Patrick Starnes is joining what will probably be a crowded Democratic field of candidates vying to become Oregon’s next governor after Gov. Kate Brown’s term ends in January 2023.
Starnes told KATU News Sunday that he plans to campaign primarily on campaign finance reform.
Starnes is running as a Democrat after previously running as the Independent Party candidate in 2018, campaigning on his support for a constitutional amendment to cap campaign donations. The cabinet maker and home restorer ultimately dropped out of the 2018 election and endorsed Brown a week before Election Day, so his name was still on the ballot and he received 2.9% of the vote.
Political spending that year exceeded $37 million -- about double the $18 million record set in 2010.
State legislation to set campaign finance limits failed earlier this year, prompting Starnes to consider running for governor again, he told KATU in July.
Starnes has raised $2,246 so far, according to state data, compared to the $23,800 raised by Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek this election cycle, on top of the $91,118 in contributions that carried over from her last campaign. Kotek announced her candidacy for governor Sept. 1, becoming the highest-profile candidate to enter the race so far. Casey Kulla, a farmer and Yamhill County commissioner, is also running in the Democratic primary for governor. Kulla has raised $31,000, according to state campaign finance records.
Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and longtime New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof are among the other high-profile Democrats considering runs.
Republicans who have entered the race include Salem physician Bud Pierce, political consultant Bridget Barton, Sandy Mayor Stan Pulliam and Medford businesswoman Jessica Gomez.
By Fedor Zarkhin | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Original source can be found here.
