a young, up-and-coming member of the Conservative party. A former fighter pilot and veteran of the Afghanistan War, he is popular among CNS voters and scores well among independent voters too.

Anderson previously ran for the Senate back in 2020, falling short of beating NAT incumbent Tim Blakewell. In that race, Anderson took 46% to Blakewell's 51%, respectively.

But both Conservative and Nationalist party insiders say Grischaltz, despite her reputation as being unbeatable, is actually more vulnerable to defeat.

As a far-left politician, she has fared well in historically left-leaning Trinton over the decades. However, at 74 years old, her age is a turn off to some voters. And Grischaltz's extreme far-left positions on certain issues like taxes, government spending, and the environment make her less palatable to many moderate or left-leaning but centrist voters.

Anderson, meanwhile, pulls strong support from the Conservative party base. At the same time, he is moderate on many divisive issues, which allows him to pull support from independent and centrist historically NAT voters.

He's done his best to dodge thorny social issues like abortion and transgender rights. When asked in the past, Anderson has given vague, general answers, saying he supports both the rights of women and young transgender students, but also the rights of fathers, unborn children, and parents of transgender children.

His more moderate stances and unclear answers have allowed him to sidestep many of the hot-button issues that have dogged other Conservative candidates.

It also helps that Anderson is much less extreme than previous Conservative candidates in Trinton, like Randy Kalamaza or Eddie Cazzini, who both previously ran for Senate.

Still, it's more than a year before next year's election, and supporters of Grischaltz say the senator has delivered for Trintonians.

"Dorothy has brought much-needed money to our state, she has fought to protect the environment, she has been staunchly anti-war. When I hear people say she is too 'far-left,' I laugh, because Trinton is a blue state. Trintonians are liberal, and she is very much in the liberal mainstream," says Sean Turnbull, an NAT political consultant who has worked with Grischaltz for more than 20 years.

Conservatives sense an opportunity, though.

The state CNS party has had multiple failures back-to-back in recent elections. Currently, the Conservative party only holds one of Trinton's four federal Senate seats. And the party holds no state level offices.

With the 2024 election looming, the Conservative party is seeking to reverse their fortunes. With an open governor's race, the party is hoping to capture the governor's mansion for the first time since statehood. And they're looking to re-take the lieutenant governorship and secretary of state position they previously held.

The party would also like to increase its share of Trinton's National Assembly seats. 

It will be a tall order for a state party that has seen clashes between the more moderate faction of the party, which includes the party's patriarch Sen. George Reedsworth, and the more right-wing faction, which includes many of the unsuccessful Conservative candidates whom have ran in the past.

Mack Anderson falls somewhere in between those two factions, or perhaps in an overlapping circle that encompasses both groups.

Supporters say he is conservative enough to satisfy the right-wing base, but also moderate enough to appeal to independent and even disaffected NAT voters.

The 43-year-old is also a prolific fundraiser. He currently has $1.8 million in the bank already, even before he's officially announced his candidacy.

Grischaltz, with strong support from the left-wing, is also likely to raise a lot of money. She's popular not just among her base in Trinton but also nationally, as one of the most progressive senators to date. She will likely use that national popularity as leverage to gain donations.

However, her pledge to avoid corporate campaign donations may severely limit her fundraising abilities, if she adheres to her promise.

For now, the race is worth watching, says Dr. Kerry Rudgley, chair of Dulkalow University's School of Government.

He's currently rating the race as a 'toss-up.'

Andrew Martinek announces bid for Roddenshire governor

LACARTHY, Rodd. -- Former Roddenshire Attorney General Andrew Martinek (N) announced today that he will seek the state's governorship next year.

Martinek previously served as Attorney General, a position he held until January 2021, after being narrowly defeated by Conservative Scott Bracken.

At age 44, the young Nationalist from Lacarthy remains the NAT's top candidate to reclaim the governor's mansion from Conservative Gov. Jon Cortano.

Martinek had long been rumored to be considering a run for governor, but he waited to announce his campaign until former Gov. Mona Rodgers (N) deferred.

Rodgers is set to be nominated by President Jim McCaren for federal Secretary of State, opening what is likely to be a clear path for NAT's gubernatorial nomination for Martinek.

At a press conference on the steps of the Earl E. Manion Federal Courthouse in Lacarthy, where he began his career as a deputy federal prosecutor, Martinek said he is running for governor because leadership is lacking under the current administration. He placed particular fault on the incumbent Cortano for failing to reach an agreement with Damoign's state government on building a bridge to span Naylin Bay.

"The Cortano-Chen administration has had three years to get a bridge planned, they haven't done it. They promised to get traffic congestion under control and they haven't. They promised better test scores in our public schools and they haven't delivered on it. On issue after issue, the Cortano-Chen administration has failed," said Martinek.

