State Sen. Betsy Johnson is running for governor, but not with her current political party.
In a long-rumored move, told supporters today she鈥檒l run as an unaffiliated candidate, not as part of any party.
鈥淗aving to choose between another left-wing liberal promising more of the same or a right-wing Trump apologist 鈥� is no choice at all,鈥� Johnson wrote in an email to supporters. 鈥淥regonians deserve better than the excesses and nonsense of the extreme left and radical right鈥� That鈥檚 why I have decided to run for Governor as an independent leader unaffiliated with any party and loyal only to the people of Oregon.鈥�
Johnson鈥檚 pending candidacy has been a curiosity for political observers for months and will prove an intriguing factor in what鈥檚 expected to be a hypercompetitive race for governor. Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat who has held the state鈥檚 highest office since 2015, is term-limited from seeking re-election.
While third-party candidates and independent candidates are frequently an afterthought in Oregon elections, Johnson, 70, has forged connections throughout the state in two decades in the Legislature. She鈥檚 also a wealthy timber heiress, and connected to other people of means who will be able to ensure her message is out before voters, political observers say.
How that breaks for candidates of the two major parties 鈥� whether Johnson might entice moderate Democrats to Republicans鈥� advantage, or attract Republicans with a more politically middle-of-the-road message 鈥� has been a matter of speculation. In her message to supporters on Thursday, Johnson suggested she would rely on her famously plainspoken and direct style.
鈥淚 will be a no-nonsense leader with the backbone and life experience to tame the partisan excesses and with the humility to know that delivering results matters more than who gets credit,鈥� the email said. 鈥淎s Governor, I will force the two parties to work together to put Oregon ahead of narrow partisan politics.鈥�
Nonaffiliated candidates in Oregon face a different path to the November 2022 general election ballot than those affiliated with major parties. Rather than vying for the Democratic nomination against , Johnson only has to collect about 23,750 valid signatures, equal to 1% of the statewide vote in the 2020 general election.
Johnson says she will launch that campaign after the first of the year.
Originally from central Oregon, Johnson lives in Scappoose and has represented the North Coast since 2001. In recent years, she has served as one of the Legislature鈥檚 lead budget writers, a powerful position that gives her an outsized say in state spending.
Johnson votes with Republicans more than any other Democrat, and in recent years has opposed major Democratic bills on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and imposing more gun control measures.
Johnson could well see her influence flag in coming years if she remains in the Legislature. Senate President Peter Courtney, a Salem Democrat and the longest-tenured lawmaker in state history, is widely expected to retire following his current term. There鈥檚 a very real chance the Democrat that next fills the Senate president role will be more political liberal than Courtney and would not tap Johnson to control the budget.
鈥淩est assured, my bedrock values will not change. I was raised in a moderate Republican family and became a Democrat because the Republican Party had moved too far to the right,鈥� Johnson wrote in her announcement. 鈥淔or twenty years, I鈥檝e been an independent-minded, pro-choice, pro-jobs Democrat proudly serving the people of Northwest Oregon.鈥�
Johnson鈥檚 announcement helps bring the governor鈥檚 race into clearer focus. Earlier this week, signaled he is likely to seek the Democratic nomination in the race, forming a candidate committee. Kristof has also resigned his long-time position at the Times, the paper reporter on Thursday.
If Kristof jumps in as expected, he鈥檒l join Yamhill County Commissioner Casey Kulla, House Speaker Tina Kotek, Treasurer Tobias Read and others vying to be the Democratic nominee.
On the Republican side, Salem oncologist and former Republican nominee Bud Pierce is running, along with Sandy Mayor Stan Pulliam, political consultant Bridget Barton, Ashland businesswoman Jessica Gomez, Baker City Mayor Kerry McQuisten, and others.
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