View source for Trey Cranfield

{{Infobox officeholder
 | honorific_prefix   = 
 | name               = Trey Cranfield
 | native_name        = 
 | native_name_lang   =
 | honorific_suffix   = 
 | image              = Secretary Cranfield official portrait.jpg
 | image_size         = 210px
 | image_upright      =
 | smallimage         =
 | alt                =  
 | caption            =
 | office1            = 6th, 8th, and 11th {{wp|United States Secretary of Defense}}
 | term_start1        = July 26
 | term_end1          = September 1, 2020
 | president1         = {{wp|Tom Kirkman}}
 | predecessor1       = {{wp|Matthew Volfson}}
 | successor1         = Matthew Volfson
 | term_start3        = April 7
 | president3         = {{wp|David Delaney}}, {{wp|A Proud Georgian}}, {{wp|Jayanth Karuturi}}
 | term_end3          = June 30, 2018
 | predecessor3       = {{wp|Evan Hunt}}
 | successor3         = {{wp|Conservative Chico}} 
 | term_start2        = January 30
 | term_end2          = March 2, 2019 
 | president2         = {{wp|Maleek Diaz}} 
 | predecessor2       = ''Vacant''
 | successor2         = {{wp|Jakob Tawney}}
 | office             = 15th {{wp|President of the United States}}
 | vicepresident      = {{wp|Tom Kirkman}}
 | term_start         = June 30
 | term_end           = July 4, 2018
 | predecessor        = {{wp|Jayanth Karuturi}}
 | successor          = Tom Kirkman
 | office4            = {{wp|President pro tempore of the United States Senate}} 
 | term_start4        = November 24, 2018
 | term_end4          = January 23, 2019
 | predecessor4       = {{wp|Atton Pearson}} 
 | successor4         = {{wp|Nathan Brown}}
 | office5            = {{wp|United States Senator}} 
 | term_start5        = November 12, 2018
 | term_end5          = January 23, 2019
 | predecessor5       = {{wp|Adam Evans}} 
 | successor5         = {{wp|Jon S. Überfeld}} 
 | constituency5      = {{wp|District 3}} {{wp|(Indiana)}} 
 | term_start6        = March 2
 | term_end6          = 14, 2019
 | predecessor6       = {{wp|Mayowa Olabode}}
 | successor6         = {{wp|Connor W. Grant}}
 | constituency6      = {{wp|District 4}} {{wp|(Pennsylvania)}}
 | office7            = Member of the <br> {{wp|United States House of Representatives}} <br> from {{wp|MEC}}'s {{wp|7th}} district
 | term_start7        = July 11
 | term_end7          = August 22, 2018
 | predecessor7       = {{wp|Ryan Servis}}
 | successor7         = {{wp|Kenneth Quinones}}
 | term_start8        = October 17
 | term_end8          = November 12, 2018
 | predecessor8       = {{wp|Kenneth Quinones}} 
 | successor8         = {{wp|Kelvin Hawthorne}}
 | office9            = 9th Chairman of the {{wp|Republican National Committee}} 
 | term_start9        = March 16
 | term_end9          = May 5, 2018
 | predecessor9       = {{wp|Matthew Sorrells}}  
 | successor9         = {{wp|Roman Thaddeus}} 

 | birth_name      = Trey Michael Cranfield
 | birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|2003|04|03}}
 | birth_place     = {{wp|Paoli, Indiana}}
 | death_date      =  <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
 | death_place     = 
 | death_cause     = 
 | resting_place   = 
 | resting_place_coordinates = 
 | citizenship     = {{flagicon|United States}} {{wp|United States}}
 | nationality     = 
 | party           = No affiliation ({{small|2020-present}})
 | otherparty      = {{wp|Independent Politician|Independent}} ({{small|2018-2019}}) <br> {{wp|Republican Party (United States)|Republican}} ({{small|2017-2018}})
 | height          = {{height|ft=6|in=4}}         
 | spouse          =  
 | partner         =  
 | relations       = 
 | children        = *{{wp|Quentin Lewis}}
 | relatives       = 
 | residence       = {{wp|Paoli, Indiana}}<br>{{wp|Washington, D.C.}}
 | education       = 
 | alma_mater      = {{wp|Stanford University}} ({{wp|Bachelor of Science|B.S}})<br>{{wp|George Washington University}} ({{wp|Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.}}) 
 | occupation      = 
 | profession      = 
 | known_for       =  
 | salary          =  
 | net_worth       = {{wp|United States Dollar|US$}}97 million (December 2018)
 | committees      = 
 | portfolio       = 
 | awards          = [[File:Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction (ribbon).PNG|23px]] {{wp|Presidential Medal of Freedom}} with Distinction (2019) <br> [[File:Presidential Medal of Freedom Ribbon.png|23px]] {{wp|Presidential Medal of Freedom}} (2019)
 | blank1          = 
 | data1           = 
 | blank2          = 
 | data2           = 
 | blank3          = 
 | data3           = 
 | blank4          = 
 | data4           = 
 | blank5          = 
 | data5           = 
 | signature       = Trey Cranfield signature.jpg
 | signature_alt   = 
 | website         =
 | footnotes = 

{{Collapsible list
|titlestyle = background-color:#FFDEAD;
|title = Leading Groups and Committees 
|bullets = on
| Jul-Aug 2018: Chairman, {{wp|House Armed Services Committee}}
| Jul-Aug 2018: Ranking Member, {{wp|House Homeland Security Committee}}
| Jul-Aug 2018: Chairman, {{wp|House Veterans' Affairs Committee}}
| Jul-Aug 2018: Ranking Member, {{wp|House Foreign Affairs Committee}} 
| Oct-Nov 2018: Chairman, {{wp|House Homeland Security Committee}}
| Oct-Nov 2018: Chairman, {{wp|House Armed Services Committee}}
| Oct-Nov 2018: Ranking Member, {{wp|House Foreign Affairs Committee}}
| Oct-Nov 2018: Ranking Member, {{wp|House Social Services Committee}}
| Oct-Nov 2018: Ranking Member, {{wp|House Ethics Committee}}
| Oct-Nov 2018: Chairman, {{wp|Congressional Air Force Caucus}} 
| Oct-Nov 2018: Policy Director of the {{wp|Mock Election Liberty Caucus}} 
| Nov 2018: Chairman, {{wp|Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee}}
| Nov 2018: Chairman, {{wp|Senate Budget and Finance Committee}}
| Nov 2018-Jan 2019: Chairman, {{wp|Senate Rules and Administration Committee}}
| Nov 2018-Jan 2019: Chairman, {{wp|Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies}} 
| Nov 2018-Jan 2019: Chairman, {{wp|Senate Armed Forces Committee}}
| Nov 2018-Jan 2019: Chairman, {{wp|Senate Homeland Security Committee}} 
| Nov 2018-Jan 2019: Ranking Member, {{wp|Senate Foreign Affairs Committee}}
| Nov 2018-Jan 2019: Ranking Member, {{wp|Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs|Senate Veterans Affairs Committee}}
| Dec 2018-Jan 2019: Chairman, {{wp|Senate Environment and Public Works Committee}}
| Jan 2019-Jan 2019: Chairman, {{wp|Senate Coherence Caucus}} 
| Jan 2019-Jan 2019: Chairman, {{wp|Congressional Coherence Caucus}}
| Jan 2019-Jan 2019: Communications Director, {{wp|Congressional Coherence Caucus}} 
| Mar 2019-Mar 2019: Chairman, {{wp|Senate Armed Services Committee}}
| Mar 2019-Mar 2019: Chairman, {{wp|Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs|Senate Veterans Affairs Committee}}
| Mar 2019-Mar 2019: Ranking Member, {{wp|Senate Rules and Administration Committee}}
| Mar 2019-Mar 2019: Ranking Member, {{wp|Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies}}
| Mar 2019-Mar 2019: Ranking Member, {{wp|Senate Appropriations Committee}}
| Mar 2019-Mar 2019: Ranking Member, {{wp|Senate Homeland Security Committee}}
}}
----
{{Collapsible list
|titlestyle = background-color:#FFDEAD;
|title = List of offices held
|bullets = on
| Mar 10-16, 2018: Vice Chairman of the {{wp|Republican National Committee}}
| Mar 16-May 5, 2018: 9th Chairman of the {{wp|RNC|Republican National Committee}} 
| Mar 2018: ''Ex-officio'' co-Chairman of the {{wp|GOP Delegation Team}}
| Apr 7-Jun 30, 2018: 6th {{wp|U.S. Secretary of Defense|United States Secretary of Defense}}
| Apr 16-May 29, 2018: Member of the {{wp|MEC Board of Directors}}
| Jun 30-July 4, 2018: 15th {{wp|president of the United States}}
| Jun 30-July 4, 2018: {{wp|Commander-in-Chief}} of the {{wp|United States Armed Forces}}
| Jun 30-July 4, 2018: ''Ex-officio'' Chairman of the {{wp|National Security Council}}
| Jun 30-July 4, 2018: ''Ex-officio'' Chairman of the {{wp|National Economic Council}}
| July 11-Aug 22, 2018: Member of the {{wp|U.S. House of Representatives}} from {{wp|MEC}}'s {{wp|7th}} district
| July 13-Aug 22, 2018: {{wp|House Minority Whip}}
| July 17-Aug 18, 2018: Vice Chairman of the {{wp|Republican National Committee}} 
| Sept 1-5, 2018: Acting {{wp|Deputy United States Special Counsel}} 
| Oct 17-Nov 12, 2018: Member of the {{wp|U.S. House of Representatives}} from {{wp|MEC}}'s {{wp|7th}} district
| Oct 17-Nov 12, 2018: {{wp|House Minority Leader}}
| Oct 17-Nov 12, 2018: {{wp|Speaker pro tempore of the United States House of Representatives}}
| Nov 12, 2018-Jan 23, 2019: {{wp|United States Senator}} from {{wp|Indiana}}
| Nov 24, 2018-Jan 23, 2019: {{wp|Preisdent pro tempore of the United States Senate}} 
| Dec 12, 2018-Jan 2019: President of {{wp|Mock Election University}}
| Dec 12, 2018-Jan 2019: Dean of Foreign Policy of {{wp|Mock Election University}}
| Dec 15, 2019: Acting {{wp|vice president of the United States}}
| January 30-Mar 2, 2019: 8th {{wp|United States Secretary of Defense}} 
| Mar 2-14, 2019: {{wp|United States Senator}} from {{wp|Pennsylvania}} 
| Mar 2-14, 2019: {{wp|Senate Minority Leader}} 
| Mar 29-Apr 20, 2019: {{wp|Senior Advisor to the President}}
| Mar 14, 2019-Mar 21, 2020: ''Retired''
| Mar 22-Apr 15, 2020, : 5th {{wp|Lieutenant Governor of Heartland}}
| Apr 15-July 6, 2020: ''Retired''
| Jul 6-13, 2020: {{wp|United States Postmaster General}}
| Jul 26-Sep 1, 2020: {{wp|United States Secretary of Defense}}
----
}}
}}

'''Trey Michael Cranfield''' (born April 3, 2003) is an American politician who served as the 15th {{wp|president of the United States}} from June 30 until his resignation on July 4, 2018. He has served in multiple other offices during his nearly three year career, and has been awarded two {{wp|presidential Medals of Freedom}}, one with distinction from president {{wp|Maleek Diaz}} in 2019. Cranfield is recognized as one of the pioneers of {{wp|Mock Election Community}} politics and has been commended for his style of play by peers past and present.

==Early Life==

Trey Michael Cranfield was born on April 3, 2003 in {{wp|Jasper, Indiana}}. Although, he has and currently lives in {{wp|Paoli, IN}}.

Cranfield attended elementary school at Throop Elementary, graduating with academic honors, winning the honor roll every year. He also received the Presidential Award for Academic Achievement.

After graduating elementary school in good fashion, he attended {{wp|Paoli Jr. Sr. High School}}. He was the Secretary of the Paoli Jr. Sr. High School NJHS program, and the Vice President of the 9th grade class (freshman class).

Cranfield is also in the Pride of Paoli band program, one of the top notch programs in the state of Indiana. The band has won 15 ISSMA Championship titles, 6 runner-ups, and has been in the finals 34 times. The program is led by new band director, Benjamin Werne.

==Political Career==
Cranfield stumbled into {{wp|MEC}} politics in late December of 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=New face looks to jump MEC political career with poll about his views|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. He initially stayed back, and learned how the ways of the community worked before he began his official office career. His first political office run was in February, where he ran for the D-7 House of Representatives.

===1st D-7 HoR Run===
Cranfield’s first attempt at the {{wp|United States House of Representatives}} started in Mid-February<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield announces his candidacy for the House of Representatives' 7th District|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. He was going up against {{wp|Derpy Toucan}} in the primaries, who lied about Cranfield, saying he “deletes comments off of his post to eradicate freedom of speech”. The accusation was later found to be false, and was acknowledged by Toucan.

Cranfield went on to win the Republican Primary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield wins D-7 Republican primary in blow-out over semi-MEC veteran|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>, though it was a narrow margin. Toucan stated that voter fraud must’ve been the problem since he was in the race a good 2 weeks before Cranfield, and Cranfield was just in the race for a couple of days. Voter fraud was never found.

