Yah; it was a blowout, which raises questions about the viability of the state's Republican party. Although our founders hated "faction," they designed a government that was premised on opposing groups fighting it out...but no opponent, no fight. There is no way for the GOP to generate any serious candidates, as the Lathrop defeat amply demonstrates. No one with any sense of a future anywhere in state politics will see any advantage in signing on with the GOP.
We are now at the machine's mercy; anyone outside the charmed circle of nonprofits, public employee unions, entrenched bureaucracy, developers, and (in Portland) Democratic Socialist nutters is out of luck. You have a choice: shut up and get a rewarding hobby, or think about where you'll live next.
Stay silent or wait for the housing market to come alive (the Fed is chopping interest rates) so you can cash out and escape. Oregon is nice--but this is a big country loaded with picture-postcard views.
Richard, I've had serious questions about the viability of Oregon's Republican party for years. There have been some exceptions. I have in mind Secretary of State Dennis Richardson, the first Republican elected to statewide office since 2003, who unfortunately died a couple of years into his term. He was a real rising star.
On the bright side: Oregonians rejected ranked voting, that gawd-awful gross receipts tax, and the salary commission. And in the presidential election, Oregon moved a bit to the right. In 2020 Trump got 40.3%, and in 2024 42.2%. Gotta be optimistic!
Lastly, I'm pleased to report that Crook County, where I live, went 74.3% for Trump, up from 73.0% in 2020. My wife and I are part of the growth spurt here, so we'll take partial credit for that 1.3% bump!
It is now even more that Republicans stand together in solidarity. No more compromising with democrates and legitimizing their agendagenda with "bipartisan" support.
I think it would help if the national RNC spent some money in Oregon and Washington. I think most voters vote by name recognition and are swayed by advertisements. Democrats pour money into these races so they get both of those things.
Thanks, Jeff. I think voter migration is having a strong impact. As Florida gains more conservative voters (hence the huge Republican turnout), Oregon goes the other way as staunch liberals move here and indoctrinate their youth.
I'm with you here in Bend. I moved to Bend when I was 13, my dad retired here. I knew Bend as a sleepy mill town, and thus pretty conservative and blue collar. I graduated from BHS in 1985, go Lava Bears.
I went to Oregon, got married, lived in Alaska where we raised our kids, then moved back in 2004. Since then things have really moved leftward. Lurching that direction as of late.
I would like to thank the state for gerrymandering this congressional district to include the SE corner of Portland, locking in a reliably D +2 seat. Thanks for nothing.
I was just sickened by the non-stop ads, glad it's over. Abortion, Abortion and Abortion. You would think that's the only issue that matters. You AWFLs here in Bend and Portland, is that the only thing that matters? Is that it? No wonder the Democrats in the state have zero interest in "solving" that issue, it's the only one that motivates you to vote. Why fix an issue when you can always run on it.
Washington is even worse. I am so disenchanted with our GOP. They act like fools nominating people who will never win votes in the main counties that count. It’s pathetic.
I drive through Vancouver and other parts of Washington that I've been to, including the coast, and it seems like most people are hard working, patriotic and Republican. Oregon makes sense voting for Communists because driving around Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington Counties people look like Commies. From the bumper stickers to the house decorations.
It makes no sense to me that Washington votes for Democrats.
As a longtime Democrat I refuse to call the extreme left that has dominated the party I worked for to be called "progressive." It makes as much sense as calling the far right "Patriots."
It is not insignificant that the voter turnout was 15% LESS than what it was 8 and 12 years ago.
Offices like that of the Attorney General should be non-partisan, just like judges and DA are now.
When Rayfield, who helped jam, through Measure 110, talks about his priorities it includes defending abortion. Like most Americans, I support a woman's right to choose, and it is significant that many Trump voting states passed laws that gave women more access to abortion than overturning or ROE v WADE.
The vote in Portland and Multnomah County is even more discouraging. It reminds me of people who take their paycheck and bet it on the Wheel of Fortune on payday. In California two awful "anti-DAs" (Gascon in LA and Price in Oakland) were defeated and recalled, respectively. Voters reversed a pro-criminal referendum. We often see Oregon follow California, but 4-6 years later.
