2020 Presidential Election Season 29

The **Season 29 Presidential Election of Mock Election** was held on the weekend of February 28, 2020. Ethan Fitzgerald was elected to a 3rd non-consecutive term.

## Candidates

### Republican Party Candidates

#### **Declared**

* David Davidson, Former Acting Secretary of Labour and Commerce.

* Chase Stevens, Incumbent President of the United States of America.

#### **Withdrawn**

*No candidates withdrew in this Election.*

The Republican Presidential primaries took place on February 22nd. Unlike the Democratic Party, Chairman Luke Zhang selected a national primary system for Republicans to choose their nominee. Originally, the only filed candidate for President was the Current Acting Secretary of Labor and Commerce, David Davidson of Florida. He campaigned regularly, and originally ran as a joke candidate simply to oppose the Democratic nominee. Saying that, should he win the primary, his running mate would be James Hiatt of Indiana. But, as a result of good polling numbers, he began a serious campaign, and dropped Hiatt from the ticket. Up until the week before Primary day, he was unopposed by any candidate. However, President Chase Stevens announced last minute that he was once again seeking the Republican nomination for President. Despite the fact that he originally said he wouldn’t run. The Davidson campaign prepared for the worst, but still believed they could win the election. Therefore, David Davidson resigned from the President’s cabinet effective immediately, and remained a candidate. When the national Presidential primary was completed, in what was considered one of the most shocking Presidential Primary results in American history, David Davidson won the primary with 70% of the vote, to President Stevens’ 20%. Effectively making him the presumptive nominee.

The Republican national convention took place on the 24th of February. Where notable candidates spoke. Including the Chairman Luke Zhang, the Vice Presidential nominee, Caesarean State Senator Epideli Terry, and the Presidential nominee, former Secretary David Davidson.

### Democratic Party Candidates

#### Ethan Fitzgerald, former President and Vice President of the United States of America.

Andrew Dominguez, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Marty Davies, incumbent Congressman from D8.

Lucjusz Nowak, Activist.

#### Withdrawn

Pluto Bennito, Governor of Caesarea. (Endorsed Fitzgerald).

The Democratic Primaries began when then Chairman Robert Sanders announced that all 4 provinces would be voting separately for their parties nominee for President in mid February. Both Ethan Fitzgerald and Andrew Dominguez were speculated to run for quite some time. The Governor of Caesarea, Pluto Bennito also filed to run for President, which surprised many, due to the fact that he made no indication of his plans to run until that day. Early polling showed all 3 of them in a close race. With Andrew Dominguez as the front runner. Earning a total of 813 delegates. Ethan Fitzgerald was coming in second with 662 delegates, and Pluto Bennito was leading in Caesarea, which earned him a total of 283 delegates.

The next day, Lucjusz Nowak, an activist, announced he would run for President. But he was earning roughly 0% in polls at the time of his announcement, and was not invited to attend the debates. And the day after that, Marty Davies, the Congressman from D8 also announced that he was a candidate. He was receiving second to last place, (ahead of Nowak), in pre debate polling. And after announcing that he was not seen attending the DNC debate, it was then that many pundits believed his campaign was ”dead”.

The DNC Debate was scheduled to take place on February 16th, but was delayed to take place on the 17th instead I’m Detroit, Michigan. The 3 candidates who were invited were Fitzgerald, Dominguez, and Bennito. The night of the debate, Bennito announced that he was withdrawing from the Presidential race. Many believe that he was convinced by party insiders to run for House. He endorsed no candidate, but a majority of his progressive voters flocked over to the Davies, and Fitzgerald campaigns. The only two candidates who ended up at the debate were Andrew Dominguez and Ethan Fitzgerald. Viewers of the debate unanimously agreed that Ethan Fitzgerald had won due to his strong tone, and dismissal of accusations about term limits from the Dominguez team. Due to this, he took a strong lead in the polls.