After winning the Primary, Cranfield faced a former President, {{wp|Kelvin Hawthorne}}, and {{wp|Speaker of the House of Representatives}} {{wp|Jackson Hitchcock}}. Hawthorne initially switched his party after the primaries, and Cranfield knew he had minimal support needed for a victory, and dropped out a few days before the General Election<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield drops out of election facing lacking support|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. Hitchcock went on to beat Hawthorne in the General Election. 

Since the election, Cranfield has gotten a long very well with both Jackson Hitchcock and Kelvin Hawthorne.

===2nd D-7 HoR Run===
Cranfield then ran again for the District 7 House of Representatives in the next election<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=For the second time, Cranfield announces his candidacy for the House of Representatives|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. He ran unopposed in the primaries, winning 92% of the vote with around 8% of the vote going to write-ins.

Cranfield faced a very popular member of the community. That was current MEC News CEO {{wp|Terrell McCann Jr}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=McCann plans to challenge freshman role-player Trey Cranfield in D-7 election |website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. It was a tough challenge for Cranfield, but he figured he could gain enough support to beat McCann, so he stayed in the race until the General Election. 

Come Election Day, McCann was the narrow favorite. At the end of the day, McCann was declared the winner<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=McCann defeats Republican Trey Cranfield in extremely narrow HoR race|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>, though it was very narrow. It was later found out that the vote split was a mere 3 votes.

===3rd D-7 HoR Run===
Cranfield ran for the D-7 House of Representatives yet again. He was unopposed for quite some time, until MEC veteran {{wp|Caleb Andrew}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Super-MEC veteran Caleb Andrew announces candidacy for D-7 House, faces rising Republican Trey Cranfield|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> began spreading speculation of joining the race. A few days later, Andrew announced that he would be challenging Cranfield for the D-7 Republican nomination. A couple days passed, and Cranfield announced the suspension of his campaign<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield suspends short-lived campaign upon the announcement of candidacy from Caleb Andrews|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> because of Andrew’s hefty base.

Andrew went on to win the primary, but in the General Election on March 24, he lost heftily against Democratic opponent {{wp|Mr. Panda}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Andrew loses in embarrassing defeat against freshman MEC legislator, Mr. Panda|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. 

===RNC Vice Chairman===
The RNC Leadership elections took place on March 10, 2018. Cranfield announced his run for Vice Chairman<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=The Republican National Committee hopes to gain vital faces to help end their slide in the United States Congress|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Trey Cranfield, staunch Republican, announces his candidacy for Vice Chair of the RNC|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> on the 5th. Cranfield never had an opponent in the race, and was immediately placed in the spot as Vice Chairman. The other leadership included;

*{{wp|Matthew Sorrells}}, Chairman<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Sorrells? Strong Republican figure comes out of nowhere to steal RNC Chairmanship in impressive landslide|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>
*{{wp|John Lampros}}, Deputy Chairman 
*{{wp|Stephen Bryant}}, Vice Deputy Chairman 
*President {{wp|Jon S. Überfeld}}, Donut Holder 

Cranfield left office on March 16, 2018 to be Chairman.

===RNC Chairman===

{{wp|Matthew Sorrells}} failed to properly conduct the House Primaries on March 16, 2018, which caused a lot of controversy. At around 9 pm on March 16, Sorrells announced that he would resign as Chairman of the RNC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Matthew Sorrells resigns as RNC Chair, leaves the leadership in turmoil as House primary question remains unanswered|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. Power was immediately handed over to Cranfield<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield assumes role as RNC Chair upon the resignation of Chairman Sorrells. The future for this rising MEC star looks bright as actions are already being taken within his new administration|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. He took office and later appointed {{wp|Max Finland}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield appoints woman Max Finland as the RNC Vice Chair, the first woman to hold the position, and the second woman to hold office in RNC leadership|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> as Vice Chairwoman. 

The following day, {{wp|Caleb Andrew}} called for an RNC meeting<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Newly inducted bureaucrat Caleb Andew loses his mind and tries to coup RNC leadership in meeting, and succeeds!|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. In that meeting, there was a vote to remove the current leadership and establish a new one. Some members called if the “GOP Coup”. Cranfield was voted to be removed as Chairman with a vote of 4-4, with the deciding vote undetermined. A few of the members changed their votes, and Cranfield remained Chairman with a vote of 6-2. Matthew Sorrells, who commended the chairmanship of Cranfield, was one of the no votes, along with {{wp|Adam Evans}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield remains Chair of the RNC amid chaos|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>

In that exact same meeting, Deputy Chairman {{wp|John Lampros}} was removed<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Lampros removed as RNC Deputy Chair in now-infamous RNC coup. Reactions from across the aisle bleak|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>, and Andrew was later appointed by Cranfield as the Deputy Chairman. He won the vote count 4-3 over {{wp|Jackson Hitchcock}}, who was in a Juvenile Delinquency Center at the time and was nominated as a joke. 

After that meeting, Cranfield created the “GOP Delegation”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Totalitarian GOP Delegation created amidst attempted GOP leadership coup. Chairman Cranfield loses popularity among top GOP politicians|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>, a team of members responsible for voting on the RNC (convention) location, and RNC (committee) related legislature. Cranfield has been criticized for the creation of this team. A couple weeks later, the team was abolished<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield finally abolishes GOP Delegation team, popularity remains low and not-so-controlled chaos still lingers from remnants of GOP Coup|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> by Cranfield following the hefty controversy. The abolishment was commended by a majority of the party. On April 7, 2018, Cranfield drafted the first ever GOP Rules Doctrine<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield drafts GOP Rules Doctrine, many Republicans wondering why|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>, much like a constitution, and put it into effect immediately.

Cranfield announced on April 29, 2018 that he would be resigning from the post as Chairman due to being tired of the job and controversy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=It's official! He's out! Cranfield to leave the post of Chair of the RNC after two months full of controversy and unstable governance|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. Cranfield officially resigned on May 5, 2018.

===Secretary of Defense===
Cranfield took the office of Secretary of Defense on April 7, 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield appointed to the post of Secretary of Defense by President-elect David Delaney|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. He was sworn in by Vice President {{wp|Conservative Chico}} as the 6th Secretary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield sworn in as the 6th United States Secretary of Defense|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>, succeeding Evan Hunt who was appointed by President {{wp|Jon S. Überfeld}} temporarily. On April 8, Cranfield ordered the military to DEFCON 4<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield orders military to DEFCON 4 on the heals of Syrian tensions. President Delaney working tirelessly behind-the-scenes to solve problem|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> due to US/Syrian tensions. That level was since retracted. In the latter parts of the {{wp|Delaney presidency}}, Cranfield worked along the {{wp|United States Secretary of Homeland Security}}, and the {{wp|Chairman of the Joint Chiefs}} ({{wp|Chris Miller}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield appoints Chris Miller as acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs ofb Staff amidst Syrian tensions|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>) on an {{wp|ISIS}} eradication plan that never advanced passed the stage of deliberation.

Cranfield was re-nominated as Secretary when President {{wp|Georgian}} took office<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=President Georgian re-nominates Cranfield as Secretary of Defense, Senate claps hands at the nomination and commends the work of Secretary Cranfield|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. On May 26, Cranfield officially took office again as the Secretary. Throughout the tenure of President Georgian, no major conflict arose, and no immediate or urgent action was needed.

On June 30, 2018, Cranfield resigned from the post of Secretary of Defense to be {{wp|President of the United States}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield resigns as Secretary of Defense. Why? You guessed it, President Cranfield!|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>.

===Vice Presidential Candidate===
In April 2018, {{wp|Max Finland}} announced that she had chosen Cranfield to be her Vice Presidential pick<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Finland chooses Cranfield to be Vice Presidential pick, even after their clash relating to his removal of her from the United States Senate|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>, for the {{wp|Season 14 Presidential election}}. On April 29, 2018, Cranfield became the GOP nominee for {{wp|Vice President of the United States}}.

On May 1, 2018, Finland left MEC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=BREAKING: Max Finland announces that she will be leaving MEC, and will be abandoning her Presidential ticket. Cranfield announces suspension of campaign with coaxing and education from Sam Martinez|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>, and left the ticket unattended to. Cranfield announced that the ticket would be abandoned, and no Republican would be on the ballot for the May 5, 2018 election.

===Presidential Campaign===
[[File:Cranfield Presidential poster.jpg|thumb|right|Cranfield’s {{wp|Presidential Campaign}} poster, June 2018]]

Cranfield announced his run for {{wp|President of the United States}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield announces candidacy for President of the United States via G+ post|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> on May 19, 2018. On May 25, 2018, Cranfield announced via MCNN that {{wp|Tom Kirkman}} would be his Vice Presidential pick<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Kirkman to be Cranfield's running mate in the season 15 elections. What many thought to be a move of jest is now a reality|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> (running mate) for the duration of the campaign. Throughout the month of June, Cranfield traveled to 7 different rally locations.

Many believe that the candidates themselves ran a primarily clean campaign<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Mud being slung behind the scenes, threats of running, accusations of treason, bribery, and alleged dirt on 90% of active MEC members, the season 15 Presidential election is nothing short of unprecedented|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>, but the members of each campaign had moments of vicious remarks and snide comments to each side. The only debate of the election cycle occurred on June 22, 2018. It featured the top three candidates in the race, being Cranfield, {{wp|Ivor Meśtrovič}}, and {{wp|Joshua Huntington}}. The general election commenced on June 23, 2018. 

Cranfield was elected President on June 24, 2018 with 29 votes to Meśtrovič’s 26 votes and Huntington’s 5 votes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=After a month of pure drama, Cranfield pulls of the Presidency in the closest nail-biter in modern MEC history|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. This was later announced as the closest Presidential race in MEC history. 

===Presidency===
''Main article: {{wp|Presidency of Trey Cranfield}}''
[[File:Russia invasion of Kiev.jpg|thumb|left|A draw-up by appointed Military adviser {{wp|Kelvin Hawthorne}} during the 2018 {{wp|Russian Invasion of Kiev}}, one of the factors of {{wp|Resignation of Trey Cranfield|Cranfield's resignation}}]]

Cranfield’s Presidency began on June 30, 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield sworn in as the 15th President of MEC. Right off the bat, drama swings with Senator Logan Rabe imersonating Cranfield in Discord chat. Rickey Adams suspicious of the impersonation, and denounces his support for the new President|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. Within the first 12 hours, {{wp|Russia invaded Ukraine}} and took over the capital of {{wp|Kiev}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=President Cranfield met with challenges within hours of his Presidency. Russian forces have taken over the capital of Ukraine. That's right, Russia is invading foreign territory|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. Cranfield responded by {{wp|sending in troops with intentions to retake the capital}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=President Cranfield sends in troops to the Russian hostile zone. Commander of the 6th Naval Fleet calls his actions "absurd" and "frankly incompetent"|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. He then removed troops from the hostile zone<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Upon scrutiny from MEC members, President Cranfield removes his troops from Russia. His approval rating diving within hours|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> with heavy scrutiny from members of the community. However, this event was voided.

On July 2, {{wp|India}} imposed 15 billion dollars in {{wp|tariffs}} on the United States<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=President Cranfield met with more challenges as Indiana imposes over 15 billion in tarrifs|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. Later on in the day, Cranfield proposed an infrastructure plan that would benefit the Indian economy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Rebuilding the Indian infrastructure? The President campaigned on an American-first agenda and sought to rebuild our own crumbling infrastructure, yet he sends United States expenditures to help revitalize foreign roads and bridges. Politicians on both sides of the Aisle OUTRAGED|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> with the help of Former {{wp|United States Senator}} {{wp|Andrew Dominguez}}. However, there was a large populist backlash to this decision. The next day, on July 3, Cranfield then retracted the former plan and placed retaliatory tariffs ($20B) on Indian goods (iron, steel, and petroleum)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield didn't back down this morning, and many MEC members and legislators woke up to the President retracting his former plan and placing 20 BILLION, that's right, 20 billion in retaliatory tariffs on the Indian economy|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. 

Numerous MEC members and officeholders including {{wp|Adam Daniel}}, {{wp|Ryan Servis}}, {{wp|Sam Martinez}}, and others were still not satisfied with the President's action, and called for his removal. Cranfield resigned as President on July 4, 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=And with that, he's done. President Cranfield to resign at 1am EST on Independence Day. President-Apparent Kirkman nominates Ryan Servis to be Vice President via MCNN|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>, following huge pressure from a minority in the community.

===4th D-7 HoR Run===
Cranfield announced on July 8, 2018 that he would be seeking the Republican Nomination for the District 7 House of Representatives<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Former President Cranfield announces intentions to seek the D7 House seat for the 4th time|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. He was unopposed in the primaries, and went on to face {{wp|Bryson Pittman}}, the democratic nominee<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield unopposed in Republican primaries and will face Bryson Pittman in the general|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. A couple days before the election commenced, {{wp|Dom Cons}}, relatively new to MEC politics, entered the race to challenge both Pittman and Cranfield<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cons enters D7 race, makes everything more interesting|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. Both Cons and Pittman fought on numerous occasions while Cranfield elected to remain neutral in the argumentative state<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Dogs running for Congress? Cons and Pittman just won't end constant attacks against one another. Meanwhile, the Cranfield camp is silent, except for one post denouncing the arguments|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>.

