Republican In Oregon Polling Ahead of Dem Incumbent
There is a potential massive upset brewing in the state of Oregon, which has long been a blue stronghold despite vast pockets of conservatism.
The Republican gubernatorial candidate there got some unexpectedly good news this week in the form of polling against incumbent left-wing Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek.
Republican State Sen. Christine Drazan is polling four points ahead of Kotek, according to a new poll from the research firm Public Opinion Strategies.
On Thursday, Drazan toured manufacturing facilities in Eugene and Springfield and discussed her thoughts on public education requirements.
“We took away our requirements for graduation some years ago,” Drazan said, according to local
“It’s time to restore graduation requirements and know that our students are going to be prepared for community college, or the trades, or college, whatever they want in their future, that our public education is going to help them get there,” she continued.
“Today, we found that that has not been the case. We need to ensure that by attending a public school, you’re not going to be left behind,” she added.
Drazan also discussed her lead in the polls.
“This isn’t about what color jersey you wear,” Drazan said. “This is certainly not about personality contests or anything like that. This place that we live in is extraordinary.
“We shouldn’t be losing people to Texas or Nevada or Arizona or Tennessee or anywhere else,” Drazan continued.
“People should want to live here because it’s the best place to live,” she added.
“And so we just have to work on solving these problems differently. We need a new vision and a new direction for our state.”
The last Republican to hold the governorship in Oregon was Vic Atiyeh, who served from 1979 to 1987.
Also, last month, the Cook Political Report changed the Oregon governor’s race from Solid Democrat (the highest possible Democrat rating) to Likely Democrat.
The change was made on July 10, well before Public Opinion Strategies poll was released, meaning that the shift to Drazan has likely been occurring for weeks.
“Oregon’s gubernatorial races have become something of a nagging headache for Democrats, in part because the policies that play well with Portland progressives are poisonous elsewhere in the state,” the report stated in its race summary.
The Cook Political Report shifted its rating for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District on July 16 from Likely Democratic to Solid Democratic, signaling stronger prospects for incumbent Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., in her race against Republican Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair.
Oregon’s 5th District had been considered one of the state’s most competitive congressional seats following redistricting.
Former Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer defeated Democrat Jamie McLeod-Skinner by 2.1 percentage points in 2022, while Bynum unseated Chavez-DeRemer by 2.7 points in 2024.
Cook Political Report continues to rate Oregon’s U.S. Senate race as Solid Democratic, with incumbent Sen. Jeff Merkley facing Republican David Brock Smith.
The race in Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses most of central and eastern Oregon, also remains unchanged.
Cook rates the seat as Solid Republican, with incumbent Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., running against Democrat Chris Beck.
Neither the Senate race nor the 2nd Congressional District has seen a rating change since at least February.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s endorsed slate powered through Tennessee’s Republican primaries Tuesday, delivering decisive wins that underscored the president’s enduring grip on the GOP.
The also position conservatives for a strong push to reclaim the governor’s mansion and hold key congressional seats in the November midterms.
Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty secured an uncontested victory in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate on Thursday night, advancing effortlessly to the November general election as a steadfast champion of conservative values and President Trump’s agenda.
With no challengers on the ballot, Hagerty, the incumbent first elected in 2020, was declared the nominee shortly after polls closed at 7 p.m. Central Time.
How Would You Feel About Ilhan Omar Being Deported?
A prominent progressive senator is distancing his political movement from several positions that have become liabilities for Democrats in recent elections.
His comments prompted questions for one of Congress’ best-known progressive lawmakers, who was pressed on whether activists and candidates associated with the movement had actually embraced the policies he was dismissing.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., responded Friday after Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said that “no serious person” running for office supports defunding the police, despite the issue’s prominent role in progressive politics following the 2020 death of George Floyd.
Sanders made the comments during an Aug. 5 appearance on the “Pod Save America” podcast with former Obama administration speechwriter Jon Favreau.
Favreau asked Sanders about Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates who have supported policies including abolishing prisons, defunding or abolishing police departments and eliminating national borders.
“No serious person that I know who is running for office believes in, quote unquote, defunding the police,” Sanders responded.
Sanders acknowledged problems within some law enforcement agencies while arguing that police officers continue to perform a necessary and difficult job.
“We need to get rid of racism” in police departments, Sanders said while discussing reforms he believes are necessary.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins subsequently confronted Omar about Sanders’ characterization and asked whether the Vermont senator was correct that no serious candidates were advocating defunding the police.
Omar pointed to Minneapolis and the political environment following Floyd’s death while explaining why the issue became particularly important in her community.
“For us in Minneapolis, with the murder of George Floyd, we had to have a deeper conversation about what really it looked like for us to address public safety here,” Omar said.
“We had a police department that was essentially problematic,” she continued.
Omar argued that the discussion changed once the Minneapolis debate became a national political issue.
“And when that conversation becomes nationalized, then you sort of get the kind of messaging that gets sort of lost in the void,” she said.
“Minneapolis has come a long way. We still have a long way to go. And I think that is sort of what Bernie was speaking to,” Omar added.
Collins pressed Omar specifically on Sanders’ assertion that “no serious person” running for office supported defunding police departments.
“I mean, when he says that, I think he’s talking about someone putting forth a piece of legislation,” Omar responded.
“And to that regard, I would say that he is right,” she continued. “I haven’t seen any pieces of legislation or ordinances come through in the United States since 2020.”
The exchange comes as DSA-backed candidates have scored victories in several Democratic primaries, bringing renewed scrutiny to some of the organization’s more controversial positions.
DSA national co-chair Megan Romer defended the organization’s support for abolishing institutions including the Senate and Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a Fox News appearance last month.
Sanders, who identifies as a democratic socialist but is not a member of the Democratic Party, also rejected several other positions associated with elements of the socialist movement during his conversation with Favreau.
Asked about abolishing prisons, Sanders said he wants the United States to incarcerate fewer people but rejected eliminating imprisonment for dangerous criminals.
“I hope the day comes when we don’t lead the world in the number of people who are in custody,” Sanders said. “That speaks very poorly of our society.”
“But does that mean that there should not be dangerous people who should be behind bars? Of course, everybody agrees with that,” he added.
Sanders was equally direct when discussing immigration and the idea of eliminating borders.
“Open borders? No,” Sanders said. “We all, most of us, believe in comprehensive immigration reform, not opening up all the borders.”
Sanders argued that conservatives amplify the most controversial proposals associated with the political left, but maintained that “most serious candidates” do not embrace those positions.
