Kitts(R-OR) runs for Congress

Oregonlive ^ | 1/25/06 | Staff

[DuckFan4ever]

Rep. Derrick Kitts, R-Hillsboro, will run against Congressman David Wu rather than seek re-election to the Oregon Legislature this year, Kitts announced Wednesday.

Kitts, 32, is in his second two-year term in the Oregon House. He said he differs with Wu on a number of issues, including trade, taxes, immigration and private property rights.

During the 2005 Legislature, Kitts chaired the House Elections and Rules Committee. His top accomplishment of the session was successfully working for passage of legislation that made several changes in campaign finance disclosure laws. The legislation was introduced after a Salem representative resigned amid allegations that led to his guilty plea and a jail sentence for filing false campaign finance reports.

Wu, a Portland Democrat, is expected to run for his fifth two-year term in Congress. With more than $435,000 in the bank as of his latest report last year, Wu has a substantial head start on Kitts in raising campaign money.

[DuckFan4ever]

Oregon has 4 Democrat reps and 1 Republican. This is not an 80% Democrat state. This seat and the one in Salem should be toss ups but the Dems have owned them in recent times.

Here is Kitts email:
rep.derrickkitts@state.or.us

[Clintonfatigued]

I'm sure that Derrick Kitts would make a great Congressman.

But there's something I can't help but woner. Last year, David Wu won easily even amid revelations that he raped a woman while in college. If Republicans couldn't unseat him in those circumstances, what reason is there to believe that this race will turn out differently?

[Aetius]

Are you serious? I never heard about a congressman who had raped a girl in college. Of course, him being a liberal Democrat would mostly explain that, but still...

[Clintonfatigued]

It was front-page news in The Portland Tribune that year. Go to Google or Yahoo and look it up, and you'll see several articles & blogs about it.

[DuckFan4ever]

Last year, David Wu won easily even amid revelations that he raped a woman while in college. If Republicans couldn't unseat him in those circumstances, what reason is there to believe that this race will turn out differently?

Yes, the Oregonian ran a story a month before the election and he won. There was a backlash against the paper by many people here. I don't know if this year will be any different. In '04 the Dems were really energized in Oregon to defeat President Bush. The Dems over-performed here in Oregon in 2004. I don't think they can match that energy in this off year election. David Wu is not a big name in Oregon. He could and should be vulnerable this time.

[crazyhorse691]

Oregon has 4 Democrat reps and 1 Republican. This is not an 80% Democrat state. This seat and the one in Salem should be toss ups but the Dems have owned them in recent times.

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Tell me about it. Wu the rapist and Defazio the drunkdriver can do no evil as far as the voters go. I have no idea how Hooley stays in office(sympathy vote because she is dumber than Patti Myers?). Blumenaur(sp)is a perfect fit for Portland(spoiled wuss w/feminine side ascending). The others are vulnerable IF we can get a candidate who sticks it out through 2 elections.

[Dr. Thorne]

"Last week, Wu admitted that while a student at Stanford University in the 1970s, he had “a two-year romantic relationship with a fellow college student that ended with inexcusable behavior on my part.” His admission came on the day The Oregonian published its story, which said that Wu tried to force his girlfriend to have sex with him." - Portland Tribune; "Ameri pummels Wu over incident", October 22, 2004

[fieldmarshaldj]

Aside from the Portland (Blumenauer) district, all the remaining 4 districts should be winnable for us, it's appalling we haven't gotten more than 2 seats since after the 1954 election !

[AuH2ORepublican]

Wu's district is the toughest one for us, since RAT redistricters kept heavily RAT parts of Portland in it, but we can still win it. But it is inexcusable that we haven't won in the DeFazio and Hooley districts.

[Clintonfatigued]

Darlene Hooley has suffered medical problems in recent years. I don't wish her any ill, but hopefully she'll retire soon.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Darlene Hooley has suffered medical problems in recent years. I don't wish her any ill, but hopefully she'll retire soon."

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I think the district's Republicans blew it when they nominated a pro-abortion businessman instead of pro-life state Senator Jackie Winters in 2004. Winters matched up much better against Hooley, and would have become the first black female Republican in Congress. Maybe she can run again in 2006 and the district's voters will give her a chance.

[Clintonfatigued]

Jackie Winters lost because she entered the race at a late date and another well-funded candidate was already running. As for this year, she is seeking reelection. But she could run again if Dooley retires.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I think one of the contributing reasons for Winters's primary defeat was her record on taxes. Winters also is no spring chicken, either. She may no longer have the interest in starting a career in DC at the age of 70, and who can blame her ?

[AuH2ORepublican]

"I think one of the contributing reasons for Winters's primary defeat was her record on taxes."

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That is correct. Zupancic hit her mercilessly for her vote to raise taxes a year or so before the primary. Winters tried to explain that it was part of a budget deal, etc., but she lost the primary 55%-45%. (For some reason, black Republicans all seemed to cap out at 45% in the primary in 2004---that's also what Dylan Glenn and Vernon Robinson got.)


"Winters also is no spring chicken, either. She may no longer have the interest in starting a career in DC at the age of 70, and who can blame her?"

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Good point. 2004 may have been the last time she would be willing to make the sacrifice to move to DC.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"For some reason, black Republicans all seemed to cap out at 45% in the primary in 2004---that's also what Dylan Glenn and Vernon Robinson got."

I think, however, in those 3 cases, it had less to do with race than the individual dynamics (taxes, with Winters; Robinson having pissed off the "establishment" and having an uphill battle against Virginia Foxx; Glenn running in a district which was different than the one he had run in previously against Sanford Bishop, and against the sitting State House GOP leader, Lynn Westmoreland, a very unenviable position). It is sad, though, to realize that it is far easier to elect a Black Republican in a majority-White district than it is in a majority-Black one. Hopefully in the years to come, we can finally correct that unfortunate dynamic for good.