I was particularly struck by the Rayfield ad that stated that he helped take "drugs off our streets". As I recall, he was a leader in the fight to keep the watered down treatment of drug crimes by the Oregon Legislature. "Deflection" and low level treatment of so-called "recriminalization" did nothing of the sort.
I was stunned by the barrage of advertisements for the Democrats, and the paucity of any for the Republicans, even here in Jackson County where the Republicans usually do pretty well. The number for the Secretary of State in particular struck me. And I wondered, how much of the money for these slickly produced - at least for Oregon - ads came from the marijuana industry?
A lot of ads were paid for and presented by out of state groups. Janelle had a massive misinformation ad by a so called progressive group from NY, 310.
Through history, the sort of progressive lurch we’re now experiencing in Oregon will lurch the other direction. It may be slow or quick. It all depends how deeply its members see how badly their mode of governing is screwing them over. Sooner or later it will happen when the individual pain level reaches a critical mass. Regrettably it probably won’t happen in my life time. 😟
I'll go Biblical here. 'When the righteous rule the people rejoice, when the wicked rule the people groan'. Oregon received the leadership it has earned, the three left coast cities love killing God's most innocent, enslaving the weak and tender for personal wicked pleasure and demanding strong drink (todays synthetic drugs) to alter their reality. There is a spiritual battle raging and evil is winning in CA OR and WA. Until there is a change of heart there won't be a change in politicians.
Thanks for the update and synopsis Not a surprise that the State of Epic Fail would double down on stupid or Portland would raise stupid to the N level like Hey this isn't working let's do more
Keep fighting the fight Jeff. Unfortunately I’m done giving my money and time to this state. Oregon is a beautiful place and has been good to us, but I’m out. The rest of the world is not like this, Oregon is no longer weird, it’s a disaster. Some day all the sheep will get slaughtered here, but I’ve got better places to be.
Keep digging, Jeff.
Yah; it was a blowout, which raises questions about the viability of the state's Republican party. Although our founders hated "faction," they designed a government that was premised on opposing groups fighting it out...but no opponent, no fight. There is no way for the GOP to generate any serious candidates, as the Lathrop defeat amply demonstrates. No one with any sense of a future anywhere in state politics will see any advantage in signing on with the GOP.
We are now at the machine's mercy; anyone outside the charmed circle of nonprofits, public employee unions, entrenched bureaucracy, developers, and (in Portland) Democratic Socialist nutters is out of luck. You have a choice: shut up and get a rewarding hobby, or think about where you'll live next.
Stay silent or wait for the housing market to come alive (the Fed is chopping interest rates) so you can cash out and escape. Oregon is nice--but this is a big country loaded with picture-postcard views.
Richard, I've had serious questions about the viability of Oregon's Republican party for years. There have been some exceptions. I have in mind Secretary of State Dennis Richardson, the first Republican elected to statewide office since 2003, who unfortunately died a couple of years into his term. He was a real rising star.
On the bright side: Oregonians rejected ranked voting, that gawd-awful gross receipts tax, and the salary commission. And in the presidential election, Oregon moved a bit to the right. In 2020 Trump got 40.3%, and in 2024 42.2%. Gotta be optimistic!
Lastly, I'm pleased to report that Crook County, where I live, went 74.3% for Trump, up from 73.0% in 2020. My wife and I are part of the growth spurt here, so we'll take partial credit for that 1.3% bump!
Best,
MF
It is now even more that Republicans stand together in solidarity. No more compromising with democrates and legitimizing their agendagenda with "bipartisan" support.
I think it would help if the national RNC spent some money in Oregon and Washington. I think most voters vote by name recognition and are swayed by advertisements. Democrats pour money into these races so they get both of those things.
Suicidal. And who's gonna "stand together," pray tell?
Thanks, Jeff. I think voter migration is having a strong impact. As Florida gains more conservative voters (hence the huge Republican turnout), Oregon goes the other way as staunch liberals move here and indoctrinate their youth.
I'm with you here in Bend. I moved to Bend when I was 13, my dad retired here. I knew Bend as a sleepy mill town, and thus pretty conservative and blue collar. I graduated from BHS in 1985, go Lava Bears.
