A Rare Left-Coast Opportunity for the GOP

‘In some ways, Republicans are due for a win in Oregon.’

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan. (Photo by Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images.)

Single-party control has put Oregon on the wrong track, Christine Drazan said at Oregon’s final gubernatorial debate Wednesday. “I want to bring Oregon back to balance again and the way you’re going to do that, in fact, is to elect a Republican. It’s not a hard right, it’s called balance.”

It’s a tall order in a state where Republicans haven’t won the governor’s mansion in 40 years. Yet Drazan, former minority leader of the Oregon House of Representatives, has put herself in contention with a disciplined campaign and moderate message. A third-party candidate’s presence, and former President Donald Trump’s absence, have helped too.

Drazan is up against former state House Speaker Tina Kotek, a Democrat, and the unaffiliated Betsy Johnson, a former state lawmaker. Drazan is ahead by around three points, according to RealClearPolitics’ average, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball and the Cook Political Report rate the race a “Toss-Up.” It’s not hard to figure out why. 

The term-limited Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, is the least popular governor in America. The state has a disproportionately high level of homelessness; ranks among the most expensive states to live in; and last year its largest city, Portland, reported a record number of homicides. The city has also been the site of grim clashes between extremist groups.

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  1. Avatar photo
    Mkapnick

    Speaking of Oregon, Jonah teased in a recent Ruminant that he would be coming to Portland soon(ish).

    Anyone have any intel on that?

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  2. Mary Stine

    Well written ray of sunshine in our dark political landscape. I'm cheered to know that another younger politician has chosen the path of moderation, rather than flame throwing from the far edge.

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    BrandonAlleman

    None of the candidates shine in this race. Drazan going on Laura Ingram to mock Kotek's bland generalities of digging in with her own bland generalities of change hasn't endeared me to her. Ballot measures seem to have more noticable effect on policy than candidates these days. I think Johnson will lose votes as spoiler becomes evident but toss up is real.

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    JohnM.

    Good reporting here, Harvest. Wish there was a 'like' button. As a native Oregonian, I offer my very best wishes to Ms. Drazen.

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  5. BenP

    10 years ago some good friends of mine moved away from our Colorado city to Portland. Next month they are moving back, and the sole reason is that they have had it with the ever increasing levels of crime, homelessness, and perpetual neglect of these issues from government. They are very liberal, but they don't want to walk past rows of tents get yelled at and try to avoid feces and needles just to go to the corner store.

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    1. Avatar photo
      Reading451

      That’s a long way to go to get away. One could just move to an adjacent county or WA across the river and it’s a world of difference.

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  6. Sawinston

    Thanks Harvest. As an Oregonian (adversely affected) I have some hope now in a roll back of D agenda. We are a state with abundant timber, fisheries, agriculture and scenery. Yet for two generations we have managed to mangle our natural advantages, reduce many of our rural communities to drugs, cites to crime and homelessness and disadvantage our children's education and opportunities.

    Bring back the reasonableness of Straub (a D), Hatfield, Packwood, Smith and Atiyeh

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    1. Avatar photo
      Mkapnick

      The Dems have ruinted this state and Portland. As much as I think the Repub Party has lost its mind for the most part, I am hoping Drazen wins.

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      1. Avatar photo
        Mkapnick

        In fact, they have done such a thorough job in ruining the state, I misspelled the work "ruin" in my orginal rant! Please forgive me. : )

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    2. Avatar photo
      Mkapnick

      hear hear

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  7. Srhritz

    What a great race. It's nice to see some real accountability in a blue state. We're seeing a similar dynamic (but reversed) in red Utah where a moderate candidate (Evan McMullin) is taking on Mike Lee. The voters in these states have a moderate choice which is rare these days.

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  8. Nikitas Hatzimihail

    Very interesting, thank you Harvest!

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  9. P Satter

    Good article. If it were a two-way race like normal, Drazan would not have much of a chance. But Betsy Johnson--and her glasses--leaving the Democratic party and running as a gruff Independent has definitely opened the door. Biden came through earlier this week and now Elizabeth Warren is coming to campaign for her so there is definitely a feeling Kotek is not a shoo-in.
    I would really like to see Oregon move back to being the quirky (admittedly slightly grumpy) but moderate state it used to be known for (i.e. Smith, Atiyeh, Hatfield, McCall.)

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  10. Avatar photo
    Philbnichols

    Thanks, Harvest. Love these stories about races I don't hear about otherwise.

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