The Liftoff: Phil Knight speaks—and October surprises in competitive races
PLUS: Tina Kotek's great week; who met the President?; Wheeler's plan to end street camping; economic trends driving politics; a massive grocery chain merger that could impact Oregon; and more!
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1. Will these “October surprises” shake up competitive races?
Here are some recently reported controversies and surprises from across the state that might—or might not—impact the outcome of key races:
AFSCME, a labor union representing Multnomah County employees, has alleged that Commissioner Sharon Meieran “waged an unsuccessful pressure campaign this summer to gain an endorsement from the union,” according to Willamette Week. They filed a complaints with the Oregon Employment Relations Board and Secretary of State.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer has found herself under Willamette Week’s microscope; here’s an excerpt from an article about her business: “Anesthesia Associates NW LLC, got $1.3 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program loans—subsequently forgiven—in 2020 and 2021. In each of those years, Chavez-DeRemer’s federal disclosure filings show, she and her husband reported income of between $1 million and $5 million from that business. So they were taking home healthy profits while accepting a bailout—something Chavez-DeRemer says shouldn’t be available to people with student debt.”
From the Capitol Chronicle: “A top official with the Oregon Republican Party filed a complaint Friday alleging that Democratic nominee for governor Tina Kotek broke state law with promises she made to a third-party candidate who then dropped out of the race.”
Melissa Busch, the Democratic nominee for state senate in the 16th district (Betsy Johnson’s former district), was arrested for DUI 16 years ago.
2. Phil Knight speaks to the Times, Oregonian Editorial Board endorses Kotek, and other news from the race for governor
Tina Kotek had a great week. First, she received a $1 million contribution from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Then she campaigned and fundraised with President Joe Biden (see above). Finally, in a move that surprised many political observers, the Oregonian Editorial Board endorsed her for governor. On Kotek, they wrote:
Her nine years as House speaker demonstrate her tenacity in tackling daunting challenges and success in assembling support to follow through. And her exacting standards bode well for oversight of state agencies that have failed repeatedly and inexcusably under Gov. Kate Brown.
Here are some other highlights from the campaign trail:
Did Phil Knight give money to Betsy Johnson to boost Christine Drazan? WW spoke with Knute Buehler, who is allegedly advising Knight, to find out.
Check out this must-read New York Times article about the governor’s race, which includes an exclusive interview with Phil Knight. Here’s an excerpt:
Mr. Knight, who rarely speaks with reporters, said in an interview on Thursday that he would do whatever he could to stop Ms. Kotek from becoming governor, describing himself as “an anti-Tina person.” He said he had never spoken with Ms. Drazan.
Watch Kotek, Drazan, and Johnson answer the question: Why is Kate Brown the least popular governor in America?
It’s official: this is the most expensive gubernatorial race in Oregon history.
Johnson was endorsed by the Bend Bulletin.
Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin is coming to Oregon to stump for Drazan.
3. Which Oregon leaders met President Joe Biden?
This week, for our paid subscribers only, we’ve compiled a photo gallery of some of the Oregon leaders who met with President Joe Biden.
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4. Big-ticket items to watch
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is planning to ban street camping and create several 500-capacity campuses where homeless people would live.
Multnomah County Chair Deb Kafoury does not appear interested in supporting the plan.
Oregon’s Addiction Crisis, from OPB: A new study from OHSU says “Oregon needs to double the services it offers for substance abuse treatment, recovery and harm prevention.”
Portland State University is facing steep enrollment declines, costing the university millions.
Law Enforcement: According to a poll commissioned by the Oregonian, “an eye-popping 82% of respondents in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties support higher levels of policing across the metro area.”
5. State Rep. Daniel Bonham joins The Bridge podcast to discuss the future of Oregon’s economy
Rep. Daniel Bonham is a Republican member of the Oregon House of Representatives representing district 59 in Central Oregon and is currently running for Oregon State Senator. In this podcast we cover his early career in the aviation industry, how he ended up owning a business in Maupin, and what he thinks about Betsy Johnson, Ron Wyden, and Peter Courtney.
6. Three major economic trends driving Oregon politics
With the election approaching, let’s take a look at three economic trends that are driving Oregon politics.
Inflation: While smaller than the increase in August, inflation continued to spike in September. Cost increases for food, utility bills, medical care, and more are hitting middle and working-class families in the wallet. Oregon also notched its highest average gas price on record last week. These trends are likely to cause problems for Democrats as the party in power.
Semiconductors: Oregon’s hold on the chip industry—with our “Silicon Forest”—might be in trouble. Intel has been caught in bad economic headwinds with its projected revenue falling nearly $13 billion from last year. The company plans to announce massive job cuts while other states try to offer incentives to lure the industry.
But, support for the industry remains strong. A letter signed by Sen. Chris Gorsek, Rep. Janelle Bynum, Rep. Ricki Ruiz, and Rep. Zach Hudson urges Gov. Kate Brown to act quickly in allocating $17.5 million to support Oregon’s bid for a new microchip factory, which could create 650 jobs in Gresham.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and his wife dropped a whopping $50 million to help Oregon State University establish a world-class super computer center.
Jobs: While the rest of the economy is under pressure, the job market is still holding strong. Oregon’s unemployment rate is holding around 3.7% and companies are still struggling to hire workers. That’s good news for Democrats who are trying to push back on GOP messaging that their economic policies are failing.
7. Do Oregonians trust local news?
Thanks to our friends at OVBC for the weekly graphic that shows local news have maintained some level of trust from most Oregonians.
8. News Roundup: Timbers, Kroger, and Providence in the news
The ousted former leader of Oregon’s public defense system, Stephen Singer, has filed a lawsuit against the state, alleging in part that Supreme Court Chief Justice Martha Walters violated state law leading up to his firing.
Merritt Paulson has stepped down as CEO of the Portland Timbers and Thorns, but will maintain his ownership stake.
Denny Doyle, the former mayor of Beaverton, has pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. He will register as a sex offender.
Kroger, who owns Fred Meyer, is attempting to purchase Safeway/Albertsons. Biden Administration anti-trust regulators are pushing back.
From the Oregonian: “Oregon high school athletes can profit off their name, image and likeness after OSAA rule change”
Two Oregon counties will vote this November if they’d like to join the state of Idaho.
Providence Health, the states largest health group, is facing an investigation from the Oregon Department of Justice for its financial practices.
Thank you for reading.
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About the Authors
Ben Bowman is the chair of the Tigard-Tualatin School Board and the Democratic nominee for Oregon House District 25 (Tigard and Beaverton). In his day job, he works as an administrator for a public school district. Previously, he worked as a legislative aide for former Reps. Margaret Doherty and Val Hoyle. He also co-hosts The Oregon Bridge podcast. In the newsletter and podcast, he speaks only for himself.
Alex Titus is a small business owner and consultant to businesses, nonprofits, and associations. Previously, he served as an Advisor in the Trump Administration and as a Policy Advisor to President Trump’s Super PAC. His writing has appeared in National Review, Fox News, The Hill, RealClearPolitics, and other publications. He also co-hosts The Oregon Bridge podcast.