\n\n“Oregon is known nationally for being solidly blue, but its internal politics are more nuanced. The biggest source of friction is in the state\u2019s environmental politics, because outside blue Portland, the eastern area of the state is home to both old-growth forests and a large logging industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTimber is to Oregon what coal is to West Virginia,\u201d Pedery said. \u201cThere\u2019s legacy logging money that funds all of our right-wing causes in the state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The timber industry\u2019s power makes for more unusual politics than the typical left-right divide on climate change. You can find plenty of Democrats who, like Sen. Joe Manchin in West Virginia, are supported by an industry that opposes climate change policies.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Johnson trails far behind both Kotek and Drazan in polling. She\u2019s endured in the race this long because she is also the best-funded candidate, thanks to the state\u2019s richest man, Knight, the co-founder and chair emeritus of footwear giant Nike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has single-handedly flooded Johnson\u2019s campaign with $3.75 million in cash, and another $2 million<\/a> to a PAC dedicated to electing more Republicans to the Oregon legislature. In October, he contributed his first $1 million<\/a> to Drazan\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A third candidate\u2019s presence, boosted by Knight\u2019s cash, has upended all normal expectations for the race. In a \u201cnormal\u201d cycle”<\/p>\n\n\n\n …<\/p>\n\n\n\n “as Johnson is a former Democrat,her candidacy is pulling away support that might otherwise go to Kotek. \u201cThere\u2019s a real attempt to stop Democrats from defecting to Johnson,\u201d said Horvick. If Kotek loses, it could be Knight\u2019s money that\u2019s to blame.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n …<\/p>\n\n\n\n “If Johnson\u2019s presence does manage to tip the race to the Republican, the use of a third candidate to siphon off Democratic support could become a model in reliably blue states to reverse climate action. All Republicans would need is a deep-pocketed backer and a viable moderate or conservative Democrat.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n