On July 22, Cranfield went on to beat Cons and Pittman, although the race was fairly close<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cons gives Cranfield a run for his money, yet loses to the MEC heavyweight|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cons performs very well against Bryson Pittman, leaving MEC stunned at the D7 results|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. He and the rest of the newly elected representatives were sworn in on July 25, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield finally an elected congressman, sworn in on July 25, 2018|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>

===House of Representatives (July-August 2018)===
====Committee Assignments====
*{{wp|United States House Committee on Armed Forces|House Armed Services Committee}}, Chairman 
*{{wp|United States House Committee on Homeland Security|House Homeland Security Committee}}, Ranking Member
*{{wp|United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs|House Veterans' Affairs Committee}}, Chairman 
*{{wp|United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs|House Foreign Affairs Committee}}, Ranking Member 

====Caucus Memberships====
*{{wp|Caucuses of the United States Congress|Congressional Air Force Caucus}}
*{{wp|Republican Study Committee}}
*{{wp|House Liberty Caucus}} 
*{{wp|House Freedom Caucus}}

====Tenure====
Cranfield, upon the resignation of {{wp|Ryan Servis}} to be {{wp|Vice President of the United States}}, was appointed to the House of Representatives 7th district<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=RNC Chair Maleek Diaz appoints Cranfield to the House seat vacated by Vice President Ryan Servis|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> by RNC Chair and {{wp|Speaker of the House of Representatives}}, {{wp|Maleek Diaz}}. 

Cranfield was elected D-7 rep on July 22, and was sworn in on July 25, 2018. On July 30, 2018, Cranfield introduced the "Leatherneck Separation Act", which acknowledges the separation of the {{wp|United States Marine Corps}} and the {{wp|United States Department of the Navy}}, establishing the {{wp|Department of the Marine Corps}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Legislation seeks to separate the Marine Corps and the Navy, and surprisingly, it passes!|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. The bill was passed by both the House and the Senate, and was later signed by President {{wp|Tom Kirkman}}.

On August 2, 2018, Cranfield introduced his second bill, the "Veterans Affairs Fair Debt Collection Notice Act", which encourages the {{wp|United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs}} to notify both veterans in debt, and Congress of the collection of debt. The bill ultimately passed the house 4-2-0.

Cranfield introduced his final bill to congress on August 14, 2018, the "Homeland Security Emergency Deployment Force Act", which entails a creation of a deployment force in the event of an emergency. That bill also passed the House of Representatives 4-2-0. The bill ultimately failed in the Senate 3-2-1.

===5th D-7 HoR Run===
[[File:Cranfield D7 Campaign poster.jpg|thumb|right|Cranfield's official campaign poster for his 5th D7 {{wp|House of Representatives}} run, October 2018]]

Cranfield announced his candidacy for the D-7 {{wp|U.S. House of Representatives}} on October 5, 2018. His announcement post is one of the most liked posts in MEC history, with 29.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield announces that he will be seeking a seat in Congress for the 5th time|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield's announcement post one of the most liked in MEC history. This kid has swag|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> He was, in the beginning, facing incumbent representative and Speaker of the House, {{wp|Kenneth Quinones}}. They had a debate around 15 minutes after Cranfield's announcement. A few days after the debate, Ossoff suspended his candidacy for House because he had "bigger ambitions"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Ossoff out, leaving Cranfield unopposed for his (re)-election bid|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. {{wp|Kelvin Hawthorne}} also announced his candidacy in the following days<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield's best friend in MEC to challenge him to a House seat|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. 

On October 12, Hawthorne launched an attack ad on Cranfield<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Hawthorne already launching attacks. But this one aims at Cranfield's views on homosexuality|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>, claiming he was against {{wp|LGBT rights}}. Cranfield responded with an attack ad of his own, saying "personal opinions don't reflect prejudice"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Former Congressman Cranfield responds to Hawthorne, sparking heat in this D-7 election|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> on a poster that had Hawthorne's name spelled out with the words "all talk" and "no action" on the a and n letters of his name. After that, Hawthorne released an ad of his congressional record in which Cranfield did the same. By this point, it was Thursday evening and many members of the community had become annoyed with the constant reiteration of attacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=MEC annoyed by the Hawthorne/Cranfield feud. Hawthorne finally calls truce late into the evening|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>

The ballot was dropped on late October 13. Cranfield won with 34 votes (54.84%) to Hawthorne's 25 votes (40.32%), with 3 votes allocated to the write in option (4.84%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=No surprise here, Hawthorne loses heftily to Cranfield in  D-7 general election|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>

===House of Representatives (October-November 2018)===
[[File:Speaker pro tempore Cranfield logo.jpg|thumb|right|Speaker pro tempore Cranfield logo, 2018]]
====Committee Assignments====
*{{wp|House Homeland Security Committee}}, Chair
*{{wp|House Armed Forces Committee}}, Chair
*{{wp|House Foreign Affairs Committee}}, Ranking Member 
*{{wp|House Social Services Committee}}, Ranking Member 
*{{wp|House Ethics Committee}}, Ranking Member

====Caucus Memberships====
*{{wp|Congressional Air Force Caucus}}
*{{wp|Republican Study Committee}}
*{{wp|House Liberty Caucus}}
*{{wp|House Freedom Caucus}}

====Tenure====
After his election to the seat, Cranfield was sworn in by {{wp|Speaker of the House of Representatives}}, {{wp|Aaron Stemann}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield sworn in as D-7 Representative, again|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> Within the first hour of his tenure, Cranfield introduced 4 pieces of legislation onto the House floor (3 bills, 1 concurrent resolution).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield introduces 4 pieces of legislation within 10 minutes of his swearing-in, leaving colleagues annoyed, impressed, and confused at the same time|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> He was also voted in to be the {{wp|House Minority Leader}}, and was appointed the 4th {{wp|Speaker pro tempore of the United States House of Representatives}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield assumes the role of two leadership positions,vows this House will be one of the most productive MEC has ever seen|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. All four pieces of legislation passed the House with {{wp|unanimous consent}}, and three of the pieces of legislation passed the Senate with one not having obtained a Senate sponsor.  

On October 25, 2018, Cranfield introduced the {{wp|Eliminating Congressional Bureaucracy Act of 2018}} (H.R. 0022), which makes it harder for un-elected members of MEC to introduce legislation to MEC Congressional legislative sessions. The bill passed the same day with 8 aye votes, and 1 nay vote. The bill is currently up for debate in the Senate.

Cranfield introduced {{wp|H.R. 0042}} on November 8, 2018, which is entitled the "School Threat Reporting Program Creation Act of 2018". The bill passed the House of Representatives unanimously, along with the Senate. Cranfield left office on November 12, 2018 to be a {{wp|United States Senate|United States Senator}}.

===D5 Senate Campaign===

{{wp|President of the United States|President}} {{wp|Adam Evans}} took the office of the Presidency on November 3, 2018, leaving District 5 vacant until a special election could be held. In the early parts of the following week, former {{wp|Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House}} {{wp|Jackson Hitchcock}} announced his candidacy. In the latter parts of the week, speculation was beginning to rise that Cranfield was considering a run for the seat. Upon this speculation, Cranfield made a post in the main MEC community that stated he would not be seeking the seat (mostly because of Hitchcock's candidacy). Hitchcock dropped out of the race on November 8, 2018. Moments later, Cranfield announced that he would be seeking election to the seat<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield announces his bid for a Senate seat, leaves MEC members astonished as he goes back on his word|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. A few hours prior, another MEC veteran, {{wp|Mark Kennedy Gallagher}} announced his candidacy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Italian MKG to challenge MEC giant to the vacant Senate seat|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. Former Speaker {{wp|Kenneth Quinones}}, coming off a month hiatus from the community, announced his candidacy as well, within the first couple of hours of his return. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Ossoff comes out of nowhere, announces bid for D-5 Senate seat, facing an Italian and a small town Hoosier|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>

On November 9, 2018, Gallagher made a post in the main MEC community expressing his immense discontent with Cranfield announcing his candidacy only two days before the election, stating that he "spent countless hours trying to win an election". It is noted that Gallagher had only posted two rallies and one town hall in the duration of his two-day campaign. Cranfield responded by commenting on Gallagher's post, which sparked a comment war between Cranfield, Gallagher, and former Acting President and Season 15 Democratic Presidential Nominee, {{wp|Ivor M}}. Tensions remained high as the ballot dropped on November 10, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=MKG and Cranfield spar day before the election, both attacking each others' candidacy announcement relative to the election date|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>

The ballot was released on November 10, 2018. Cranfield took an early lead over Gallagher, but the returns quickly shifted into Gallagher's favor. At one point overnight, Gallagher took a seven point lead over Cranfield, but that dwindled as the late morning came with a surge of Cranfield voters. By the afternoon, the race was tight and at points, changed leads. By the evening returns, Cranfield shifted ahead of Gallagher and won the general election portion by four votes. Since the race was considered a "jungle primary", the top two candidates then went into a runoff, which was held the following afternoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Super-ultra close D-5 Senate race goes into runoff, neither side has any indications of releasing tensions|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>

The polls for the runoff election opened at 1:35pm EST on November 11, 2018 between Cranfield and Gallagher. In the early returns, Gallagher opened up a 10 vote lead over Cranfield, but then quickly lost that lead in the span of around an hour. At the poll closings, Cranfield beat Gallagher by 4 votes, making it one of the closest D5 Senate races in modern MEC history. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield edges out Gallager in one of the closest Senate races in modern MEC history. Nonetheless, it's another victory in the Cranfield column|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>

===United States Senate (November-January 2019)===
[[File:Cranfield D3 re-election Logo.jpg|thumb|right|Cranfield's D3 (redisrict) re-election official campaign poster]]
====Committee Assignments==== 
*{{wp|Senate Environment and Public Works Committee}}, Chair 
*{{wp|Senate Committee on Rules and Administration}}, Chair
**{{wp|Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies}}, Chair
*{{wp|Senate Armed Services Committee}}, Chair
*{{wp|Senate Homeland Security Committee}}, Chair 
*{{wp|Senate Foreign Affairs Committee}}, Ranking Member
*{{wp|Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs|Senate Veterans Affairs Committee}}, Ranking Member
*{{wp|Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee}} (former)
*{{wp|Senate Budget and Finance Committee}} (former)

====Caucus Memberships====
*{{wp|Senate Coherence Caucus}}, Chair 
*{{wp|Congressional Coherence Caucus}}, Chair
*{{wp|Mock Election Liberty Caucus}}
*Congressional Air Force Caucus
*Congressional Biodefense Caucus
*Congressional Defense Communities Caucus
*Missile Defense Caucus
*{{wp|Climate Solutions Caucus}}
*Bipartisan Working Group to End Domestic Violence
*California Aerospace Caucus
*Congressional Caucus on Korea
*{{wp|Congressional Second Amendment Caucus}}
*Task Force on Anti-Terrorism and Proliferation Financing

====Tenure==== 
Cranfield was sworn in by {{wp|Vice President of the United States|Vice President}} {{wp|Ben Shair}} on November 12, 2018 to fill the vacant seat left by {{wp|President of the United States|President}} {{wp|Adam Evans}} <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield sworn in as a United States Senator. His post-presidency political career continues, and has no signs of stopping soon|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. Cranfield assumed the committee assignments of Evans, and is not a member of any caucus.

On November 12, 2018, Cranfield introduced the {{wp|NCCOA Creation Act of 2018}}, which creates the Climate Change Overwatch Administration, a sub-cabinet level department in the {{wp|United States Federal Government}}. The bill passed the Senate with unanimous consent, and is currently up for vote in the {{wp|United States House of Representatives}}. 

On November 14, 2018, Cranfield introduced his second piece of legislation to the Senate floor, which is the Enhancing Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative Act of 2018. The bill passed the Senate and the House, and was signed by President Evans. 

On November 16, 2018, {{wp|Russia}} inflicted aggression on the {{wp|Russia-Georgia border}}, leading to the response of the Georgian government. Cranfield, along with fellow Senator, {{wp|Ivor M}}, crafted the {{wp|Temporary Aid Package to the Sovereign State of Georgia}}, which provides United States military aid to assist Georgia in the conflict. The bill passed the Senate.

On November 24, 2018, Cranfield introduced the American Industrial & Middle Class Recovery Act, written by President {{wp|Adam Evans}} and co-authored by former congressman, {{wp|Andrew Dominguez}}. The bill easily passed the Senate, along with the House prior.

