8 minute read
PRE-ELECTION EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
MIA WAUGH
Advertisement
IN THREE-WAY GUBERNATORIAL RACE, DEMOCRATS EMPHASIZE EDUCATION AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
BRAD LE
To say that the political relationships between Republicans and Democrats across the country have become severely divided is an understatement. The movement of Oregon counties to consider joining Idaho—while a small and relatively fringe initiative—only goes to show that the political divisions between the Republicans and Democrats are still quite apparent in one of the most historically blue states in the nation.
However, what makes this political situation unusual is that the poll predictions for Oregon leadership in the upcoming election—with a particular focus on the gubernatorial race— shows an unusually marginal lead for Tina Kotek, with Republican candidate Christine Drazen still being a robust contender for the gubernatorial win in November.
In an interview with The Vanguard, Chairperson of the Oregon Democratic Party Carla “KC” Hanson expressed doubts about the polling numbers. “I think it’s a sign of a lot of money going into advertising [for Republicans]—which is a lot of false advertising,” she said. “This is mostly a result of a three-way race with gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson… She is a spoiler with a lot of funding and a lot of push… this throws a lot of political norms out of the window.”
Hanson pointed out how young voters between ages 18–25 represent an extremely important group of voters in Oregon for the upcoming election and explained that young voters need to be active. Sadly, historical elections have shown that young voters do not tend to vote as frequently, which Hanson herself shared her experience with. “In college I may have been an occasional voter too… but I didn’t get involved with the Democratic Party until I recognized the Democratic Party was in line with my view,” she said. “I think young people get involved first because they see an issue and they expand beyond that and then they get involved in voting. Of course most people who get involved with an issue already recognize the necessity of voting first, but prior to that most [college students] people are just trying to get their tests done and figure out how to make their rent payment… What college students face nowadays with costs and tuition rates are out of control… education is a right… The Democrats want to bring that back to balance. There’s no question in my mind on which political party is better for the students.”
When asked if Hanson thought the Oregon Republican Party holds the same values in the importance of education and college, Hanson was quick to respond. “I don’t think they [Republicans] care much,” she said. “I haven’t seen them do anything to help with spiraling education costs… I don’t see any effort to support students when I see the Oregon Republican legislature vote against tenant protection or voting against minimum wage. Tina Kotek, for one, has been a champion of those things… it’s easy enough to say that these things are a right, but when asked how they’re going to make it happen? The Republicans don’t have answers.” Hanson also stressed her party’s platform on reproductive rights. “What we hear when we are trying to talk to Oregonians, when we knock on their door or call them on the phone, is that women are worried about their personal freedom—and while Oregon is safe for now, women are about to lose that reproductive freedom,” she said. “If Congress and the Presidency loses to the Republicans in the next two years and there’s an abortion ban, we can look at what is happening to other states. Republicans say they are for state rights, but it is only messaging that gets them to the next step that can get them to make decisions at the door… When I talk to women they are terrified, especially child-bearing aged women. It’s something that maybe folks only begin to think about when they have to think about it, such as when contraception fails or a woman is victimized by rape or incest.”
Most of the Republican activity that Hanson mentioned happens at the federal level of the United States. When asked if the Oregon Republican Party is any different from the views or behavior from Republicans on the federal level, Hanson immediately replied that there isn’t a difference. “Remember that most of the Oregon Republican Party is from out-of-state,” she said. “They are trying to look different but they do not act differently.”
Hanson also stressed the importance of voters taking an interest in their legislators as strongly as the federal legislators, and in the state governor as much as the president. “Frankly, if this gubernatorial election wasn’t a three-way race, this race would’ve already been a landslide,” Hanson said.
Hanson emphasized the importance of political engagement even in the face of political tension. “Politics may produce a groan as it gets ugly,” she said, before stressing the importance of participation. “VOTE! Vote as if your life depends on it, and your freedom sincerely depends on it.”
MIA WAUGH
IN A BLUE STATE, OREGON REPUBLICANS ATTEMPT TO REBRAND
BRAD LE
The Republican Party has seen a lot of changes to its public image over the last few years. Ever since the Trump administration, the Republican Party has faced numerous criticisms over its conduct following many press-heavy events such as the Capitol riots, the Dobbs V. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court Case and discussions about a federal ban on abortion, raising ire from people across the country.
In regards to Oregonian politics, especially with the gubernatorial election around the corner, it makes sense that the Republican Party in Oregon is trying to rebrand its image in an attempt to appeal to a younger generation of voters.
“The Republican Party has an image that has and is changing over time,” said Justin Hwang, the chairman of the Republican Party of Oregon. “It used to have the image of old and racist white men... The Oregon GOP in reality is not racist nor is it for old men. Half of the Oregon GOP leadership is under 40 years old and even our treasurer is under 30 years old. The Oregon GOP knows that it is important to bridge the older and younger generations as we try to reconcile their voices to do what’s best for Oregon.”
Hwang, 37, is a Gresham restaurateur who founded the Joy Teriyaki and Joy Poke restaurants. In July 2022, Hwang stepped up from Vice Chairman of the Oregon GOP to Chairman following the stepping down of the previous Chairman, Sen. Herman Baertschiger Jr.
According to many gubernatorial polls, the gubernatorial candidates Tina Kotek (Democrat) and Christina Drazan (Republican) are in a very tight race, which is a surprise to many in light of Oregon’s long electoral history as a firm supporter of the Democratic Party. Polling data indicates that incumbent governor Kate Brown may be the most unpopular governor across the country, which could explain why Oregonians may be interested in moving away from 35 years of gubernatorial Democratic Leadership—a Republican governor has not been elected in Oregon since 1987 with Victor Atiyeh.
“Oregonians want change, and that’s why the Oregon GOP is changing too,” Hwang said. “We gave Democrats more than 20 years to help improve things, but there are still immediate issues that need to be solved. We’re trying to get the message across about important issues such as homeless, poverty, opioid addiction and that people can’t afford to buy a house, to name a few things. The Oregon GOP is trying to educate and help all Oregonians realize that there is more than just the way we’ve been doing it for 20-plus years. This state is 35th in education because we are always trying to lower the bar… it is time to reject the far-left agenda.”
While the Republican Party in Oregon is becoming younger, historically voters age 18–25 have consistently shown dismal turnout of just under about 50%. However, political observers note that political affiliation by generation increasingly becomes more conservative as people become older and that because they have a higher turnout rate, the strength of the GOP broadly benefits from lower turnout from younger voters, who are generally more liberal. “Frankly, it is a shame that young people are not as engaged in politics as they should be, and it shouldn’t honestly matter if we [Oregon GOP] benefit from that or not,” Hwang said.
“Education is needed and information is a right for young people for them to be engaged,” Hwang said. “I have faith as a Republican that what we’re doing is right for Oregon and I have faith that many young people like myself can also see that what we’re doing is right for Oregon.”
Hwang has been very active in his campaigns to rally Republican support in Oregon to vote in this upcoming election. “I’m not spending enough time with my wife,” Hwang joked. “This job is killing me.” In one of Hwang’s campaign speeches, Hwang encouraged the audience to vote and told them that he is going to “win every damn race in Oregon.” There is also an Instagram post on Hwang’s page with a caption that reads, “Oregonians will reject the far left agenda this November,” and “Oregonians are ready for change!” With the amount of activity over attempting to persuade Oregon voters to the Republican cause, Hwang explained to Vanguard his commitment to enthusiastic campaigning. “We have to win to do a lot of good things,” he said. “Oregonians want change and the Oregon GOP is ready to give that opportunity. We’re [Oregon GOP] young and we have the energy to do good things for this state.”
