WSJ: Oregon May Elect A GOP Governor For First Time In 36 Years

Republican Knute Buehler’s campaign to oust failed Democrat Governor Kate Brown continues to gain momentum, with Democrat voters saying they will abandon Brown and instead cast ballots for Buehler. Over the weekend, the Wall Street Journal profiled Buehler’s race and interviewed Democrat voters who say they will support Buehler.

“This is the first candidate I’m crossing party lines for in 20 years,” said one Portland Democrat who was out “knocking doors to solicit votes” for Buehler. “Oregon is so behind in so many ways…under our current leadership.”

“Mr. Buehler, 54, is aggressively courting moderate Democrats unhappy enough with Ms. Brown that they will defy their party despite the highly partisan national atmosphere. His strategy has turned the campaign for the governor’s office in Oregon into a race that’s tighter—and tenser—than expected in this solidly blue state,” explains the Wall Street Journal.

It’s clear – Knute Buehler has the momentum in this gubernatorial race. Just last week, Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball joined the Cook Political Report and RealClearPolitics in moving the Oregon governor’s race in the GOP direction. All three now label the race a “toss up.”