Cranfield presided over his first Senate confirmation hearing on November 26, 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield to chair the confirmation hearing of the United States Chief Justice|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>. The hearing was for {{wp|Kenneth Quinones}}, to be the {{wp|Chief Justice of the United States}}. Quinones failed by a vote of 1-6 with one vote still unaccounted for.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Quinones fails miserably in U.S. Senate vote to be the first Chief Justice of the United States since the impeached Justice Klingsberg|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref> Most in the community believe that the appearance of {{wp|United States Senate|Senator}} {{wp|Sam Martinez}} led to the downfall of the nomination due to the extremely fierce questioning and personal interrogation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Senator Martinez strikes again with his fierce, bold, and unafraid questioning, leads to the embarrassing demise of CJOTUS nominee, Kenneth Quinones|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>

On December 5, 2018, Cranfield introduced his 12th piece of legislation to the Senate Floor, the {{wp|Income and Pension Capping Alternative Act of 2018}} which provides an alternative system to income and pension capping. The bill passed easily through the senate, with two votes still unaccounted for. The bill was put up for vote in the House by Speaker Kelvin Hawthorne, and passed with no opposition. The bill was signed by {{wp|Acting President}} {{wp|Maleek Diaz}} on December 15, 2018.

Cranfield, on December 11, 2018, introduced two pieces of legislation to the Senate floor, including the {{wp|Servicemembers Improved Transition through Reforms for Ensuring Progress Act}}, disapproving a course of education provided by an educational institution unless the educational institution has adopted certain policies. He also introduced the {{wp|Religious Cultural Globalization in the United States Reduction Act of 2018}}, which adds consequences for groups and organizations that practice the mass display and forcing of religion on other groups and organizations. Both bills passed the Senate.

On December 19, 2018, Cranfield introduced the {{wp|Establishing a Ceremonial Congressional Delegation Act of 2018}}, which creates a congressional delegation based of geographical location by district. The bill is currently up for vote on the Senate floor. 

Cranfield was the primary Senate sponsor of {{wp|The Veteran Well Being Act}}, written by Representative {{wp|Mark Kennedy Gallagher}}. The bill easily passed both the House and the Senate on December 27, 2018.

Cranfield was re-elected {{wp|President pro tempore of the United States Senate}} on December 27, 2018 by a vote of 6-1-1 over challenger {{wp|George Cross}}, who surprisingly announced his candidacy on the Senate floor in executive session. 

Cranfield officially left office on January 24, 2019, upon him deciding not to run for re-election. Cranfield was succeeded by former President {{wp|Jon S. Überfeld}} as the district's Senator, and {{wp|Nathan Brown}} as President pro tempore. 

=====Rise to the leadership and election to President pro tempore=====
On November 24, 2018, Cranfield was elected to the post of {{wp|President pro tempore of the United States Senate}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Cranfield elected and sworn in as President pro tempore of the Senate amidst Constitution chaos and expulsion curiosity|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>, the senior-most and highest-regarded position in the Senate. After the {{wp|expulsion of Atton Pearson}}, the post was vacated. In addition to that, the {{wp|MEC Constitution}} was passed, with articles stating that the {{wp|President is ineligible to run for re-election, because of his home state of Kentucky}}, which sparked outrage in Congress and in the civilian side of the community. The vote was held in the early parts of the evening, and Cranfield was sworn in shortly thereafter as the 5th President pro-tem of the U.S. Senate.

=====Re-election=====
Early in the afternoon on November 24, 2018, {{wp|Tom Kirkman}}, co-MEC Moderator, gave semi-results and projected certain races, including the D-3 Senate race, featuring Cranfield v. {{wp|Dom Cons}}. At the "update", Cranfield was leading Cons 36-19 with minor candidate, {{wp|Robert Leary}} receiving 8 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Moderator Kirkman releases update on Senate elections, Cranfield up big with hours until poll closings|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>

At the official poll closings, Cranfield beat Cons with a margin of 36 votes to 21. Robert Leary, after the deletion of alt votes, finished with 6 votes (10%). Cranfield went on to serve his first full term in the United States Senate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Senator Cranfield wins "re"-election over heavyweight First Gentleman Dom Cons and minor candidate, Robert Leary to win his first full term in the Senate|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>

=====Removal of President Evans Controversy===== 
On December 1, 2018, at around 4:25pm EST, the {{wp|United States Cabinet}} invoked the {{wp|25th Amendment}} on President Evans, citing mental health complications and lack of fitness to properly serve as President of the United States. Cranfield swore {{wp|Vice President of the United States}} {{wp|Ben Shair}} in shortly thereafter. Cranfield released a statement at around 5pm EST that stated, in part "I can say that his [President Evans] removal has tilted us closer to a hybrid regime in this community. The imbalance of power between the MODs, Congress, the Executive Branch, and the biased opinions formed by those holding office in the latter have me genuinely concerned..." along with his recusal from the situation. President Evans was eventually reinstated as President in the middle parts of the evening, and the controversy was settled.

=====Filibuster of the Evans-Olabode Amendment===== 
On January 2, 2019, Senator Cranfield, in executive session with six other fellow Senators, heavily addressed the Evans-Olabode Amendment, regarding the federal minimum wage levels set forth with provisions in the bill. Cranfield and Senator {{wp|Ethan Fitzgerald|Fitzgerald}} traded jabs regarding the positives and negatives of the piece of legislation. 

Cranfield stated on many occasions that the bill is "full of loopholes and unspecific provisions and regulations regarding the federal minimum wage", citing the bills' many "contradictions", including TITLE II SECTION 201 and 202 regarding state and corporation exceptions to the legislation's overall content regarding federal minimum wage. Cranfield said in the latter parts of the session that fellow Senators should be focused "solely on crafting pinpoint legislation with no loopholes, no miscommunications, and no contradictions". Cranfield then went on to say that "a body that realizes that every member should be crafting legislation that is specific, comprehensible, and commendable from members of outside the [United States Federal] government, is a body that will succeed with carrying out the needs and problems of the American people. [Mr. President, I yield back all of the time I may have]". 

Toward the end of the session, the theme shifted to the rules of the United States Senate, in which Cranfield chairs the {{wp|Senate Committee on Rules and Administration}}. Cranfield, along with fellow Democratic Senator {{wp|Terrell McCann}}, noted that all Senators in the body should be fully educated on the Senate's floor procedure and rules. Cranfield cited "Every Senator on this floor needs to realize that this is not a body of loose canons and unregulated speaking time. I, just like the Senator of Pennsylvania noted, encourage all Senators to educate themselves of the standing rules of the United States Senate. What we've all witnessed this evening is a travesty, and hopefully will be corrected the next time we hold deliberative discussion regarding a boisterous subject."

Cranfield nayed the Evans-Olabode Amendment on January 2, 2019. This also led to the creation of the {{wp|Senate Coherence Caucus}}, founded by Senator Cranfield with assistance from Senator McCann. It was established through a call between the two Senators, and Cranfield was established as Chair of the caucus.

The debacle carried over into a second day of heated rhetoric from both sides, eventually culminating in community-wide attention and outreach. Former Representative {{wp|Jackson Hitchcock}} stated his loyal support to the President's legislation, while attacking Cranfield's moral character and his political ambitions and career in the community. Cranfield responded by stating that his "political career is not in a vulnerable state" and "nobody will ever silence me from voicing my own opinions. I was the first and only person to publicly display my opinion regarding this bill and its idea, and when that happens, I'm attacked and taken for some monster." 

The Evans-Olabode Amendment officially failed in the Senate on Thursday January 3, 2019 with the abstention of Senator {{wp|George Cross}}.


=====Response to the State of the Union=====
On January 6, 2019, President {{wp|Adam Evans}} held his first {{wp|State of the Union Address}}. The speech was primarily focused around the President touting his legislative and executive accomplishments. The address was very short, lasting only around nine and a half minutes. The address was broadcasted by MCNN, and was attended by the {{wp|Vice President}}, the {{wp|Speaker of the House}}, and other miscellaneous members of {{wp|Congress}}. 

Around an hour after the President's address, the {{wp|Congressional Coherence Caucus}}, chaired by Senator Cranfield, gave their official response to the State of the Union. It was broadcasted by MEC News, and was attended by Chairman Cranfield, Vice Chairman McCann, and other prominent members of the caucus. {{wp|President pro tempore of the Senate|President pro tempore}} and Chairman Cranfield was the one that spoke on behalf of the caucus. 

Cranfield's speech was heavily {{wp|rhetorical}} and incriminating. One of the lines of the address is as follows; 

{{Quote
|text= "As I close down this response, I also want to express my immense discontent with the President for singling me out regarding the stance I have taken in response to the {{wp|Administration’s policy}}. It’s not unifying, it’s not patriotic, and it certainly does not display statesmanship. However, with this administration, I can expect that, for this entire week has been glittered with the aforementioned."
<br>
- Senator Trey M. Cranfield; response to the State of the Union Address, January 6, 2019
}} 

Many members attending the response showed signs of testament and agreement as the Senator gave his remarks. After the conclusion of the fiery speech, the response was opened to questions, in which four were asked. The response lasted around seven minutes.

=====Second Re-election bid=====
Cranfield formally announced his candidacy for re-election on December 19, 2018, exactly one month before the election was to commence. On January 8, 2019, Cranfield traveled out of Washington D.C. to {{wp|Detroit, Michigan}} for his kickoff rally that attracted nearly 29,000 people. Cranfield's challengers in the race were former President {{wp|Jon S. Überfeld}}, and {{wp|Epideli II}}. {{wp|Ashton Shabazz}} was formerly in the race, but announced the suspension of his campaign on January 8, 2019. On January 14-15, 2019, Cranfield went inactive for the period of a week, periodically showing up in the MEC Chat. Officially, on January 18, 2019, Cranfield announced the suspension of his campaign, citing personal issues to be dealt with, leaving {{wp|Jon S. Überfeld}} and {{wp|Ryan Servis}} (who announced the day before election commencement), to fight for the seat in the election. {{wp|Jon S. Überfeld|Überfeld}} was declared the winner on January 22, 2019.

===Acting Vice President of the United States=== 
On December 13, 2018, owner {{wp|Ethan Kelly}} called for an investigation into the presidential election results, citing possible fraud and corruption, henceforth delaying the Season 19 Presidential Inauguration. On December 14, it was announced that upon the culmination of the presidency of {{wp|Adam Evans}}, {{wp|Speaker of the House}}, {{wp|Maleek Diaz}}, would be sworn in as {{wp|Acting President of the United States}}, and Cranfield as {{wp|Vice President of the United States|Acting Vice President of the United States}}. At 12:11pm EST on December 15, Cranfield was sworn in as the Acting Vice President of the United States<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield|title=Senator Cranfield sworn-in as Acting Vice President of the United States, temporarily suspended as Senator and PPT|website=www.googleplus.com/TreyCranfield}}</ref>, subsequently followed by Diaz as Acting President of the United States. Upon being sworn-in, it was the third time that Cranfield held office in the {{wp|Executive Branch of the United States Government}}, and the first time since his resignation from the Presidency on July 4, 2018.

Later in the afternoon, Cranfield resigned the post of Acting Vice President to resume his role as a United States Senator. Cranfield, in his resignation letter, noted that he just wanted to temporarily hold the position to provide assistance to Acting President Diaz, and felt that he fulfilled that responsibility. Cranfield is now the shortest serving Vice President in MEC history, Acting or not, holding office for 4 hours, 35 minutes and 34 seconds.

===Season 19 presidential election===
The {{wp|Season 19 presidential election}} is looked at as one of the most toxic federal elections in Mock Election history. The candidates in the general election were incumbent {{wp|Adam Evans}} and Senator {{wp|Ryan Servis}}. The election officially commenced on December 8, 2018, with the ballot being ran by moderators {{wp|Tom Kirkman}} and {{wp|David Delaney}}. In the earlier parts of the election, states such as {{wp|Indiana}} and {{wp|Kentucky}} were called, and gave no certain indication as to who the winner would be. But as the night and weekend went on, more and more states were being called, and by the time the polls closed, the results showed an electoral tie, in which Senator Servis edged out President Evans by 2 votes, triggering the {{wp|two-vote rule}}, meaning the election would be sent to the House and the Senate. 

President pro tempore Cranfield put up the Vice Presidential motion in the Senate shortly after the announcement, in which former Senator and Vice President Terrell McCann won unanimously. Cranfield was criticized by President Evans for putting up the motion in such a premature manner, but the voting continued. 

In the following days, Speaker of the House Maleek Diaz reluctantly put up the Presidential motion in the House, but finally did the vote in private messages three days after the polls closed. Most representatives pledged to support the winner of the popular vote, which was Senator Servis. 

However, during the Presidential vote, owner Ethan Kelly, in conjunction with former Moderator Jon S. Überfeld, announced that they would officially be reviewing the results of the election, due to suspected voter fraud and the handling of the ballots. On December 15, 2018, President Evans' term ended, and Speaker Diaz was sworn in as the Acting President, and Cranfield as the Acting Vice President, in which Cranfield resigned hours later to resume his position as a Senator. 

In the days after the redo ballot was announced, moderator Überfeld jokingly purged important government figures from the Mock Election main community in Google+, took over the MEC Wiki, and repeatedly changed the name and cover image of the Mock Election main community. Owner Ethan Kelly removed him as moderator and banned him from the community, re-appointed old mods, and added {{wp|Ivor M}} to the moderator team. 

The next week was full of attack-based campaigning and toxic separation. By the time the redo ballot had dropped, the community, already fatigued from the election, had separated into two factions based on who they supported, with the Servis faction led by leading instigators, {{wp|Jakob Tawney}} and former moderator {{wp|Tom Kirkman}}, and the Evans faction led by President Evans himself and close adviser {{wp|Benjamin Roy}}. 

