Republican In Oregon Polling Ahead of Dem Incumbent
There is a potential massive upset brewing in the state of Oregon, which has long been a blue stronghold despite vast pockets of conservatism.
The Republican gubernatorial candidate there got some unexpectedly good news this week in the form of polling against incumbent left-wing Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek.
Republican State Sen. Christine Drazan is polling four points ahead of Kotek, according to a new poll from the research firm Public Opinion Strategies.
On Thursday, Drazan toured manufacturing facilities in Eugene and Springfield and discussed her thoughts on public education requirements.
“We took away our requirements for graduation some years ago,” Drazan said, according to local reports.
“It’s time to restore graduation requirements and know that our students are going to be prepared for community college, or the trades, or college, whatever they want in their future, that our public education is going to help them get there,” she continued.
“Today, we found that that has not been the case. We need to ensure that by attending a public school, you’re not going to be left behind,” she added.
Drazan also discussed her lead in the polls.
“This isn’t about what color jersey you wear,” Drazan said. “This is certainly not about personality contests or anything like that. This place that we live in is extraordinary.
“We shouldn’t be losing people to Texas or Nevada or Arizona or Tennessee or anywhere else,” Drazan continued.
“People should want to live here because it’s the best place to live,” she added.
“And so we just have to work on solving these problems differently. We need a new vision and a new direction for our state.”
The last Republican to hold the governorship in Oregon was Vic Atiyeh, who served from 1979 to 1987.
Also, last month, the Cook Political Report changed the Oregon governor’s race from Solid Democrat (the highest possible Democrat rating) to Likely Democrat.
The change was made on July 10, well before Public Opinion Strategies poll was released, meaning that the shift to Drazan has likely been occurring for weeks.
“Oregon’s gubernatorial races have become something of a nagging headache for Democrats, in part because the policies that play well with Portland progressives are poisonous elsewhere in the state,” the report stated in its race summary.
The Cook Political Report shifted its rating for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District on July 16 from Likely Democratic to Solid Democratic, signaling stronger prospects for incumbent Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., in her race against Republican Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair.
Oregon’s 5th District had been considered one of the state’s most competitive congressional seats following redistricting.
Former Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer defeated Democrat Jamie McLeod-Skinner by 2.1 percentage points in 2022, while Bynum unseated Chavez-DeRemer by 2.7 points in 2024.
Cook Political Report continues to rate Oregon’s U.S. Senate race as Solid Democratic, with incumbent Sen. Jeff Merkley facing Republican David Brock Smith.
The race in Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses most of central and eastern Oregon, also remains unchanged.
Cook rates the seat as Solid Republican, with incumbent Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., running against Democrat Chris Beck.
Neither the Senate race nor the 2nd Congressional District has seen a rating change since at least February.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s endorsed slate powered through Tennessee’s Republican primaries Tuesday, delivering decisive wins that underscored the president’s enduring grip on the GOP.
The primary wins also position conservatives for a strong push to reclaim the governor’s mansion and hold key congressional seats in the November midterms.
Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty secured an uncontested victory in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate on Thursday night, advancing effortlessly to the November general election as a steadfast champion of conservative values and President Trump’s agenda.
With no challengers on the ballot, Hagerty, the incumbent first elected in 2020, was declared the nominee shortly after polls closed at 7 p.m. Central Time.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
