The three candidates in Oregon’s race for governor met for their final televised debate on Wednesday, clashing on key issues such as education and homelessness as each of them sought to set themselves apart in the consequential election.
Although Oregon typically leans Democratic in its statewide races and leaves little room for surprises, the governor’s race has been deemed a toss-up by election forecasters after third-party candidate former state Sen. Betsy Johnson entered the ring. Johnson, a onetime Democrat, has shaken up the race by threatening to split the electorate between herself and Democratic candidate Tina Kotek, giving Republican contender Christine Drazan a path to victory.
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Drazan has had a surprisingly strong performance in the polls so far, prompting Republican groups to pour money into the race to score an upset victory.
Here are the top takeaways from Wednesday’s debate:
Candidates’ experience in state politics both a weapon and hindrance
All three candidates have some experience working for the state government in Oregon, offering them talking points to tout their policy achievements while also giving their opponents fodder to attack their political records.
Kotek, the former House speaker in the Oregon legislature, was knocked by her opponents for the increase in crime rates that occurred while she was in office, with Johnson accusing the Democrat of prioritizing “almost everything before she prioritized homelessness.” Kotek fired back by blaming Drazan, a former representative in the Oregon House, for delaying a bill that would allocate $100 million toward homelessness by staging a walkout during the 2020 legislative session.
Drazan and Kotek engaged in several heated exchanges, frequently accusing the other of lying about their voting records and policy stances. Both Johnson and Drazan accused Kotek of being the “original defund-the-police candidate” and walking with “rioters” during racial justice protests in the summer of 2020, prompting Kotek to decry her opponents for misrepresenting her record.
Johnson adamant about staying in race despite risking Republican victory
The trio acknowledged the unusual circumstances surrounding their three-way race, conceding it could result in some partisan advantages for the winning party.
Johnson was previously a Democrat before leaving the party last year to run for governor, noting voters shouldn’t have to choose between a “left-wing liberal promising more of the same or a right-wing Trump apologist.” Despite trailing in the polls and threatening to split the vote, Johnson has refused to drop out — remaining adamant she could still win.
Johnson criticized Kotek for introducing policies that “spoiled” the Democratic Party, arguing her leadership was too far to the left. Kotek responded by warning that Johnson’s presence in the race would increase the chance for a Republican win, noting that “we don’t need to take a hard right turn to put our state back on track.”
Candidates point to policing reform to crack down on crime
Crime has emerged as a focal point in the governor’s race, as both Johnson and Drazan have spent much of the midterm cycle knocking Kotek for rising crime and homelessness rates in the state, which have reached record-breaking levels this year.
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Kotek proposed increasing the number of sworn officers in the state and providing more training for local police departments to train recruits. Drazan agreed, contending cities have experienced higher rates of crime because of a shrinking police force — vowing to ensure the state police department is fully funded.
Johnson touted her record while she served in the state legislature, noting the Oregon State Police had adequate funding while she was in office. However, she said, Democrats limited the effectiveness of police departments by passing legislation that restricted police tactics and enforced consequences for misconduct — policies that Kotek and Drazan both supported.