That same week, President Evans dropped Vice President {{wp|Ben Shair}} of the ticket. He subsequently asked Cranfield to be his running mate, in which Cranfield heavily considered the option. However, Cranfield turned down the offer down in proxy, leaving Evans to choose Senator {{wp|Griffin Bates}} as his new running mate. In the following days, Shair left the campaign and vocally endorsed Servis. On December 25, 2018, Shair was banned from the community by owner Kelly. 

The redo election commenced on December 22, 2018, and without live results. The divisiveness was strong as ever, and tensions had already boiled over the top thrice before. On December 23, 2018, {{wp|Secretary of Health and Human Services}} {{wp|Logan Rabe}} committed by mass fraud by {{wp|bulk voting}}. The tally on Christmas Eve, with the bulk votes, was 350 for Servis and 47 for Evans. After the deletion of the bulk votes, Servis led 51-47. 

In the latter parts of Christmas Eve heading into Christmas Day, Ethan Kelly removed more fraudulent votes and reduced the overall tally. At around 1:30am on Christmas Day, Kelly announced the new results, which was 38 votes for Evans and 37 votes for Servis. This, of course, sparked outrage since earler, the vote count had Evans at 37, leaving many to wonder where that extra vote came from. It is believed it authentically came in before official poll closings. This sparked another battle between the pro-Evans and pro-Servis forces in the very early morning of Christmas Day. The battle eventually settled, and everybody went to sleep. 

On Christmas afternoon, Kelly announced another deletion in fraudulent votes, which saw President Evans at 37 votes, and Servis at 34 votes, with one write-in. That sparked more internal conflict, yet less heated than the morning before. Amidst all of the chaos with the redo ballot, Acting President Diaz resigned his position. Senator Cranfield declined the position of President (in this specific continuity, the government line of succession just keeps funneling downwards), leaving Acting Vice President Ivor M to be sworn in as the Acting President, with {{wp|Secretary of Commerce and Labor}} {{wp|Andrew Dominguez}} as the Acting Vice President. Those familiar to the Mock Election community know the Mestrovic/Dominguez Acting Administration duo has become odd naturalism.

On December 26, 2018, the results were announced, and President Evans defeated Senator Servis with 37 votes to 34 votes. At approximately 3:05pm EST, Cranfield administered the Oath of Office to the President and Vice President-Elect.

===Second Secretary of Defense Tenure (January-March 2019)===
On January 21, 2019, {{wp|President of the United States|President-Elect}} {{wp|Maleek Diaz}} nominated Cranfield to be the {{wp|U.S. Secretary of Defense|United States Secretary of Defense}}, despite Cranfield's plans of retirement. This is the fifth time Cranfield has been nominated to the position, and is the current longest serving cabinet secretary in MEC history with 84 days (2 months, 23 days) of service prior to his nomination.

On January 30, 2019, Cranfield held his confirmation hearing to be in the position, chaired by newly-elected {{wp|President pro tempore}} and Chair of the {{wp|Senate Armed Services Committee}} {{wp|Nathan Brown}}. He was officially confirmed just 15 minutes after the floor vote went up, being described by Senator {{wp|Raymundo Felix}} as "Frankly the MOST qualified nominee I have ever seen for any cabinet position. I was largely impressed with this hearing, therefore I vote AYE." Cranfield was confirmed unanimously by the Senate, with the vote count officially binding on February 1, 2019. He was sworn in by {{wp|Vice President}} {{wp|Ivor Mestrovic}} in the late evening of January 30, 2019.

On February 1, 2019, Cranfield announced the creation of the {{wp|United Nations International Defense Forum}}, a multi-day event comprised of national conversation regarding national defense mechanisms. By February 3, 2019, the deadline for nations to submit a delegation, 72 UN-member states had filled out an application, including the nations of {{wp|Syria}} and {{wp|North Korea}}, among others. Secretary Cranfield expressed his pleasure with the two nations via G+ post, in which received the commendation of fellow MEC members.

Cranfield left office on March 2, 2019 to be a {{wp|United States Senator}} upon his appointment after the resignation of {{wp|Mayowa Olabode}}. 

===Return to the United States Senate (March 2019)===
[[File:D4 Senator Cranfield Office Logo.png|thumb|right|The logo of Cranfield's D4 Senate Office]]

====Committee Assignments==== 
*{{wp|Senate Armed Services Committee}}, Chair
*{{wp|Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee}}, Chair
*{{wp|Senate Committee on Rules and Administration}}, Ranking Member
**{{wp|Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies}}, Ranking Member
*{{wp|Senate Appropriations Committee}}, Ranking Member
*{{wp|Senate Homeland Security Committee}}, Ranking Member

====Caucus Memberships====
*{{wp|Mock Election Liberty Caucus}}
*Congressional Air Force Caucus
*Congressional Biodefense Caucus
*Congressional Defense Communities Caucus
*Missile Defense Caucus
*{{wp|Climate Solutions Caucus}}
*Bipartisan Working Group to End Domestic Violence
*California Aerospace Caucus
*Congressional Caucus on Korea
*{{wp|Congressional Second Amendment Caucus}}
*Task Force on Anti-Terrorism and Proliferation Financing

====Tenure==== 
Cranfield was sworn in as a {{wp|United States Senator}} on March 2, 2019 by {{wp|Vice President}} {{wp|Ivor Mestrovic}}, his second tenure in the position. Unlike his first tenure, he now serves in {{wp|District 4}} and is from the state of {{wp|Pennsylvania}}, where he holds {{wp|legal residency}}. In executive session on March 2, Cranfield switched his party caucusing affiliation from {{wp|Democrat}} to {{wp|Independent}}, which he informally noted he'd do to {{wp|DNC Chairman}} and {{wp|Senator}} {{wp|Raymundo Felix}}. Upon switching his caucus affiliation, Cranfield immediately assumed the role of {{wp|Senate Minority Leader}} since he is the only non-Democrat in the Senate. 

Late in the evening of March 2, there was a vote held for {{wp|President pro tempore of the United States Senate}} after the resignation of Senator {{wp|Nathan Brown}} who left after his close loss in the {{wp|Season 21 presidential election}}. Cranfield decided to run and faced {{wp|District 1 Senator}} {{wp|Ethan Fitzgerald}}, the Assistant Floor Leader. The binding vote count was 3 for Fitzgerald and 2 for Cranfield. {{wp|Senator McCann}} was the proctor and could not cast a vote either way, making the simple majority 3, which Fitzgerald reached.

Cranfield resigned on March 14, 2019 and announced his retirement from MEC politics after over a year-long career, making his longevity one of the longest in the community.

==Retirement from politics==
Following Cranfield's retirement from politics in the MEC arena, he accepted an offer to be an Advisor to {{wp|President Quentin Lewis}}, who succeeded {{wp|Easton Wilkins}} after his retirement. The job was seen to be Cranfield's wind-down from politics, considering his immediate departure would cause speculation. His capacity in the role was relevant for nearly one evening, but he served officially in the roll from March 29 to April 20, 2019. His official title was the {{wp|Advisor to the President for Foreign Military Affairs}}.

Cranfield's duties on the staff of President Lewis were stricly limited after his growing inactivity in the group along with the resolution of the {{wp|China/Vietnam Territorial Waters Skirmish of 2019}}. 

It was rumored in mid-April that Cranfield was expected to receive the {{wp|Presidential Medal of Freedom}} - the highest civilian award - for his tremendous and longevity of service to the United States. He was officially awarded the Medal on April 18, 2019 by the President.

With his awarding of the medal, he became one of three members in the community to receive two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the other members being former political rival and United States Senator {{wp|Ivor Mestrovic}} and MEC Founder {{wp|Tim Taft}}. {{wp|President Diaz}} awarded Cranfield the Medal before leaving office. Both Mestrovic and Taft also received the Medal on the night of April 18.

On June 29, 2019, Cranfield made an impromptu visit to check on current members of the community, where he engaged in a fight regarding abortion with a new female member, {{wp|Heidi Allen}}. The debate was heavily criticized by members of the community. It was speculated on the same day that Cranfield would be challenging both Allen and good friend {{wp|Kelvin Hawthorne}} for the {{wp|District 3 Senate}} seat, his former constituency. Even with good support in polling, Cranfield later denied that he would be seeking election to the seat, but noted “future political endeavors will not be ruled out”, in the same post.

Since the visit in late June, Cranfield has rarely appeared in the community. He made a post on November 28, 2019 wishing members a Happy Thanksgiving, and again on December 24, 2019 noting his two-year anniversary of joining the community, a significant landmark for members of the community, past, present, or inactive.  

Cranfield's lone appearance in the {{wp|MEC Chat}} since August of 2019 came on January 2, 2020, where he caught up with a few members and chatted informally with good friends {{wp|Terrell McCann}}, {{wp|Nathan Brown}}, and {{wp|Samuel Martinez}}. 

Since his retirement and the speculation of the termination thereof in the middle of 2019, Cranfield has been pressured by many to consider rejoining the community's active political arena. He has declined each of the requests. It is believed that he was approached by incumbent president {{wp|Chase Stevens}} in January 2020 to serve in the administration, in which he declined. It is noted that he has also been approached by the former {{wp|Tawney}} and {{wp|Sanders}} administrations to serve in a Defense Department capacity, each being declined by Cranfield.

On March 16, 2020, amidst the {{wp|2019-20 coronavirus pandemic}}, Cranfield made a post in the community. A line in the post read "During this time of cultural vulnerability and inconsistency, let us always know that the United States is stronger than any enemy, seen or the opposite thereof."

===Second speculation of return===
On March 21, 2020, Cranfield re-entered the MEC Chat after a nearly three month hiatus, where it was rumored he was in a call with the {{wp|MEC establishment}}, including {{wp|vice president}} {{wp|Tom Kirkman}}, former {{wp|president}} {{wp|Jakob Tawney}} and others for upwards of three hours. At around 6:00 am (UTC; 2:00 am EST), Cranfield made a post in the {{wp|MeWe}} community pledging his opposition to the {{wp|2020 secession of Heartland}}, in which he said "It is my firm belief that the citizens of Heartland deserve an authentic and realistic sense of government and the enterprise of choice." 

After the post dropped, many in the community began to spread the idea that Cranfield was planning a run against incumbent governor {{wp|Rickey Adams}} -- who took office on March 20 as a result of the arrest of {{wp|Henry Terry}} -- in the upcoming {{wp|recall election}}.

===July 2020 return===
In early July of 2020, Cranfield made multiple appearances in the MEC chat and the main community to check up on members of the community. In the early hours on July 6, he was nominated as the {{wp|United States Postmaster General}}, and took office shortly thereafter. He was also expected to be a top challenger in the {{wp|July 2020 Heartland Senate special election}}. On July 8, 2020, Cranfield announced he would be running to replace Martinez for the seat. On July 12, Cranfield lost the election to {{wp|Armin Navabi}}. 

==Attempted return to politics==
===2020 Heartland gubernatorial campaign===
[[File:Cranfield gubernatorial campaign.jpg|thumb|right|Cranfield's gubernatorial campaign poster, 2020]]

At around 9:30 pm (UTC; 5:30 pm EST) on March 21, Cranfield made a post in the MeWe community officially announcing his candidacy for {{wp|Governor of Heartland}}, following immense speculation all day after his post from earlier that morning, which received 16 likes. After the post dropped, Cranfield received the endorsements from {{wp|vice president}} {{wp|Tom Kirkman}}, {{wp|Jakob Tawney}}, {{wp|secretary Andrew Dominguez}}, and others. Within the first hour of his announcement, he received 13 endorsements. Among those, incumbent {{wp|Governor Rickey Adams}} announced that he would be suspending his re-election campaign in support of Cranfield. The election was scheduled for sometime in mid-April, and Cranfield was running {{wp|unopposed}} until April 12, when {{wp|Heartland Attorney General}} {{wp|Marty Davies}} entered the race. He wasn't seen as a viable opponent to Cranfield.

On March 22, Cranfield became the {{wp|Lieutenant Governor of Heartland}} as a result of his campaign for governor. 

On April 14, Cranfield suspended his campaign for Governor amidst growing inactivity and the suspension of his political comeback. 

====Lieutenant Governor of Heartland (March-April 2020)==== 
On March 22, Cranfield was appointed {{wp|Lieutenant Governor of Heartland}} by Governor {{wp|Rickey Adams}}, after the resignation of former Lieutenant Governor {{wp|Roman Thaddeus}}. He was appointed because he was believed to win the upcoming special gubernatorial election. He was confirmed by the {{wp|State Legislature of Heartland|state legislature}} by a vote of 3-0 in the late afternoon of March 22, and officially took office shortly thereafter.

On April 5, it was rumored that Cranfield had a conversation with {{wp|president of the United States|president}} {{wp|Ethan Fitzgerald}} about accepting the position of {{wp|Secretary of the Treasury}}, after the sudden resignation of {{wp|Andrew Dominguez}}, who conspired a run against the president with former presidential candidate and former Senator {{wp|Brett Patrick}}.

On April 6, the talks with the president continued, but many media outlets were speculating Cranfield would continue to pursue his candidacy for {{wp|Governor of Heartland}}, where he continued to run unopposed and with immense support from his peers. Cranfield never released an official statement about his plans or ambitions with the Fitzgerald Administration.

