News It's not exactly surprising that Basic Rights Oregon's political action committee announced this morning that it's endorsing Democratic candidate John Kitzhaber in the Oregon governor's race But what is surprising in the gay rights organization's news release (which extols Kitzhaber's track record when he was governor for two terms) is that BRO says Republican candidate Chris Dudley didn't respond ...   More

News Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Kitzhaber today released his first television ad directly addressing his opponent, Republican Chris Dudley. The ad comes less than two weeks after Kitzhaber rejected an earlier ad because of its "tone and tenor," says Jillian Schoene, a campaign spokeswoman. Given that the ad released today is also pretty negative, it's worth comparing it to the ...   More

News Monday's Labor Day picnic at Oaks Park provided leading Democratic pols a chance to rub shoulders with the rank-and-file union members who are Democrats' leading source of cash. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden; U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer, David Wu and Kurt Schrader occupied places of prominence on the dais and warmed up the crowd for a brief but fiery speech from gubernatorial candidate John Kitzhaber. ...   More

News In the race to be Oregon's next governor, Republican Chris Dudley has out-fundraised his Democratic opponent John Kitzhaber by about a two-to-one margin this year. Dudley is capitalizing on his celebrity as a former Portland Trail Blazer and the anger that many business owners and wealthy Oregonians have expressed in recent elections, as shown by their support for issues ranging from non-partisan ...   More

News The campaigns of both gubernatorial candidates continue to trade accusations of bad faith amid efforts to get both Republican nominee Chris Dudley and Democratic nominee John Kitzhaber in the same room at the same time. Yesterday, the Dudley campaign released a letter [PDF] from its debate coordinator, Fred Granum, to Kitzhaber's campaign manager, Patricia McCaig, detailing its efforts to communicate ...   More

News Yesterday, Democratic gubernatorial nominee John Kitzhaber reported a $50,000 contribution a month after he received the check. The Kithzaber campaign reported that contribution (from Tin House Publisher Win McCormack,) on the last day allowed by Oregon election law, which requires candidates to disclose contributions within 30 days of receiving them. Today, Kitzhaber did the same thing, ...   More

News Democratic gubernatorial nominee John Kitzhaber reported a $50,000 contribution from Tin House publisher Win McCormack late last week. That contribution, Kitzhaber's largest from an individual and only the second $50,000 contribution his campaign has reported was actually made a month ago but only reported late Friday night, according to a filing with the state. That delay is perfectly legal ...   More

News Lost amid the investigation into "potential contracting irregularities" involving the Oregon Department of Energy and Cylvia Hayes, the girlfriend of Democratic gubernatorial nominee John Kitzhaber is some compelling Kabuki theater around attack ads. As The Oregonian reported, the Democratic Governors' Association produced a negative ad about GOP gubernatorial nominee Chris Dudley. But, ...   More

News WW reported yesterday that the state and federal departments of Justice are investigating "potential contract irregularities" at the Oregon Department of Energy. Three sources confirmed that the investigation involves one or more contracts with 3E Strategies or an affiliated company, Toward Energy Efficient Municipalities LLC. 3E and TEEM are Bend renewable energy companies run by Cylvia Hayes, ...   More

News WW has learned from three sources that the Oregon Department of Justice is investigating one or more contracts involving the embattled Oregon Department of Energy and 3EStrategies, a Bend-based renewable energy consulting firm. The investigation by Attorney General John Kroger's office is potentially fraught with political implications because the CEO of 3EStrategies is Cylvia Hayes, the long-time ...   More