It's Primary Election Night In Oregon - Live Thread

The (Portland) Oregonian ^

[MplsSteve]

I've been following this race only nominally. It looks like a re-run of the primaries from 4 years ago.

It looks like Gov Kulongoski has survived his primary challenge from Jim Hill and the conservative vote was split, allowing a moderate Republican (Jim Saxton) to possibly win the GOP nomination.

Comments or opinions on these races - anyone?

[Tailback]

Saxton might be able to pull enough votes out of Portland to win the Governorship. I'm just glad Mannix is losing.

[Hexenhammer]

I didn't like Saxton or Mannix.

I'm not a Multnomah county resident anymore so it doesn't really bother me, but I enjoy seeing Diane Linn getting trounced so far.

[Evie Munchkin]

It was a long shot I know, but I was hoping Atkinson would win. Mannix and Saxton are RINO's. However, I hope anyone beats Gov Ted. What an idiot.

[Hexenhammer]

I voted for Atkinson too. I just hope Saxton will be a little more conservative. Seems to me like he was making the 'ol run right in the primaries, run down the center in the general election play to me.

By the way, did Jim Hill remind anybody else of John Kerry? I pointed that out to a few friends and they didn't think of it untill I mentioned it to them.

[B Knotts]

I voted for Atkinson, but apparently most Republicans felt he was a bit squishy on immigration, which has come top and center as an issue in the last few weeks.

Ron Saxton is a pro-abort, albeit one who supports parental notification.

[Salvation]

Oregon Ping

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[Salvation]

Sad that Mannix is losing. He WAS the pro-life candidate.

[Salvation]

http://www.katu.com/stories/85949.html

May 16, 2006

Kulongoski And Saxton To Go Head To Head

PORTLAND, Ore. - Gov. Ted Kulongoski soundly defeated his two challengers for the Democratic nomination Tuesday and in November will face Portland lawyer Ron Saxton, who vanquished Kevin Mannix and Jason Atkinson.

KATU Political Analyst Tim Hibbitts projected the winners for each party just after 8 p.m.

With 40 percent of the ballots counted, Kulongoski had 54 percent of the vote, turning back a challenge by former State Treasurer Jim Hill, who got 30 percent, and Peter Sorenson, a Lane County Commissioner, who drew 17 percent.

Among the Republicans, Saxton had 43 percent of the vote to Mannix's 30 percent. Atkinson, a state senator from Central Point and the third major contender for the nomination, had 20 percent.

"We're going to win tonight," a confident Saxton told cheering supporters who gathered at a downtown Portland hotel.

Mannix conceded defeat, and pledged to help Saxton in November.

"I will do my duty to help our nominee in November. It is so important for this state," said Mannix.

(From KATU & AP reports)

[Salvation]

http://www.katu.com/stories/85951.html

May 16, 2006

Roberts, Linder head into November run-off

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By SARAH SKIDMORE
Associated Press Writer

PORTLAND, Ore. - Former state Labor Commissioner Jack Roberts and Oregon Appeals Court Judge Virginia Linder will face off in November for an open seat on the Oregon Supreme court after each failed to win a majority in a closely fought race.

With 55 percent of the votes counted in the Tuesday primary, Roberts won 41 percent, Linder captured 38 percent and Pendleton attorney W. Eugene Hallman had 20 percent.

Because no one got a majority, the top two - Roberts and Linder - will compete in a November run-off.

The winner will succeed Wallace Carson Jr., who is retiring after almost 25 years on the court and 14 years as its chief justice.

In their race to replace Carson, the candidates set a statewide fundraising record for a judicial campaign. Their combined total, even before they file post-election reports next month, will double the previous mark of $430,000.

A general election runoff likely would push the total past $1 million.

The candidates agreed on several major issues, such as the push to move cases through the Supreme Court system more quickly. And all three have doubts about a proposed ballot initiative that would require appellate-level judges to be elected on a districtwide, not statewide, basis.

But each brought a unique element to the race.

Linder would be the only woman on the court, although she said her gender was not the reason voters should place her on the bench.

Hallman would have brought geographic diversity to the court - he has lived east of the Cascades for the past three decades whereas most court-appointees are from Oregon's major metropolitan areas.

And Roberts has spent much of his time in politics or otherwise working outside of legal circles. The former GOP gubernatorial hopeful most recently worked as the head of a nonprofit economic development agency in Lane County.

There are limits on what the candidates can offer their opinions on. But the Supreme Court is responsible for some of Oregon's most notable legal decisions in recent years, such as gay marriage, the public employees' retirement system and free speech.