Cranfield announced on April 14 that he would be resigning as Lieutenant Governor, effective at 11:59 pm EDT on the same day, amidst the suspension of his attempted political comeback.

==Second return to politics==
===July 2020 Heartland Senate special election===
[[File:Cranfield Senate campaign July 2020.jpg|thumb|right|Cranfield's Senate campaign poster, 2020]]
On July 8, 2020 Cranfield announced for the second time that he would be suspending his retirement, this time becoming a candidate in the {{wp|July 2020 Heartland Senate special election}}. He is running to replace Senator {{wp|Sam Martinez}}, who was appointed a week prior to the election. In the election, which is Cranfield's first with the {{wp|ranked-choice voting}} system in the community, he is challenging former Republican congressman {{wp|Armin Navabi}}, former {{wp|vice president}} {{wp|Harvey Long}}, and Democrat {{wp|Fletcher Scott}}.

In the evening hours of July 12, the polls closed for the special election, and Cranfield and Navabi were in the top two for most votes received. Cranfield, Navabi, Long and Scott advanced to the second round of the RCV process, with the write-in option receiving the fewest numbr of votes with four (7.69%). In the second round, Navabi edged Cranfield by a margin of 38.5% to 34.6%, or two votes. Fletcher Scott received the third most votes in the second round, earning an over-performing 17.3% (nine votes). Harvey Long received five votes and was eliminated in the second round. Navabi closely defeated Cranfield in the third round, only achieving a 1.9% cushion, or one vote. Scott finished nine votes off the pace and finished third in the election with a total of 21.12%. 

In the final round of the redistribution, Navabi handily defeated Cranfield, winning 30 votes to the latter's 22. This would become the first election that Cranfield lost since his second run for a seat in the {{wp|U.S. House of Representatives}} in February 2018, falling just two votes short to {{wp|Terrell McCann}}. It is the first time that Cranfield has been electorally denied a seat in the {{wp|United States Senate}}, where he has cumulatively served two terms. It is also the first time that the candidate with the most first preference votes went on to lose the race for a seat in congress. Cranfield defeated Navabi by one vote at poll-closing in the first preference vote column (19-18). This  was also the lowest turnout for a federal election in which Cranfield participated with just 52 votes.

===Secretary of Defense nomination===
On July 13, 2020, following his loss to {{wp|Armin Navabi}} in the {{wp|Heartland Senate special election}}, Cranfield accepted the nomination from president {{wp|Tom Kirkman}} to be the {{wp|United States Secretary of Defense}}. Cranfield has been nominated to this post by three previous presidents and has served the same number of terms. He briefly served under president {{wp|Jayanth Karuturi}} following the resignation of president {{wp|A Proud Georgian}}, making the total number of presidents under whom he has served as five. Currently, Cranfield is the {{wp|longest-serving cabinet official in MEC history}}. 

Cranfield took office on 26 July 2020 subsequently following his unanimous confirmation by the {{wp|United States Senate}}, and left office upon the conclusion of {{wp|President Kirkman}}'s third term on 1 September 2020. Following his tenure, Cranfield expanded his total cabinet service to well over four months in the community, serving longer than any present or former MEC Cabinet official combined.

==Public image / popularity==
===Early MEC===
Cranfield, upon joining MEC, saw very stagnant popularity growth, mostly due to his short inactive spree from December 25, 2017 to January 12, 2018. Cranfield gained a little name recognition after his barely failed D-7 House campaign against {{wp|Terrell McCann}}, ushering in the support of former Senate candidate {{wp|Ryan Servis}}, former {{wp|RNC Chairman}} and {{wp|Secretary of Defense}}, {{wp|Maleek Diaz}}, among others. 

The third time he ran for a congressional seat, in March, his popularity still lacked, yet he was backed by a few prominent MEC members. He of course dropped out after veteran {{wp|Caleb Andrew}} announced his candidacy, who went on to be embarrassingly defeated in the inevitable blue wave of March 2018. 

===RNC Chairmanship===
On March 16, 2018, Cranfield took over the post of the Chairman of the {{wp|RNC|Republican National Committee}}, due to the resignation of Chairman Sorrells. Cranfield was still seen as a skeptical, hard-right Republican figure, who opposed rights for members of the LGBTQ community, abortions, and other important topics. As the Chairmanship of Cranfield progressed, he faced a grueling test with {{wp|Mendel Ratinov}} regarding his authoritarian views in his governance. 

Cranfield was sued by Ratinov on his birthday, April 3, 2018, for his failure to properly conceive power in the Republican National Committee. The lawsuit was later disregarded by owner Ethan Kelly, and Ratinov left the Republican party. At this point, Cranfield's popularity was reaching fast growth, as bipartisan figures from Congress, the Executive Branch, and party establishment were beginning to see his political motives. 

===Secretary of Defense Nomination by President Delaney and tenure===
Cranfield, upon being selected to be the Secretary of Defense by then President {{wp|David Delaney}}, faced no political opposition within the Republican Party's mainstream politics, and won in an 80-20% landslide over {{wp|JP Cenzoprano}} in the March leadership elections. Cranfield, still trying to gain popularity among vitals in the simulation, found this as an opportunity to showcase his military might and knowledge. 

Cranfield simultaneously served as SoD and Chair of the RNC. In the Syrian crisis, Cranfield played a vital role of assisting President Delaney on alternatives to combat the growing problem. Cranfield received the heavy commendation from both the Secretary of Homeland Security ({{wp|Mark Kennedy Gallagher}}) and the President. 

In the latter parts of his SoD tenure, Cranfield was seen as primarily a {{wp|war-monger}} and military opportunist. He worked to drastically increase the military budget, sought legislation to ban homosexuals from joining, a looked to incorporate more modern technology into foreign bases that lacked.

===Presidential Election and Presidency===
Cranfield gained the most political traction during his Presidential run in the latter parts of May into the latter parts of June. Cranfield campaigned tirelessly alongside {{wp|Tom Kirkman}}, and {{wp|Matthew Sorrells}}. One of the most controversial parts of the campaign was when then DNC Chairman {{wp|Sam Martinez}}, requesting the post of {{wp|Secretary of State}} recorded and transcribed a phone call between Cranfield, Kirkman, and himself. The call was seen by the leaders of the campaign as "regretful" and "something we don't recommend in future references". 

It came as a shock to many members of the community when Cranfield won the Presidential election over DNC heavyweight {{wp|Ivor M}}, one of the biggest rising political figures in the community. The popularity of Cranfield rose and fell drastically over the course of 72 hours, with the {{wp|Russia crisis}}, {{wp|India crisis}}, and the {{wp|impersonation crisis}} that plagued his presidency. 

Cranfield, ironically, never lost much popularity following his resignation on July 4, 2018, confusing many. Just 7 days later, Cranfield would be appointed to serve in the {{wp|US House of Representatives}}, a position he had been eyeballing for months. 

===Post-presidency===
Cranfield faced a lot of important responsibilities following his short presidency. On July 11, 2018, RNC Chairman and later {{wp|President of the United States}}, {{wp|Maleek Diaz}} appointed him to fill the D-7 House seat vacated by {{wp|Vice Presidential Nominee}} {{wp|Ryan Servis}}, He took office the same day, while being on a trip in the state of {{wp|Texas}}. Two days later, Cranfield was elected as the {{wp|House Minority Whip}}, beating fellow congressman {{wp|Jakob Tawney}}. 

Despite the events of the Cranfield Presidency, his popularity and approval continued to incline due to his transparently public time as a congressman. In his first tenure, Cranfield crafted three successful House floor bills, including one that separates the {{wp|Marine Corps}} and the {{wp|Department of the Navy}}, creating the {{wp|Department of the Marine Corps}}. 

In the latter parts of his term, Cranfield was attacked by subsequent opponent {{wp|Dom Cons}} for not presenting, sponsoring, or voting on more bills during his time in Congress. Cranfield, along with his base, was relatively not phased by the accusations, considering he won the election with 42% with a three man field and a 92 vote turnout, one of the highest ever, since owner {{wp|Ethan Kelly}} had been promoting the community recently before the election. Most of the incoming members were {{wp|progressives}}, and shifted the balance of {{wp|Congress}} in the July elections. 

After the end of his first full term, Cranfield had decided not to run for re-election, citing that he was wanting to follow other opportunities in the community. Cranfield was unemployed for nearly two months after his congressional term ended, until he became the Deputy {{wp|United States Special Counsel}}, appointed by then {{wp|United States Attorney General}} {{wp|Terrell McCann}}, to help investigate prior occurrences with Presiding Special Counsel {{wp|Bryson Pittman}}. Cranfield was only in the position for four days, until the investigation ended. 

One month later, Cranfield officially announced his candidacy for a second term in the {{wp|US House of Representatives}}, this time with almost peak recognition by the community, party establishment, and fellow political peers. The campaign was primarily rough, and brought down, yet slightly, the approval of both Cranfield and opponent, {{wp|Kelvin Hawthorne}}. At the end of the election, Cranfield pulled through in a surprising over-performance with 54% of the vote, compared to Hawthorne's 40%. 

During his second, nonconsecutive House term, Cranfield was seen as the most productive in recent Congresses, putting up four pieces of legislation within the first hour of his term, being appointed and unanimously approved as the {{wp|Speaker pro tempore of the House}}, and introducing two more bills to the House before he left to be a US Senator. All the bills that were introduced by Cranfield passed with either overwhelming or unanimous consent by his colleagues. Also prominent in his second House term, Cranfield was responsible, alongside {{wp|Andrew Dominguez}} on the sustainability of the House voting record and legislative document. His overall time in congress helped dramatically to boost his credibility among fellow MEC politicians and citizenry voters. 

President {{wp|Adam Evans}}, one of the most controversial Presidents in history, was inaugurated on November 3, 2018, and a special election was to be held. Originally, the only candidate was former congressman {{wp|Jackson Hitchcock}}. Hitchcock dropped out of the race on November 8, 2018. Many prominent members of the community urged Cranfield to run, citing that he would have the best chance to attain the seat over any other potential opposition. Both {{wp|Mark Kennedy Gallagher}} and {{wp|Kenneth Quinones}} announced their candidacies subsequently following Cranfield. This, somehow, sparked outrage between MKG and Quinones, considering the two felt as if they deserved the seat "more" than Cranfield. The constant bickering caused the community some immediate reprieve, and the race was considered to be closed. Cranfield barely beat Gallagher in the special election, receiving 44% to Gallagher's 38%. He also narrowly edged out MKG in the runoff election, winning 51-46%, making it one of the closest Senate races in history. 

====United States Senator====

Cranfield's approval maintained impressive status as he took the oath as a {{wp|United States Senator}} with no surprise from MEC peers and now Senate colleagues. In his first term, Cranfield introduced four pieces of successful legislation. His immediate clique and group of colleagues began expanding into a powerful group of vital legislators, which was known as the {{wp|Mock Election Libery Caucus}}, a congressional caucus comprised of members from the House and the Senate. The caucus was successful in the passing of the {{wp|MEC Constitution}}, the removal of {{wp|President Adam Evans}}, the acting Presidency of {{wp|Ben Shair}}, the impeachment of Senate President pro tempore {{wp|Atton Pearson}}, among others. 

Once Pearson left office after his impeachment, Cranfield was selected unanimously to become the President pro tempore of the Senate, and immediately became recognized as a powerful presence, with the Liberty Caucus on his side, and fully cooperative congress. Cranfield was known to have said on many occasions, "the dumber the House of Representatives is, the more I can accomplish in this position, and I love it". 

Cranfield's popularity and recognition soared in the middle to latter parts of his term. By the middle of his time in the Senate, he had introduced 13 pieces of successful legislation to the Senate floor. On November 24, 2018, Cranfield was easily elected over second-time opposition, {{wp|Dom Cons}}. 

=====Increase in power and popularity=====

Towards the end of his term, Cranfield became more vocal on his policies and his opposition of {{wp|Adam Evans}}, mostly because of the President being condescending to him regarding a vote on the {{wp|Evans-Olabode Amendment}}, a {{wp|federal minimum wage}} bill that rose the rates to $15 by 2024. A very heated exchange took place regarding the amendment on January 1, 2019 between the President and Cranfield. On January 2, 2019, he held a closed-door session with fellow Senators about the ordeal. It was classified as "salty", "distasteful", and "powerful". Cranfield still enjoyed very impressive approval ratings, and had a lot of room to test the waters, in which he elaborated on many times following the session and why he chose to become much more vocal regarding his opposition to President Evans' policies. 

Cranfield became perhaps the most powerful person in the community following the vote on the amendment, where it failed overwhelmingly after the session. Cranfield privately considered it a massive win, and boasted it to the President on few occasions, telling the President "not to mess with me, for I have tools you can not discover nor destroy. There's a blockade, Mr. President, I recommend you let it be". 

