DirtMcGirt
01-11-2009, 09:27 PM
From Liberal website-
Incumbent Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski is term-limited for 2010, and it's just as well; he's hardly the most popular governor in the nation at the moment.
Senior Senator Ron Wyden is also up for reelection, but he's the most popular politician in the state (sufficiently so that Republican Gordon Smith used Wyden in his ads in 2008). Unless 2010 is an exceptionally bad year for Democrats - like 1994-level bad - Wyden should draw limited opposition.
So the Governor's race should draw most of the focus in the state. Republicans are apparently trying to recruit former Senator Gordon Smith into the race. El Gordo, who at least pretends to act like a moderate, would be a pretty decent candidate even in this increasingly Democratic state, especially if 2010 isn't quite as friendly for Democrats as the 2008 wave which narrowly knocked off Smith.
If El Gordo doesn't run, two potential Republicans stand out - conservative Congressman Greg Walden, and State Rep. Jason Atkinson.
While Walden would appear to be too conservative to run statewide, Blue Oregon's Kari Chisholm thinks Atkinson might be somewhat tough:
f he's out of the pool, possible candidates include Secretary of State Bill Bradbury (who got drilled by Smith in his 2002 Senate race), U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (who has considered running for Governor or Senate a few times, and has routinely decided not to), and a number of state legislators. DeFazio could probably clear the field if he ran.
At the House level, Democrats aren't especially likely to seriously contest Greg Walden's seat even if he does run for Governor. The Republicans, on the other hand, will no doubt throw a serious challenge at freshman Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-05), and surely will recruit a stronger candidate than Mike "White Lines" Erickson this time out.
Incumbent Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski is term-limited for 2010, and it's just as well; he's hardly the most popular governor in the nation at the moment.
Senior Senator Ron Wyden is also up for reelection, but he's the most popular politician in the state (sufficiently so that Republican Gordon Smith used Wyden in his ads in 2008). Unless 2010 is an exceptionally bad year for Democrats - like 1994-level bad - Wyden should draw limited opposition.
So the Governor's race should draw most of the focus in the state. Republicans are apparently trying to recruit former Senator Gordon Smith into the race. El Gordo, who at least pretends to act like a moderate, would be a pretty decent candidate even in this increasingly Democratic state, especially if 2010 isn't quite as friendly for Democrats as the 2008 wave which narrowly knocked off Smith.
If El Gordo doesn't run, two potential Republicans stand out - conservative Congressman Greg Walden, and State Rep. Jason Atkinson.
While Walden would appear to be too conservative to run statewide, Blue Oregon's Kari Chisholm thinks Atkinson might be somewhat tough:
f he's out of the pool, possible candidates include Secretary of State Bill Bradbury (who got drilled by Smith in his 2002 Senate race), U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (who has considered running for Governor or Senate a few times, and has routinely decided not to), and a number of state legislators. DeFazio could probably clear the field if he ran.
At the House level, Democrats aren't especially likely to seriously contest Greg Walden's seat even if he does run for Governor. The Republicans, on the other hand, will no doubt throw a serious challenge at freshman Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-05), and surely will recruit a stronger candidate than Mike "White Lines" Erickson this time out.