JIMMIE JOHNSON: IT’S BEEN MORE THAN THREE DECADES (1987) SINCE A REPUBLICAN OCCUPIED OREGON’S GOVERNOR’S MANSION. FAST FORWARD TO 20-22 AND THIS FORMER STATE REP IS IN A THREE-WAY RACE THAT COULD FLIP THE BEAVER STATE RED.  

CHRISTINE DRAZAN IS JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW. 

CHRISTINE DRAZAN: “Oregon deserves better. I’m Christine Drazan. “If you’re looking for a third term of Kate Brown. You got two great choices – Tina Kotek and Betsy Johnson.”

JOHNSON: DRAZAN IS TAKING A JAB AT HER OPPONENTS — TINA KOTEK, A DEMOCRAT, AND BETSY JOHNSON, A DEMOCRAT TURNED INDEPENDENT AND TYING THEM TO THE OUTGOING GOVERNOR. 

KOTEK AND JOHNSON RUNNING COULD SPLIT THE LIBERAL VOTE AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR DRAZEN TO POTENTIALLY PULL OFF AN UPSET IN A PREDOMINANTLY LEFT-LEANING STATE. 

DRAZAN’S ROADMAP FOR OREGON INCLUDES INVESTING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, CUTTING TAXES, CREATING JOB GROWTH, EXPANDING SCHOOL CHOICE, AND TACKLING HOMELESSNESS.

DRAZAN: “There is no compassion, there is no dignity in allowing people to live in conditions that are unsafe for them and certainly aren’t acceptable for communities and frankly the neighborhoods that they’re in.”

JOHNSON: IN SEPTEMBER, POLLS SHIFTED THE RACE FROM LEANING DEM TO A TOSS-UP GIVING THE GOP ITS BEST SHOT AT WINNING THE GOVERNORSHIP IN 35 YEARS. 

AND WHOEVER WINS LIKELY WON’T EVEN AMASS MORE THAN 40-PERCENT OF THE VOTE. 

MEANWHILE, SOME POLITICAL ANALYSTS BELIEVE DRAZAN MAY HAVE A BIGGER CHALLENGE THAN HER OPPONENTS – WINNING TRUMP REPUBLICANS BECAUSE OF HER STANCE ON THE 20-20 ELECTION. 

DRAZAN: “But as it relates to the 20-20 election, there’s never been an issue with that for me. Donald Trump did not win. Joe Biden did. He is our president.”

DR. JIM MOORE: “I’m going to be really fascinated to see how that plays with the Republicans in the state who like the rest of the country, more than half of them feel like the 20-20 election was stolen. They believe the big lie that’s part of their political identity.”

JOHNSON: SO DOES DRAZAN HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN AND SEE HER PARTY MAKE A RETURN TO SALEM? CHRISTINE DRAZAN IS JUST ONE NAME TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS NOVEMBER.