Democrat Ted Kulongowski is term-limited out of the Oregon governor’s office in 2010. Who would you like to see run in his place? And who will step up for the GOP?
36 thoughts on “OR-Gov: Statewide Recruitment Thread”
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Democrat Ted Kulongowski is term-limited out of the Oregon governor’s office in 2010. Who would you like to see run in his place? And who will step up for the GOP?
Comments are closed.
From what I understand former Governor Kitzhaber is considering it. He was popular in the past and I’m sure he’d love governing with a new solidly democratic state legislature to work with.
Running a pea factory or running a state? Hmmm. Oregon, like Washington state, is due for a Republican Governor.
Since we currently control every statewide office, both Senate seats, both chambers of the legislature, and 4 of 5 congressional districts. Oh, and Obama carried the state by sixteen points.
Best “swing state” ever.
Rumors have it that Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-4) is planning to run, which would almost certainly clear the field on the Dem side and probably make Republicans think twice about a run too. State Senator Jason Atkinson (R-Central Point), who finished 3rd in the 2006 R primary isn’t up for re-election until 2012 so he will probably take a free shot. Against anyone else, he might be the sort of young energetic type who could perhaps breathe life onto the moribund Oregon GOP, but against DeFazio, he’ll just get smoked.
Lovin’ me the idea of a bisexual governor.
I forget his name, but isn’t Oregon’s only republican congressman involved in some sort of scandel? Think I heard somethign about it awhile back.
but she just got elected SoS so probably not happening.
I’d love to see a return of Kitzhaber.
Earl Blumenauer runs for Governor against either Greg Walden or Gordon Smith. His Portland-based open House seat will go to Steve Novick, the guy who lost to Jeff Merkley in the Senate primary. Novick will get some House experience before running for Senate again, in 2016 maybe if Ron Wyden retires after winning reelection in the upcoming cycle.
Kitz and DeFazio are both hard-hitting Western populists in the Schweitzer vein who appeal to voters all across the spectrum. Either of them entering the race would clear the Democratic field, and probably means they win by default. Of the two, Kitz has higher name rec, but most Oregonians who aren’t familiar with DeFazio would like him. Kitzhaber’s also been busy with the Archimedes Project since he left office. He’s kept rumbling about being interested in his old job, but if DeFazio jumps in, Kitz may just leave it to him and keep doing what he’s already doing. Personally, I’d like to see DeFazio Governor and Kitzhaber Secretary of Health and Human Services. Either would be a much better governor than Ted “Goldschmidt Mafia” Kulongoski.
On the GOP side, Smith has the nomination if he wants it, as he’s got the statewide name rec and donor network in place already. Nobody who didn’t vote for Smith this year will vote for him in 2010, however, and the fringes will be grumbling as always, but Smith is still powerful enough that he’ll probably still clear the field. If Smith decides not to run, it’ll be a messy three-way primary like 2002’s, between Walden (or some other weak corporate scumbag like Mike Ericson), Atkinson (crazy paleocon), and Mannix (crazy fundie) or one of his acolytes. This would be very, very fun to watch, and I hope it happens, but Smith’s ego might be too big to allow it. (On the other hand, Smith might want to stick around to challenge Merkley in 2014, or simply move to Utah’s much more favorable constituency and wait for either of their geezer senators to retire. Stranger things can happen when you’re worth $65 million and are a member of a major political family.)
Kitz may be thinking about running, but here’s saying he puts off his decision too long. DeFazio declares and there’s no way Kitz challenges. Defazio clears the Dem field and cruises over whoever the GOP nominates (probably a sacrificial lamb unless Atkinson or someone else just tries to build name rec for a future run).
If, by some chance, neither DeFazio nor Kitz runs, Dems underestimate Atkinson at their own risk. Oregonians have a long history of being okay with otherwise moderate paleocons and Atkinson has the kind of youthful energy and exuberance that could easily trump the boring (Hill) or controversial (Walker). Smith and/or Walden could also suddenly become viable in the absence of a strong Dem contender, but I would like Atkinson to pull of the upset in the GOP primary against either of these (and especially both) should he decide to run.