The Oregon GOP Deserves Your Attention
Vice President Pence visited the state and gave a glimpse into the future of the national and state party
Dan Mason and the Washington County Republicans have brought a steady stream of high profile GOP speakers to Oregon over the past several years: Scott Walker, Kristi Noem, and now former Vice President Mike Pence. The former Vice President spoke at the 2021 Reagan Dinner in early October. At the event, Mason said this is the third time a current or former Vice President has visited Oregon in the last thirty years. Pence’s presence brought several strands of the Oregon GOP to the fore:
David Duquette, CEO of Western Justice — a legal and political defense association for the western way of life — thanked Pence for the key role he played in President Trump’s pardoning of the Hammond ranchers from Harney County. Duquette said it would not have happened without involvement from Pence.
House Republican Leader Christine Drazan brought a call to action for every Oregonian to not seek the past, but make the brave sacrifices necessary to save Oregon’s future. “It won’t be the politicians who save the day, as much as I love you […] It will be Americans.”
Congressman Cliff Bentz took direct aim at the Democrats $3.5 trillion dollar infrastructure bill, regarding it as a boondoggle. To help the audience understand it’s size, he compared it to “Godzilla crossed with Bernie Sanders.” He also commended Drazan for exposing Kotek’s true nature. “Because you made the deal with Speaker Tina Kotek, it can now be said she doesn’t keep her word.” Bentz called serving Oregonians in Congress the “true honor of a lifetime.”
Once those Oregonians had their time, Pence stepped up to provide his own overview. In a blistering 45 minute speech, Pence defended the agenda and accomplishments of the Trump-Pence administration, boldly declaring “We did it. We made America great again.”
The majority of his Oregon-specific content focused on law and order. Earlier in the day he met with law enforcement officials from across Oregon. “Defund the police” arrived late in the cycle for 2020 and Republicans believe it was an extremely successful line of attack. Pence brought it close to home, observing that “[t]he eyes of the nation have been on Portland over the past year.” He cited riots in downtown Portland, the widely shared 800% increase in homicides, and the $27 million haircut the City gave its police budget. He was not at all kind to the Biden administration. He closed with a not-insignificant moment, declaring that the upcoming election would look exactly like 2010. “We will win in 2022, 2024 and beyond.” Pence is considered a possible Presidential candidate in the 2024 election.
Though some think it’s easy to write off the Oregon GOP, this event signaled a vibrant and dedicated base. If the Vice President is correct, then Republicans in Oregon may be more powerful sooner than later. That merits paying attention to the Party’s main players and platform planks, instead of just thinking they’ll always play second fiddle.
Aside from Bentz, and Drazan, other notable attendees included GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Bridget Barton, Bud Pierce, and Stan Pulliam, along with Congressional candidates Alek Skarlatos and Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Sen. Fred Girod, Rep. Daniel Bonham, and a handful of other GOP elected officials were also in attendance.
Reagan Knopp is a ten-year veteran of conservative politics in Oregon. He is the founder of Knopp & Company, a campaign strategy firm serving select political, business, and non-profit clients as well as the Editor of Oregon Catalyst. He and his wife live in Albany with their two kids.
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