Although this is the first race in a number of years, there is another potential opening on the court. Justice R. William Riggs recently announced he'll leave the court by the end of the year or sooner, if professional opportunities arise. That gives Gov. Ted Kulongoski the potential to make another high court appointment.

[Sir_Ed]

Mannix is very anti-gun, though...

Ed

[Theodore R.]

Nothing much really happened in OR: the state remains fully liberal and may always be that way, particularly when new hordes of illegals start coming that far north.

[aimhigh]

Comments or opinions on these races - anyone?

Sad results. A Naral democrat and a RINO. I think Saxton is a shill for the schools. He talks about cutting state employees by 10%. I suspect he'll give all the savings to the greedy teachers. The Oregonian will probably support Westlund, since he's a pro-gay RINO.

[B Knotts]

That shows that you don't know all that much about Oregon.

Oregon is a purple state...not fully blue, and certainly not fully red. It leans slightly Democrat; Bush nearly won Oregon in 2000, losing by around 4000 votes statewide.

It also has a tradition of RINO-ism.

But it is far from the most liberal state in the Union. Many states, such as California, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Michigan are much more liberal than Oregon.

Oregon compares more closely to a state like Wisconsin.

Oh, and Saxton, while generally thought of as a liberal/moderate Republican, won the primary by running on the illegal immigration issue.

[Salvation]

Didn't know that.

[Danae]

Ok.... I have a REALLY good feeling about November.

Why:

1)VERY VERY low Voter turnout in this election. This means whom ever motivates their base better is going to win. Conservatives are quite frankly done with Mannix and there is a real sense that had he won, we were doomed to another 4 years of Dim Mismanagement of the state. Hence the apathy at the ballot box from Conservatives. We have Fresh Meat back on the Menu to energize the troops folks. He may be a RINO, but Saxton is a RINO that may well be able to take back the state. Frankly it is better to have someone in office that at least supports a majority of our beliefs than one who supports none; lives and governs by Populist ideals. (2+2= what ever the majority says it does, rather than 2+2=4.)

2)It is apparent to me that Mannix can NOT motivate the base. We have seen over the years that Mannix could NOT motivate the base, and more to the point, has mismanaged his resources as the Head of the GOP in Oregon. The Party here is in a shambles, and that was due to a lack of Leadership from the top.

3)Like it or not, this state is a LIBERAL state. The liberal whackos that live here are absolutely off the chart. A core Conservative is NOT going to take this State. I site Mannix as an example. He has had a number of whacks at this mole and it is time to pass the mallet, well past.

We have a shot here people. A real one. Had Mannix won last night, we would have been doomed. The Liberals underestimate the anger and hunger of Conservatives here. We are well pat fed up with the atrocious mismanagement of this state, and the Liberals who have been grinding their elbows in our eyes for the last couple decades. With a little energy, a little Motivation, we can take this state back. The pendulum has swung here, we have the momentum we need. Now it's a matter of quietly motivating the average person who thinks like we do, to vote in November, whilst the Dims underestimate us.

Saxton is the best thing that has happened to the GOP in 20 years. Regardless if he is the perfect GOP candidate or not, he is the GOP candidate with a CHANCE! let's back him, let's get out the vote as we did in '04, and the Governor's seat is ours.

[OregonRepublican]

I proudly voted for Atkinson and probably will keep my bumper sticker on until he runs for state office again in 2010.

I proudly will NOT vote for the RINO Saxton.

Ill get more excitement seeing Jack Roberts, Larry George, and Tom Cox when then a RINO in Saxton.

[OregonRepublican]

Atkinson is NOT pro illegals read what Atkinson has said. If governor he wouldnt have given drivers licenses, social services nothing.

But thanks to RINO LARS, we have a RINO running for governor. I guess Lars likes his canidates anti-gun, pro higher taxes, pro abortion.

Everyone be ready for 4 more years of sleepy Ted... then in 2010 atleast Atkinson will be able to rerun and crush the competition... only if Saxton and Mannix egos get in the way.

Getting 22% of the vote well getting outspent 20:1, and not being from the willamette valley is pretty impressive.
Jeff Kroph and a few news station said Atkinson should be very proud because many people had him in single digits and he is the future of the republican party

[B Knotts]

I know what he said; remember, like I said, I voted for Atkinson. I'm just saying that apparently, some people got the idea that he was soft on illegal immigration.

I don't think Saxton is anti-gun, though.

[B Knotts]

Oh, BTW, I'm not certain of it, but I think Saxton is going to beat Kulongoski.

I'm not crazy about Saxton, and don't even know if I can vote for him, due to his pro-abort views, but Kulongoski was weak to begin with, and was beat up in the primary. An incumbent governor should be able to manage more than 53% in a primary.