In place of the current policies, he promised to increase funding for alternative public transportation and state schools. And he pledged to reach an agreement with neighboring Damoign on a bridge within 90 days of taking office.

No other Nationalists have announced a campaign for governor yet, although former federal Sen. Vince Montimado and former Lt. Gov. Peter Orr have not ruled out running.

The Cortano campaign panned Martinek's announcement, calling it 'ironic' that the former Attorney General chose a courthouse to unveil his campaign.

"It's ironic that Andrew Martinek chose the steps of a federal courthouse to announce his campaign for governor, considering he has never taken a tough stance on criminals during his career. As a prosecutor, Andrew Martinek almost always offered violent criminals shorter sentences than they deserved or the law allowed. He made plea agreements with some of the most dangerous criminals on the streets. And he downplayed and overlooked violent crime as Attorney General. He even supported releasing dangerous felons from prison earlier than they were scheduled to be released," said the Cortano campaign statement.

"Andrew Martinek is a criminal's best friend," it added.

It is true Martinek did offer plea agreements and shorter sentences to convicted criminals during his tenure as a prosecutor. It's also true he did support the release of some convicted felons, including some who were convicted of serious crimes against persons. However, Martinek justified those actions by saying each case had mitigating circumstances, and that the accused and convicted showed remorse for their crimes and hopes for rehabilitation.

A new poll released by the University of Roddenshire shows Martinek leading Cortano in a hypothetical match up. The poll finds Martinek receiving 50.8% to Cortano's 48.0%, with 1.2% choosing a minor party or write-in candidate. The margin of error is +/- three points.

Milhaughly to resign from Secretary of State post

MAVOCKE -- The political world was abuzz Friday afternoon, as word of the pending resignation of Secretary of State Joseph Milhaughly was making its way around the media and inside circles in Mavocke.

Milhaughly, a former Nationalist senator from Marchenay who specialized in foreign affairs, has reportedly clashed with President Jim McCaren and his senior foreign policy team, sources inside Collester said Friday.

The secretary and the executive team reached an impasse, those sources said. Those who spoke to the media asked to remain anonymous since they were not permitted to publicly discuss internal matters.

Milhaughly was appointed to the position back in February 2022, as tensions between Russia and Ukraine came to a boil.

There's no official word on when Milhaughly will step down or who will replace him.

However, rumors are circulating online and through the capitol that former Roddenshire Gov. Mona Rodgers (N), whom McCaren appointed as Ambassador at Large last year, may be tapped for the top position.

Rodgers was toying with seeking Roddenshire's governorship again, or possibly seeking a Senate seat. If she is nominated for and accepts the position of Secretary of State, she would have to pass on an immediate run for elected office.

There has been no confirmation, though, of Rodgers' possible nomination. Sources close to the president say he has a good rapport with Rodgers. The two are longtime allies, and at age 74, she is unlikely to be influenced by political ambition like other possible nominees might be, something the president reportedly values.

Collester has declined to comment officially. A spokesperson for the president's office only said Friday that the president is "beyond grateful" for Milhaughly's service to the government.

This story is developing and will continue to be updated as new information arises.

Rosamond Burkes says she won't run for Ansleigha governor in 2024 -- not yet, anyway

CARLINEGAN, Ansleigha -- Outspoken coal and oil heiress Rosamond Burkes, who previously upended elections for federal senate and governor in Ansleigha, has said she will not mount another bid for governor in 2024.

Burkes, who has long-bedeviled politicians from both parties, said she will reluctantly stand down in 2024.

"I thought long and hard about running for governor again," she told the NPF. "I'm not totally pleased with 'Sell-out Sam' or with the NAT candidates. But I think it's better if I stay out of this one and save my energy for the next fight."

Burkes previously ran for governor in 2020 as a Nationalist, then changed her affiliation to "Independent."

In that contest, she placed third with 26 percent, while Nationalist Becky Grael took 34 percent, and Conservative Sam Baskingwood took 35 percent. 

She has been openly critical of Baskingwood, whom she calls 'Sell-out Sam.' 

She's also taken aim at Nationalist politicians for what she considers their soft-on-crime policies.

"I still believe both parties in this state are broken and need to be fixed. And the only way we can fix them is by a third-party candidate like me, or someone else, beating them. That's the only way to get their attention. By defeating them at the ballot box," she told the NPF.

While Burkes has never officially been affiliated with the Conservative Party, she appeals to many rural, populist, and tough-on-crime voters who traditionally support the CNS.

Her record on environmental issues is mixed. She's on record mocking climate change activists, and her oil and coal companies have been cited for pollution violations by the federal department of environmental protection.

But she's also donated money to stop deforestation and to help protect endangered species.

And on abortion rights, Burkes has been outspokenly in favor of a woman's right to choose.

