Oregon's homelessness, crime, and mental health crisis has become so dire, and its scandal-plagued governor so unpopular, that the reliably Democratic state is in danger of turning red in the fall's gubernatorial elections.
New polling reveals only a third of the Beaver State's deep blue heartland in the Portland tri-county Metropolitan Area had a positive outlook of Governor Tina Kotek, while a staggering 59 percent had a negative outlook after her first term, Oregon Live reported.
Despite an expected swing against the GOP following a surge in Donald Trump's disapproval, DHM Research Senior Vice President John Horvick said there is a chance that Oregon will vote for a Republican governor for the first time since Governor Vic Atiyeh in 1982.
'In order for Republicans to win statewide, they're going to have to chip away at the big margins in the metro region,' he told the outlet. 'I'm not making a prediction at all, but this suggests some possibility of that,' he added, referring to Kotek's low approval in the area.
In Multnomah County, one of the three polled by the outlet, about 56 percent of residents said they had a negative view of the governor, while only 35 percent had a positive view. That's an almost complete reversal of the outlet's same poll a year ago, when Kotek had a 50 percent positive impression and a 35 percent negative impression in the same county.
Kotek's Republican competition in November falls on the shoulders of state Senator Christine Drazan, state Representative Ed Diehl, and former Portland Trailblazer Chris Dudley. Only around a third of the Portland metro area were found to have a positive outlook on Governor Tina Kotek in a survey conducted by Oregon Live, while 59 percent shared negative opinions on the Democrat.
Just a week ahead of the primary election on May 19, Kotek's hopes of running for four more years seem more bleak as her opposition noted that her low approval ratings could secure the predominantly blue state a Republican governor.
In a statement to the outlet, Kotek's campaign manager Marissa Sandgren said the poll 'tells us nothing about November' due to the poll's lack of questions regarding Kotek's Republican opponents.
DHM Research's pollster noted that Kotek's approval rating can be reflected nationwide as satisfaction across America's political landscape has tanked. 'That's not to say that people aren't specifically dissatisfied with Tina Kotek but it's important to recognize the overall context is: people are upset and, Democrats in particular, upset [with] the way things are going nationally. And that spills over,' Horvick said.
Despite Kotek championing initiatives to address homelessness, rising housing prices, poor school performance, and an increasing mental health crisis, Oregon has continued to struggle. Lisa Hysmith, a respondent of this year's poll, told the outlet: 'I'm just baffled at how a Democrat-led state is struggling with the things that we're struggling with.' While Hysmith noted her concerns regarding homelessness and school performance, she said that it would not prevent her from voting for Democrats.
Meanwhile, Mary Hayden, 75, said: 'She's always a better choice than any of the Republicans.' Hayden added that she hadn't 'seen anything egregiously wrong' with Kotek's leadership.
State Senator Christine Drazan of Canby had previously lost to Kotek four years ago across Multnomah and Washington counties, but secured a win in Clackamas by around 5,000 votes. State Representative Ed Diehl said in a statement to the outlet early this year that the changing poll results indicate that the people of Oregon are 'yearning for new leadership.'
In a statement to Oregon Live, Kotek's campaign manager, Marissa Sandgren, said the poll 'tells us nothing about November' due to its lack of questioning regarding Kotek's Republican opponents. 'So while Republican gubernatorial opponents continue to pledge their loyalty to Donald Trump's chaos, voters will have a clear choice: a governor who stands up for them, or candidates who would hand Trump the keys to Oregon,' Sandgren added.
All three Republican challengers - Drazan, Diehl and Dudley - have remained cautious when referring to Trump, never truly staking a positive or negative opinion on the controversial leader, while Kotek has strongly voiced criticism of the president. Drazan had previously lost to Kotek four years ago across Multnomah and Washington counties, but secured a win in Clackamas by around 5,000 votes, Oregon Live reported.
Kotek's sinking approval comes two years after the governor faced public scrutiny and scandal surrounding her wife, who claimed to be a mentally ill alcoholic amid a nepotism scandal that saw the Democrat's ethics questioned. Around a month later, Kotek announced that her wife, Aimee Kotek Wilson, would not be holding the Office of the First Spouse, a planned formal office created for her by the governor. Kotek stated that her wife's responsibilities will be restricted to ceremonial appearances and listening to groups of locals.
The Daily Mail reached out to Kotek's office as well as Drazan, Diehl and Dudley's respective offices for comment.
