OR-Gov 2014: Kitzhaber running again

[greenforest32]

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/kitzhaber_apparently_plans_to.html

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[ElectionsGuy]

Safe D

[greenforest32]

Confirmed: http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/john_kitzhaber_announces_for_h.html

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[Yogi]

Don't agree with his policies. But he seems like a very genuine person and public servant. One of my favorite Dem governors, just based off his personality that was shown during the 2010 campaign.

[Miles]

Do Republicans even have a candidate here? A few legislators were looking to run statewide, IIRC, but Republicans seem to be gravitating more towards the Senate race though.

[sg0508]

The GOP is beyond dead in Oregon.  It's a very sad state of affairs for the statewide GOP in many states, OR being one

[TX Conservative Dem]

Kitzhaber will likely get a 4th term in 2014, he could crack over 50+ percent after all: I could see him winning 60-63ish next year.

It'll make him the longest-serving governor in Oregon history with 16 years which will put him in good company with Edwin Edwards, George Wallace, Jim Hunt, etc.,

[nuclearneo577]

While I will admit that I don't pay attention to local politics as much as national politics, I do remember one thing that I like about Kitzhaber, his refusal to execute anybody else on death row ever since he took office in 2011. He's got my vote.

Maybe I'll get a lawn sign to show that Jefferson has at least one Democrat. Or just to tick off my mostly Republican relatives. Especially my Mom who owns the house that I live in.

[henster]

I think this race will be a lot closer than people expect. The Cover Oregon debacle will reflect negatively on Kitzhaber and any challenger he faces will make sure to bring it up repeatedly. Also Oregon's economy is still pretty weak unemployment high etc. he's also talking about introducing a sales tax which is very unpopular in Oregon. I still think he wins in the end but a lot closer than people expect.

[greenforest32]

Do Republicans even have a candidate here? A few legislators were looking to run statewide, IIRC, but Republicans seem to be gravitating more towards the Senate race though.

The former chairman of the state Republican party Allen Alley might run but I don't know if he'd beat Dennis Richardson. There haven't been any polls of the Republican primary for OR-Gov and Alley got about 32% in 2010's primary.

The ballot measures are going to be interesting too. Gay marriage and marijuana legalization probably going to be on the ballot and Republicans/conservative groups successfully petitioned a veto referendum of the bill passed this session that would give driver's licenses to teh illegals. Most likely going to see some other measures too; I think the signature deadline isn't until June or July of next year.

[TX Conservative Dem]

Kitzhaber will still get reelected by double digits though: between 56-60 percent in 2014.

With his likely 4th term, he and CA's Jerry Brown will be joining the club of 4-term governors:
1. George Wallace (D)-Alabama: January 14, 1963-January 16, 1967; January 18, 1971-January 15, 1979; January 17, 1983-January 19, 1987

2. Edwin Edwards (D)-Louisiana: May 9, 1972-March 10, 1980; March 12, 1984-March 14, 1988; January 13, 1992-January 8, 1996

3. James "Jim" Baxter Hunt (D)-North Carolina: January 8, 1977-January 5, 1985; January 9, 1993-January 6, 2001

4.  Bill Janklow (R)-South Dakota: January 1, 1979-January 6, 1979; January 7, 1995-January 3, 2003

5. Jim Rhodes (R)-Ohio: January 14, 1963-January 11, 1971; January 13, 1975-January 10, 1983

6. Nelson Rockefeller (R)-New York State: January 1, 1959-December 18, 1973*resigned in the middle of his 4th term

7. Tommy Thompson (R)-Wisconsin: January 5, 1987-February 2, 2001*resigned in the middle of his 4th term to become Bush 43's Health & Human Services Secretary.

[politicallefty]

He should easily win reelection, but Oregon is a very polarized state. Even with high popularity, it's hard to see an Oregon Democrat cross the 60% mark. Obama got about 57% in 2008. A strong result could get up to 58-59%, but it's hard to see the 60% mark get passed.

[Peter the Lefty]

Nice to see.  One of the only decent Governors in the country right now.

[Maxwell]

He should easily win reelection, but Oregon is a very polarized state. Even with high popularity, it's hard to see an Oregon Democrat cross the 60% mark. Obama got about 57% in 2008. A strong result could get up to 58-59%, but it's hard to see the 60% mark get passed.

He did win re-election the first time around with 64%, but that was against a perennial loser in Bill Sizemore. Your prediction is probably accurate.