Moderate, progressive face off in Oregon governor primary

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Democratic primary for Oregon governor in Tuesday's midterm elections will serve as a test between the party's moderate and progressive wings at a time when voters remain frustrated over the handling of the pandemic, the homelessness crisis, a lack of affordable housing and increasing gun violence.

The two leading candidates are Tina Kotek, a staunch liberal and former speaker of the state House, and Tobias Read, the state treasurer who has positioned himself as a centrist and blamed Kotek for the state's woes. Current Gov. Kate Brown, a progressive Democrat, cannot run for the position again because of term limits.

Kotek, who led Oregon’s House of Representatives for a record nine years, is considered the front-runner. The Portland-based politician has collected endorsements from a third of Oregon lawmakers, nationally elected leaders, unions and organizations. But as someone who held power during a tumultuous time in Oregon, Kotek must persuade voters that she can improve the state while avoiding blame for its problems.

Kotek's biggest challenger is Read, who was a state representative in Oregon for 10 years before being elected treasurer. Read hopes to capitalize on voter unrest.

Read has painted himself as a political “outsider,” a move that experts say could benefit him at a time when many residents are unhappy with the status quo in Oregon’s leadership, as evidenced by Brown’s historically low approval ratings.

But some question if his experience and political positioning are enough to win.

“I think Tobias Read looks like a great Democratic candidate from like 10 years ago,” said Christopher McKnight Nichols, an associate professor of history at Oregon State University. “But I don’t know that his sort of family-oriented and slightly...