The first Primary that took place was the Heartland primary, early polling showed Dominguez and Fitzgerald tied. The debate failed to change that. The Heartland voting commenced immediately once the DNC debate had ended. Results began reporting on February 20th, and the Fitzgerald campaign led most of the night. However, once all of the votes were counted. It was a tie. 40% for Ethan Fitzgerald, and 40% for Andrew Dominguez. They also both earned a total of 352 delegates. Nowak and Davies each received 10% of the vote. Davies earning 88 delegates, and Nowak earning 87.

The Caesarea Presidential Primary took place the day after the tie in Heartland. Due to the fact that Bennito withdrew, the three front runners to win this state were Ethan Fitzgerald, Marty Davies, and Andrew Dominguez. In the eyes of many political pundits, this was an opportunity for the Davies campaign to make a comeback. Polling was relatively close. But when the ballot was released, Governor of Caesarea and former candidate Pluto Bennito announced Ethan Fitzgerald. And as a result, Fitzgerald won the primary with 46.15% and 436 delegates. Davies and Dominguez each received 23.08% and 218 delegates. Nowak received 7.69% of voters and 73 delegates.

The Jefferson and Fremont primaries took place after Dominguez’s loss in Caesarea. It is believed that this hurt his momentum. Which gave Fitzgerald an advantage moving forward. The Dominguez campaign was declared “dead” by many voters. However, prior to the Jefferson primaries, Dominguez received an endorsement from senator and former President Nathan Brown. After this, the Heartland race was thought to be a tossup. And a must win for the Dominguez campaign. Fremont is home to Arizona and California. Which are the respective home states of both candidates. A strong showing there also would have most definitely handed Fitzgerald the nomination. When all votes were counted in both states, Fitzgerald was the winner of both. Winning 67% in Jefferson, and a landslide victory of 71% in Fremont. Effectively making Ethan Fitzgerald the presumptive nominee.

The Democratic National Convention began on February 22nd in Dallas, Texas, and ended on February 24th. Notable speakers include former President Fernando Diaz, Andrew Dominguez (who conceded the nomination), Vice Presidential nominee and Fremont Governor Tom Kirkman, Presidential nominee Ethan Fitzgerald, and more.

## General Election

Originally, the General Election gave Former President Fitzgerald a clear and almost certain pathway to the Presidency. With popular news networks like “Congressional Review” putting Fitzgerald just 7 electoral votes away from the Presidency. This was likely due to name recognition and the unbelievably popular, and widely viewed DNC. Which received much more attention than the RNC. However, Secretary Davidson ran an ad campaign, that had never been seen before. Which included color schemes, and parody’s of popular songs. His campaign also did rallies regularly and received endorsements from prominent Republican figures nationwide. He went state to state appealing to swing voters. Recognizing each state for it’s success. And appealing to the average voters living there. The Davidson campaign also appealed to young people, and undecided voters, allowing him to catch up.

Despite Davidson’s recent gains in Swing State polling, Fitzgerald continued to run a more “old school” campaign, delivering less rallies, but putting more effort into them, and relying on his name recognition to help get him the required 273 electoral votes on Election Day. He also allowed his running mate, Governor Tom Kirkman to deliver rallies on behalf of the campaign more than his opponents, which signified ticket unity. Governor Kirkman being a popular figure, many pundits believe it payed off.

## Election night

The Election took place on Feb. 29, a prediction just two days before had Fitzgerald and Davidson in a close, and undecided race. The exit polls showed Fitzgerald slightly ahead of Davidson. Of 49.02% to 47.06%. Early electoral results showed Davidson with a lead. Coming from the solid republican states such as Indiana and Kentucky. Fitzgerald’s major wins of the night were Michigan, Iowa, North Carolina, Arizona, and Iowa. Davidson’s major victories were from Florida, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Ethan Fitzgerald received 301 Electoral Votes to David Davidson’s 237. Ethan Fitzgerald earned 52.9% of the popular vote. Davidson’s campaign earned 45.6% of the popular vote.