A new poll commissioned by Clout Research shows Republican Christine Drazan leading Democrat Tina Kotek by 6% in Oregon’s closely-watched gubernatorial race.
Independent candidate Betsy Johnson receives 11% support in the survey.
In a recent interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, Drazan said that Oregonians of all political stripes are done with “failed leadership,” and, unlike Kotek, she won’t make politically motivated decisions but act in the voters’ best interests.
Oregon hasn’t sent a Republican to the governor’s mansion in Salem since voters reelected Victor Atiyeh in 1982.
The Daily Caller has more on the fallout from the latest numbers:
Johnson, the independent candidate, formerly served in both houses of the State Legislature for over 20 years as a Democrat. Her candidacy is being seen as a “spoiler” in the race, drawing Democratic votes away from Kotek’s candidacy, according to Politico.
Drazan’s lead has increased over the previous week when an Emerson College poll showed her with a lead of 2% over Kotek. Upon news of the poll, Drazan received a boost from Nike co-founder and billionaire GOP donor Phil Knight, who pledged over $1 million to help her campaign, while Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia has announced that he will travel to Oregon to campaign with Drazan.
Democrats have been expressing concern about retaining Oregon’s governorship, which they have held since 1987, this electoral cycle. “Suddenly, everyone [has] figured out we have a real governor’s race out here,” said Jake Weigler, an Oregon Democratic strategist, to Politico.
Besides the statewide gubernatorial election, races in three of Oregon’s six congressional districts are considered highly competitive. RealClearPolitics puts the normally Democratic-leaning 4th, 5th and 6th districts in its toss-up, toss-up and lean Democrat categories, respectively.
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Throw Tina KoteX out with the rest of the trash.