In 2020, Burkes considered running as a Conservative for governor. But she ultimately chose to run as a Nationalist, citing her life-long membership in the party.

When polls showed she would lose the NAT nomination, she switched her affiliation to "Independent" and launched a third-party campaign.

Polls show she mostly siphoned votes from Baskingwood. However, her pro-workers rights policies and her abortion rights stance also won her support from traditional NAT voters too.

As the 2024 governor's race looms, candidates in both parties were once again concerned the unpredictable and volatile Burkes would run again and act as a "spoiler" candidate.

But those concerns have subsided, for now. 

Many political leaders from both sides fear Burkes, who is known for her rash decision-making and her penchant for surprise, may change her mind.

"If she runs for governor again, she probably won't win, but she will certainly be a force to contend with. She'll take votes from both sides, which means whoever wins will win with 33 percent or 35 percent or 40 percent instead of a majority or a strong plurality," Al Greenfield, a veteran NAT campaign strategist, told the NPF.

When asked if she would reconsider and jump in the race later, Burkes answered "probably not."

"But you never say never. It depends on how well Sam does, and how well the race goes. If it starts going south and it's clear the voters don't want any of them [who are running], then I may have to step back in the race."

"But it's time for Sam [Baskingwood] to stand on his own two feet. We'll see if he can," she said.

Burkes told reporters she considers herself 'middle-of-the-road' politically, and she believes she helped Baskingwood win three years ago.

"It's true I took some of his voters away from him. But I took a lot of votes from the NAT too. And that helped Sam. Without me, if he ran just him versus Becky Grael, he would have lost. He should be thanking me," said a confident Burkes.

Polls taken directly before the 2020 gubernatorial election showed Baskingwood actually would win in a head-to-head match up with Grael, contradicting Burkes' claims.

But nonetheless, the blunt, elderly candidate has doubled-down on her campaign insight.

She does give credit to Baskingwood for bringing down crime in Ansleigha 'somewhat.'

And she says Baskingwood, with his low-tax policies, is better for Ansleigha's economy than pro-tax Nationalists.

But that's where her compliments end.

"He's still weak. He's still giving in to the quote-unquote 'establishment.' He's still letting people push him around and tell him what to do. And that bothers me. I don't let people do that to me, and I don't think a governor should be that passive."

Expectedly, the Baskingwood campaign sees things differently.

"Governor Baskingwood has brought down crime dramatically with his pro-police and tough-on-crime policies," said spokesman Jared Leif. "His pro-business, anti-tax policies have helped Ansleigha's economy recover from COVID, and he has reduced government bureaucracy and red tape to make business and life easier to conduct here in Ansleigha."

Indeed, polls show Baskingwood, a well-known former actor, receiving high marks from Ansleighans for his handling of the state's top job.

Nationalist candidates have been reluctant to challenge Baskingwood.

Last month, Grael, speaker of the state house of representatives, said she would not run for governor again in 2024.

Businessman Russ Hawley, Grael's running mate in 2020, said he also would not seek the governorship.

Former Koeurn mayor and current assemblyman Lane Kearster also declined to run.

The only declared NAT candidates for governor at this point are state Sen. Paul Biddington of Churchtown, Koeurn City Councillor Paris Westerman, oil entrepreneur Pete Coble of Hawkinson, scientist Bill Seiffert of Gilliam, and former state senator Chuck Yore of Rhodes County.

A handful of lesser-known candidates are also considering running.

And late Friday afternoon, state Sen. Mark Haller announced he is exploring the possibility of running for governor again. He was the unsuccessful NAT nominee against Gov. Dale Lindstrom (C) in 2016.

The NAT is eager for a win in Ansleigha. They've never held the state's governorship, and in 2022, Conservatives swept all statewide races. All four federal senators from Ansleigha are now Conservatives.

With Burkes out of the picture, Baskingwood, who remains relatively popular, is likely to secure a second term, barring a major scandal or campaign-altering event.

But Conservative allies close to the governor say Baskingwood is proceeding with caution, very much aware that the bombastic Burkes may enter the race at any time.

"The governor is going forward with the assumption that Rosamond Burkes will run. He is preparing and planning for a second Burkes candidacy, and the implications that would bring to the race. I suspect the NAT candidates are also preparing for that very real possibility," said one source close to Baskingwood and familiar with his campaign strategies. 

The source asked not to be named because they were not permitted to speak to the media.

In the meantime, Burkes is not running for governor, but she said she will continue to speak out on issues and her observations of the race for governor on her various social media accounts.

She was briefly banned from both Facebook and Twitter for posting controversial content, but her accounts have since been restored.

The wealthy heiress may also use her vast personal fortune to run campaign commercials and advertisements, she said.

"Even if I don't run, I will very much be a part of this campaign and be involved. Ansleigha is my home state, and I care very much about what happens, even if it doesn't directly involve me running."