I went to Oregon, got married, lived in Alaska where we raised our kids, then moved back in 2004. Since then things have really moved leftward. Lurching that direction as of late.
I would like to thank the state for gerrymandering this congressional district to include the SE corner of Portland, locking in a reliably D +2 seat. Thanks for nothing.
I was just sickened by the non-stop ads, glad it's over. Abortion, Abortion and Abortion. You would think that's the only issue that matters. You AWFLs here in Bend and Portland, is that the only thing that matters? Is that it? No wonder the Democrats in the state have zero interest in "solving" that issue, it's the only one that motivates you to vote. Why fix an issue when you can always run on it.
Anyway ... glad I found your 'Stack. Keep it up.
Washington is even worse. I am so disenchanted with our GOP. They act like fools nominating people who will never win votes in the main counties that count. It’s pathetic.
I can't believe Kent lost. Crazy. I know he was out spent though. I hope he doesn't give up.
I don’t understand this state anymore. It’s weird as hell.
I drive through Vancouver and other parts of Washington that I've been to, including the coast, and it seems like most people are hard working, patriotic and Republican. Oregon makes sense voting for Communists because driving around Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington Counties people look like Commies. From the bumper stickers to the house decorations.
It makes no sense to me that Washington votes for Democrats.
As a longtime Democrat I refuse to call the extreme left that has dominated the party I worked for to be called "progressive." It makes as much sense as calling the far right "Patriots."
It is not insignificant that the voter turnout was 15% LESS than what it was 8 and 12 years ago.
Offices like that of the Attorney General should be non-partisan, just like judges and DA are now.
When Rayfield, who helped jam, through Measure 110, talks about his priorities it includes defending abortion. Like most Americans, I support a woman's right to choose, and it is significant that many Trump voting states passed laws that gave women more access to abortion than overturning or ROE v WADE.
The vote in Portland and Multnomah County is even more discouraging. It reminds me of people who take their paycheck and bet it on the Wheel of Fortune on payday. In California two awful "anti-DAs" (Gascon in LA and Price in Oakland) were defeated and recalled, respectively. Voters reversed a pro-criminal referendum. We often see Oregon follow California, but 4-6 years later.
we can only hope.
I was particularly struck by the Rayfield ad that stated that he helped take "drugs off our streets". As I recall, he was a leader in the fight to keep the watered down treatment of drug crimes by the Oregon Legislature. "Deflection" and low level treatment of so-called "recriminalization" did nothing of the sort.
I was stunned by the barrage of advertisements for the Democrats, and the paucity of any for the Republicans, even here in Jackson County where the Republicans usually do pretty well. The number for the Secretary of State in particular struck me. And I wondered, how much of the money for these slickly produced - at least for Oregon - ads came from the marijuana industry?
A lot of ads were paid for and presented by out of state groups. Janelle had a massive misinformation ad by a so called progressive group from NY, 310.
Through history, the sort of progressive lurch we’re now experiencing in Oregon will lurch the other direction. It may be slow or quick. It all depends how deeply its members see how badly their mode of governing is screwing them over. Sooner or later it will happen when the individual pain level reaches a critical mass. Regrettably it probably won’t happen in my life time. 😟
I'll go Biblical here. 'When the righteous rule the people rejoice, when the wicked rule the people groan'. Oregon received the leadership it has earned, the three left coast cities love killing God's most innocent, enslaving the weak and tender for personal wicked pleasure and demanding strong drink (todays synthetic drugs) to alter their reality. There is a spiritual battle raging and evil is winning in CA OR and WA. Until there is a change of heart there won't be a change in politicians.
Thanks for the update and synopsis Not a surprise that the State of Epic Fail would double down on stupid or Portland would raise stupid to the N level like Hey this isn't working let's do more
Keep fighting the fight Jeff. Unfortunately I’m done giving my money and time to this state. Oregon is a beautiful place and has been good to us, but I’m out. The rest of the world is not like this, Oregon is no longer weird, it’s a disaster. Some day all the sheep will get slaughtered here, but I’ve got better places to be.
Keep digging & writing Jeff!
Sooner or later. Don't stop!
Keep up the great work Jeff!
Good luck with your effort.