At this point, the feud between the President and Cranfield just shifted to ridiculous proportions, especially following the {{wp|State of the Union Address}}, where the President singled out Cranfield on multiple occasions. Cranfield, along with the newly founded and extremely credited and powerful {{wp|Congressional Coherence Caucus}} gave their response, and attacked the President on many things, including one line that stated, "when will the dictatorship end, Mr. President?". Ironically, the new Speaker of the House was {{wp|Tom Kirkman}}, who then wished to avoid gridlock, yet threatened Cranfield to block all {{wp|Senate Coherence Caucus}}-sponsored legislation if it had made it to the House floor. Cranfield welcomed the idea of gridlock, especially if it included {{wp|pinpoint legislation}} that he believed as the right thing.

=====Bout in the political hierarchy===== 

On January 11, 2019, Cranfield, in an unofficial joint deliberation of Congress, regarding the budget, was cut off with speaking time, and banned from the Discord server. Speaker Kirkman cited that Cranfield "has went on too long" and "other people are in congress, not just you". This infuriated him to the point where he publicly announced that gridlock had officially arrived in the United States Congress between himself and Kirkman. The event became a bout as to who could become the most powerful person in MEC politics, Cranfield and the Congressional Coherence Caucus or Kirkman and the Evans loyalists in the House.

=====Retirement from the Senate=====

Former President {{wp|Jon Überfeld}}, plagued with problematic aggravation, abuse of power, banishment from the community, and other problems, had announced his intentions and candidacy to challenge Cranfield in the District 3 Senate race to be held the weekend of January 19, 2019. Cranfield led in many early polls with immense support. He traveled to two different rally locations until his stint of inactivity began in the late evening of Monday January 14, 2019. On January 17, 2019, Cranfield announced the suspension of his campaign following lowering poll support and personal issues.

Cranfield left his position being regarded as one of the most aggressive, passionate, and powerful legislators in MEC community history. Fellow congressman and former adversary {{wp|Mark Kennedy Gallagher}} noted that Cranfield was the {{wp|LBJ}} of MEC politics, congress, and Senate.

====Secretary of Defense (second tenure)====
Cranfield took office as Secretary of Defense on January 30, 2019, almost a week after separating himself from the MEC political arena and regaining friendships with his closest adversaries. Cranfield's vocalism had been on a steady declination since his oath. Cranfield resigned on March 2, 2019 to return to the {{wp|United States Senate}} following the resignation of {{wp|Mayowa Olabode}}.

====Return to the United States Senate====
Cranfield returned to the {{wp|United States Senate}} on March 2, 2019 with a much lessened amount of name recognition after being politically hibernated for nearly two months. He was sworn in by {{wp|Vice President}} {{wp|Ivor Mestrovic}}. He resigned on March 14, 2019 and retired from MEC politics, exiting as one of the most effective, popular, and charismatic politicians to have ever been in the community.  

==Political Views==
===Abortion, sex education, and stem-cell research===
Cranfield has publicly expressed his opposition to {{wp|abortion}}, calling it "unethical" and "morally wrong". Cranfield is also noted to have favored time in {{wp|federal prison}} for anyone who partakes in the practice. He has received a lot of criticism for his views.

Cranfield has criticized {{wp|comprehensive sex education}}. He believes strongly in an abstinence-education system. He is quoted saying on record; "teaching about sexual behaviors does not deviate young teenagers from engaging in sexual activity, yet it encourages them to try it out and see for themselves how they "might like it", whereas an {{wp|abstinence}} education program encourages said teenagers to steer away from sexual activity until it is appropriate."

Cranfield is a vital supporter of the {{wp|embryonic stem-cell research program}}, noting the positivism of its works and breakthroughs. In a post political debate, Cranfield asserted that "the [embryonic stem-cell] research program helps with educating and informing millions of Americans on what exactly is happening within the bodies of millions.

===LGBT Rights===
Prior to {{wp|coming out as gay}} in February of 2019, to the surprise of many, Cranfield held many prejudiced views toward the {{wp|LGBT}} community as a cover-up for his real self-identification. Since his coming out, Cranfield has been very open about his sexuality and has been straight-forward with his past and approach to the topic. 

Mostly in 2018, Cranfield had been strongly opposed to legislative recognition of {{wp|LGBT}} rights, asserting at one time that "it has a tendency to cause millions of straight-practicing people to feel discriminated against, or walked on". In addition, Cranfield supported the idea of companies being able to deny-access to homosexual couples if they see fit.

In MEC, Cranfield had been widely criticized for his views relating to LGBT rights, many calling him a "mini {{wp|Mike Pence}}".

Cranfield has also said that homosexuals should not serve in the military, saying, "Homosexuality is incompatible with military service because the presence of homosexuals in the ranks weakens unit cohesion, and causes collateral distraction within the deployment force." Cranfield opposed the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," saying that allowing gays and lesbians to openly serve in the military would "have an impact on unit cohesion and attentiveness".

In the latter parts of 2018, Cranfield stated that he had began changing his views on homosexuality, yet not drastically. He is known as an {{wp|inexpressive}} homosexual, and wishes for equality, not special grants.

===Economic Policy===
Cranfield is a strong proponent of a strong economic plan, and favors the economy of U.S. President {{wp|Donald Trump}}.

Cranfield also strongly believes that free markets and individual achievement are the primary factors behind economic prosperity. To this end, he has publicly advocated in favor of {{wp|laissez-faire economics}}, fiscal {{wp|conservatism}}, and eliminating government run {{wp|welfare}} programs in favor of private sector nonprofits and encouraging personal responsibility.

In addition, Cranfield opposes a government-run {{wp|single-payer health care system}}, claiming it constitutes socialized medicine and is in favor of a personal or employer-based system of insurance, supplemented by {{wp|Medicare}} for the elderly and {{wp|Medicaid}}, which covers approximately 40% of the poor.

Cranfield supports increased health insurance portability, laws promoting coverage of {{wp|pre-existing medical conditions}}, a cap on malpractice lawsuits, implementing a streamlined electronic medical records system, an emphasis on preventative care rather than emergency room care, and tax benefits aimed to make health insurance more affordable for the uninsured and to promote universal access. He also generally opposes government funding for elective abortions, as noted above.

===Foreign Policy===
Cranfield strongly supports {{wp|unilateralism}} on issues of national security, believing in the ability and right of the {{wp|United States}} to act without external support in matters of its national defense. In general, Cranfied's thinking on defense and international relations is heavily influenced by the theories of {{wp|neorealism}} and {{wp|realism}}, characterizing conflicts between nations as struggles between faceless forces of international structure, as opposed to being the result of the ideas and actions of individual leaders. The realist school's influence shows in Reagan's Evil Empire stance on the Soviet Union and {{wp|George W. Bush}}'s Axis of evil.

===Climate Change===
In the recent months, Cranfield's views on climate change had changed drastically. On October 10, 2018, Cranfield posted in the main MEC community relating to his pro-environment views, stating "I've got a confession to make--I'm pro-environment. Thanks. Have a nice Wednesday" with a picture of his D7 campaign poster. On November 12, 2018, within hours of being sworn in as a {{wp|United States Senate|United States Senator}}, Cranfield introduced a piece of legislation that would create the {{wp|National Climate Change Overwatch Administration}}, a sub-cabinet level department in the {{wp|United States Federal Government}}. 

Cranfield believes there should be a bipartisan effort to combat global climate change, but remains skeptical of whether or not global warming is man-made, however, he feels that it could be a possibility. Cranfield has worked with his Congressional colleagues for quite some time to come up with ways to combat the ongoing crisis.

===Crime and Illegal Drugs===
Cranfield has questioned proposals to decrease penalties for low-level {{wp|marijuana}} offenses, saying that the nation should focus on "reducing crime, not reducing penalties". 

===Civil Rights===
Cranfield is strongly against {{wp|affirmative action}} for women and some minorities, describing it as a 'quota system', and believing that it is not {{wp|meritocratic}} and that it is counter-productive socially by only further promoting discrimination. He supports race-neutral admissions policies in universities, but support taking into account the socioeconomic status of the student. 

===Income and Pension Capping=== 
Cranfield heavily opposes capping on earned income and pensions from retired or removed {{wp|United States Congress|United States Congresspeople}}. He developed this stance after real-life incumbent West Virginia State Senator, {{wp|Richard Ojeda}} announced that one of his main presidential campaign priorities was to introduce a system where retired congressmen were only allowed to earn a total of $250,000 in income, and $130,000 in pension yearly after their retirement from Congress. 

Cranfield publicly announced his opposition of income/pension capping with a statement saying "there are alternatives to ensure that congressmen are in Washington for the appropriate reasons. I agree that we shouldn't be allowing lawmakers to legislate themselves into wealth, but we must simultaneously recognize that taking away the earned income of congressmen and replacing with an absurd amount after their retirement is not only not fair to them, but is frankly demeaning to the entire legislative branch of the United States. Let's just find another way."

===Globalization and Job Outsourcing=== 
Cranfield opposes globalization, including economic, cultural, and political. He also heavily opposes the {{wp|outsourcing}} of domestic companies to {{wp|international markets}}. He has stated that both forms of {{wp|global interdependence}} hurts the economy and promotes job loss. Cranfield is a strong proponent of lowering the {{wp|operating cost}} in rust belt manufacturing companies, and has stated that the economy can make up for the loss in operating costs with strong {{wp|revenue}} being developed by strong job growth and infrastructural interest. 

Within the idea of {{wp|cultural globalization}}, Cranfield believes that no single religious group or outlying culture should be pushing their beliefs or practices on other areas of the world, and has promoted the idea of {{wp|independent thinking}} when it comes to global religious and cultural affairs. 

{{wp|Political globalization}} is something that Cranfield has opposed since his entering in politics, and has never really understood why certain groups or governments would push for it. This idea hasn't drawn much criticism mainly because most MEC politicians find no interest in such topic.

===Syria=== 
Cranfield has vocally opposed the {{wp|Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party}} dynasty in the {{wp|Republic of Syria}}. Cranfield, on numerous occasions, has called for military {{wp|regime change}}, and even proposed cutting off all diplomatic relations with the Middle East until a suitable government had been restored in the region. During his tenure as the {{wp|United States Secretary of Defense}}, Cranfield worked alongside {{wp|President David Delaney}} on initiatives to combat the growing and fierce regime, noting that the United States should provide military assistance to the opposing {{wp|Democratic Federation of Northern Syria}}. However, these proposals were met with criticism from the President, considering his extreme opposition of military-sponsored {{wp|drone strikes}}, and his disliking of Cranfield's {{wp|Neoconservative}} view of {{wp|military intervention}}. Cranfield has also been criticized for his suggestion to allocate certain tax-payer dollars to combat the conflict. 

In many instances as Secretary of Defense, Cranfield tried to push out belligerent {{wp|Russian}} forces, who were heavily supporting and providing military, diplomatic, and economic aid to the nation's ruling government. His attempts at overtaking Ba'ath strongholds typically failed, however were commended for their extremely limited loss of life and "shoot-to-kill" orders. After leaving the post of Secretary of Defense and President, Cranfield said "in hindsight, it might've been a good idea to have tried harder. We had the power, we had the men, we just didn't execute thoroughly, and I take full responsibility for that, and I hope my successors [President & SoD] are coherent to the problems."

===Term Limits=== 
On January 3, 2019, Cranfield spoke about his views regarding {{wp|federal term limits}}, especially {{wp|congressional}}. In the current draft of the {{wp|United States Constitution}}, term limits are not imposed, whereas each congressman serves a total of two years for as many terms as they wish, and Senators serve six years for as many terms as they wish. 

In MEC, the system heavily reminisces that of real life, where congressmen serve a total of four weeks for as many terms as they wish, and Senators serve six weeks for as many terms as they wish. The President can serve up to two six-week terms. 

Cranfield's stance became public after real life Texas Senator {{wp|Ted Cruz}} announced his intentions to introduce legislation that imposes term limits for U.S. Congressmen. Cranfield responded by saying; "Why would I want to impose a limit on a lifetime career goal? It would be a complete and utter oxymoron. Besides, what else am I going to do with my life after college?"

===Military Spending===

Cranfield is a controversial figure when it comes to the national defense budget. During his time as the 6th {{wp|U.S. Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense}}, Cranfield heavily advocated for a raised budget. In the middle parts of 2018, the MEC defense spending numbers were on a constant decline with the {{wp|Überfeld}}, {{wp|Delaney}}, {{wp|Georgian}} and {{wp|Karturi}} eras. It is noted that Cranfield served as the Secretary of Defense under three of the four aforementioned Presidents. By the end of 2017 into 2018, the MEC defense budget had been what seemed like permanently stationed at around $450 billion, in which Cranfield noted as "blatantly absurd". 

Cranfield was attacked repeatedly on the Presidential campaign trail, among other political aspirations regarding his stance on defense spending in the middle to late summer months of 2018. Cranfield always supported his stance of an upped military budget, that is until a slip of the tongue almost costed him the Season 15 Presidential Debate. Moderator Terrell McCann asked the candidates a question about military spending, in which Cranfield accidentally replied with raising the budget to $900+ billion. This sparked {{wp|Libertarian candidate}} {{wp|Joshua Huntington}} to attack his stance, saying the number is "incomprehensible". Cranfield later retracted his statement, saying he meant to say $700 billion. 

Cranfield has stayed partners with the $700 billion mark since his early days, and still advocates for a raise in the spending as the 8th Secretary of Defense under {{wp|President Diaz}}. In his confirmation, Cranfield said that his ultimate priority was to "work diligently with Congress to draft and execute a sufficient, coherent DoD budget". It is noted that he passed the confirmation with unanimous consent, henceforth notifying members of the community that Congress stands with his proposal and are willing to compromise such numbers.

===Israel===

Cranfield has a strong opinion in favor of the United States ally of {{wp|Israel}} and supports the {{wp|right-wing populist}} government of {{wp|Benjamin Netanyahu}}. Cranfield has been known to heavily oppose {{wp|Muslim}} rhetoric that degrades the Israelis, and has went as far to say that anti-Israel Muslims should not serve in the {{wp|United States Federal Government}}, i.e., congress. 

In 2019, Israel and the {{wp|State of Palestine}} engaged in an {{wp|Intifada}}-style conflict that lasted multiple days, starting with a {{wp|terrorist attack}} in the Israeli capital of {{wp|Jerusalem}}. Cranfield, as Secretary of Defense, advised {{wp|President Diaz}} to not engage with American military intervention in fear of progressing the conflict further. Cranfield, as a vocal {{wp|Neoconservative}} supports common-sense military intervention, but feels as if the Israel conflict, being simply a terrorist attack, did not qualify for further American assistance and intelligence.

==See also== 
*{{wp|List of MEC Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom}}
*{{wp|Presidency of Trey Cranfield}} 
*{{wp|List of Presidents pro tempore of the United States Senate}} 
*{{wp|Innovation of MEC in-your-face politics}}
*{{wp|List of MEC Legislators}}
*{{wp|List of MEC House of Representatives Leadership}}
*{{wp|List of MEC Presidents}}
*{{wp|List of MEC Board of Directors Members}}
*{{wp|List of Chairs of the Republican National Committee}} 
*{{wp|List of MEC Secretaries of Defense}}

==Electoral History== 
 {{Election box begin |title={{wp|February 2018 United States House of Representatives Election, 7th District}}}}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = '''Democrat'''
   |candidate  = '''✓ {{wp|Jackson Hitchcock}}'''
   |votes      = '''39'''
   |percentage = '''50.65%'''
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Republican 
   |candidate  = Kelvin Hawthorne
   |votes      = 31
   |percentage = 40.26%
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box candidate
   |party      = Republican
   |candidate  = Trey Cranfield
   |votes      = 7
   |percentage = 9.09%
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 77
  |percentage = 100%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link 
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| swing = 
}}
{{Election box end}}
 {{Election box begin |title={{wp|March 2018 United States House of Representatives Election, 7th District}}}}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = '''Democrat'''
   |candidate  = '''✓ {{wp|Terrell McCann Jr.}}'''
   |votes      = '''35'''
   |percentage = '''52.24%'''
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Republican 
   |candidate  = Trey Cranfield
   |votes      = 32
   |percentage = 47.76%
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 67
  |percentage = 100%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link 
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| swing = 
}}
 {{Election box end}}
 {{Election box begin |title={{wp|RNC Vice Chairman Election, March 2018}}}}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = '''Republican'''
   |candidate  = '''✓ {{wp|Trey Cranfield}}'''
   |votes      = '''17'''
   |percentage = '''100%'''
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      =   
   |candidate  = Unopposed
   |votes      = 
   |percentage = 
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 17
  |percentage = 100%
  |change     =
}}
 {{Election box end}}
 {{Election box begin |title={{wp|RNC Chairman Election, April 2018}}}}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = '''Republican'''
   |candidate  = '''✓ {{wp|Trey Cranfield}}'''
   |votes      = '''15'''
   |percentage = '''78.95%'''
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Republican  
   |candidate  = JP Cenzoprano 
   |votes      = 4
   |percentage = 21.05%
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 19
  |percentage = 100%
  |change     =
}}
 {{Election box end}}
 {{Election box begin |title={{wp|Republican Presidential Primaries, May 2018}}}}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = '''Republican'''
   |candidate  = '''✓ {{wp|Max Finland}}/Trey Cranfield'''
   |votes      = '''29'''
   |percentage = '''60.42%'''
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Republican  
   |candidate  = Conservative Chico 
   |votes      = 15
   |percentage = 31.25%
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Republican  
   |candidate  = Ryan Servis 
   |votes      = 4
   |percentage = 8.33%
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 48
  |percentage = 100%
  |change     =
}}
 {{Election box end}}
 {{Election box begin |title={{wp|Thirteenth MEC presidential election, June 2018}}}}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = '''Republican'''
   |candidate  = '''✓ Trey Cranfield'''
   |votes      = '''29'''
   |percentage = '''48.33%'''
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Democrat  
   |candidate  = {{wp|Ivor M}} 
   |votes      = 26
   |percentage = 43.33%
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Independent   
   |candidate  = {{wp|Harvey Long}} 
   |votes      = 5
   |percentage = 8.33%
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 60
  |percentage = 100%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link 
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
| loser = Democratic Party (United States)
| swing = 
}}
 {{Election box end}}
 {{Election box begin |title={{wp|July 2018 United States House of Representatives Election, 7th District}}}}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = '''Republican'''
   |candidate  = '''✓ Trey Cranfield'''
   |votes      = '''39'''
   |percentage = '''42.39%'''
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Independent   
   |candidate  = {{wp|Dom Cons}} 
   |votes      = 32
   |percentage = 34.78%
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Democrat   
   |candidate  = {{wp|Bryson Pittman}} 
   |votes      = 21
   |percentage = 22.83%
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 92
  |percentage = 100%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link 
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
| swing = 
}}
 {{Election box end}}
 {{Election box begin |title={{wp|October 2018 United States House of Representatives Election, 7th District}}}}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = '''Republican'''
   |candidate  = '''✓ Trey Cranfield'''
   |votes      = '''34'''
   |percentage = '''54.84%'''
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Democrat   
   |candidate  = {{wp|Kelvin Hawthorne}} 
   |votes      = 25
   |percentage = 40.32%
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      =    
   |candidate  = Write-in
   |votes      = 3
   |percentage = 4.84%
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 62
  |percentage = 100%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link 
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
| swing = 
}}
 {{Election box end}}
 {{Election box begin |title={{wp|November 2018 United States Senate Special Election, 5th District}}}}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = '''Independent'''
   |candidate  = '''✓ Trey Cranfield'''
   |votes      = '''28'''
   |percentage = '''44.44%'''
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = '''Democrat'''   
   |candidate  = '''✓ {{wp|Mark Kennedy Gallagher}}'''
   |votes      = '''24'''
   |percentage = '''38.10%'''
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Republican
   |candidate  = Kenneth Quinones
   |votes      = 8
   |percentage = 12.70%
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = 
   |candidate  = Write-in
   |votes      = 3
   |percentage = 4.76%
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 63
  |percentage = 100%
  |change     =
}}
 {{Election box end}}
 {{Election box begin |title={{wp|November 2018 United States Senate Special Election Runoff, 5th District}}}}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = '''Independent'''
   |candidate  = '''✓ Trey Cranfield'''
   |votes      = '''40'''
   |percentage = '''51.28%'''
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate 
   |party      = Democrat
   |candidate  = {{wp|Mark Kennedy Gallagher}}
   |votes      = 36
   |percentage = 46.15%
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = 
   |candidate  = Write-in
   |votes      = 2
   |percentage = 2.56%
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 78
  |percentage = 100%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link 
| winner = Independent (politician)
| swing = 
}}
 {{Election box end}}
 {{Election box begin |title={{wp|November 2018 United States Senate Election, 3rd District}}}}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = '''Independent'''
   |candidate  = '''✓ Trey Cranfield'''
   |votes      = '''36'''
   |percentage = '''57.14%'''
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Democrat   
   |candidate  = {{wp|Dom Cons}} 
   |votes      = 21
   |percentage = 33.33%
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Republican
   |candidate  = {{wp|Robert Leary}} 
   |votes      = 6 
   |percentage = 9.52%
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 63
  |percentage = 100%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link 
| winner = Independent (politician)
| swing = 
}}
 {{Election box end}}
  {{Election box begin |title={{wp|July 2020 Heartland Senate special election}}}}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = Independent
   |candidate  = Trey Cranfield
   |votes      = 22
   |percentage = 42.31%
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate
   |party      = '''Republican'''   
   |candidate  = '''✓ {{wp|Armin Navabi}}''' 
   |votes      = '''30'''
   |percentage = '''57.69%'''
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 52
  |percentage = 100%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link 
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
| swing = 
}}
 {{Election box end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}


{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before={{wp|John Lampros}}}}
{{s-ttl|title=Vice Chair of the {{wp|RNC|Republican National Committee}}|years=Mar 10-16, 2018}}
{{s-aft|after={{wp|Max Finland}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Matthew Sorrells}}}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the {{wp|RNC|Republican National Committee}}|years=Mar 16-May 5, 2018}}
{{s-aft|after={{wp|Roman Thaddeus}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|John Lampros}}}}
{{s-ttl|title=Republican Nominee for {{wp|Vice President of the United States}}|years=Apr-May 2018}}
{{s-aft|after={{wp|Ben Shair}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Max Finland}}}}
{{s-ttl|title=Republican Nominee for {{wp|President of the United States}}|years=Jun 2018}}
{{s-aft|after={{wp|Quron Sainsbury}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=''Vacant''}}
{{s-ttl|title=Vice Chair of the {{wp|RNC|Republican National Committee}}<br>{{small|Acting}}|years=Jul 17-Aug 18, 2018}}
{{s-aft|after={{wp|Claudio Aleman}}}}
|-
{{s-off}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Jon S. Überfeld}}}}
{{s-ttl|title= {{wp|Senate Minority Leader}} |years=Mar 2, 2019-Mar 14, 2019}}
{{s-aft|after= ''Vacant''}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Mayowa Olabode}}}}
{{s-ttl|title= {{wp|United  States Senate|United States Senator (Class I)}} from {{wp|Pennsylvania}} |alongside= {{wp|Terrell McCann}}|years=Mar 2, 2019-Mar 14, 2019}}
{{s-aft|after= ''Vacant''}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=''Vacant''}}
{{s-ttl|title= 8th {{wp|U.S. Secretary of Defense|United States Secretary of Defense}} |years=Jan 30, 2019-Mar 2, 2019}}
{{s-aft|after= ''Vacant''}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Atton Pearson}}}}
{{s-ttl|title= 5th {{wp|President pro tempore of the United States Senate}} |years=Nov 24, 2018-Jan 23, 2019}}
{{s-aft|after= {{wp|Nathan Brown}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Adam Evans}}}}
{{s-ttl|title= {{wp|United States Senate|United States Senator (Class II)}} from {{wp|Indiana}} |alongside= {{wp|Ryan Servis}}, {{wp|Quentin Lewis}}|years=Nov 12, 2018-Jan 23, 2019}}
{{s-aft|after = {{wp|Jon S. Überfeld}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Ben Shair}}}}
{{s-ttl|title= {{wp|Vice President of the United States}}<br>{{small|Acting}} |years=Dec 15, 2018}}
{{s-aft|after= {{wp|Ivor Mestrvic}} (Acting)}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Atton Pearson}}}}
{{s-ttl|title= 4th {{wp|Speaker pro tempore of the United States House of Representatives}} |years=Oct 17–Nov 12, 2018}}
{{s-aft|after= {{wp|Kelvin Hawthorne}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Aaron Stemann}}}}
{{s-ttl|title= {{wp|House Minority Leader}} |years=Oct 17–Nov 12, 2018}}
{{s-aft|after= {{wp|George Cross}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Kenneth Quinones}}}}
{{s-ttl|title= Member of the {{wp|U.S. House of Representatives}}<br> from {{wp|MEC}}'s {{wp|7th}} district|years=Oct 17–Nov 12, 2018}}
{{s-aft|after= {{wp|Kelvin Hawthorne}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=''Office Established''}}
{{s-ttl|title= {{wp|Deputy United States Special Counsel}}<br>{{small|Acting}}|years=Sep 1-5, 2018}}
{{s-aft|after= ''Office Abolished''}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Ryan Servis}}}}
{{s-ttl|title={{wp|House Minority Whip}} |years=Jul 13–Aug 22, 2018}}
{{s-aft|after={{wp|Aaron Stemann}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Ryan Servis}}}}
{{s-ttl|title= Member of the {{wp|U.S. House of Representatives}}<br> from {{wp|MEC}}'s {{wp|7th}} district|years=Jul 11–Aug 22, 2018}}
{{s-aft|after= {{wp|Kenneth Quinones}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Jayanth Karuturi}}}}
{{s-ttl|title= 15th {{wp|President of the United States}}|years=Jun 30-Jul 4, 2018}}
{{s-aft|after= {{wp|Tom Kirkman}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Evan Hunt}}}}
{{s-ttl|title= 6th {{wp|U.S. Secretary of Defense|United States Secretary of Defense}}|years=Apr 7-Jun 30, 2018}}
{{s-aft|after= {{wp|Conservative Chico}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{wp|Duncan Daly}}}}
{{s-ttl|title= Member of the {{wp|MEC Board of Directors}}|years=Apr 10-May 24, 2018}}
{{s-aft|after= ''Position Abolished''}}

{{s-end}}