Oct 24, 2022
I’m calling this episode the final election push. Ballots are mailed out and in voters' hands, as candidates make their final pitches leading up to November’s 8th’s election day. The candidates for Oregon Governor, Democrat Tina Kotek, Republican Christine Drazan and Independent Betsy Johnson, held their final debate.
Oregon’s shortage of public defenders emerged as a major issue. That shortage means people charged with crimes, are being set free. Drazan places the blame for that on democrats, specifically Kotek. Johnson says the current public defender system needs reform but she wouldn’t tear it all up and start from scratch. Kotek accused her opponents of not recalling the state’s research on what would solve the problems.
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden joined President Biden as he campaigned for Kotek in Oregon. I talked to the senator about this campaign and election season.
For more background on the importance of elections, like the one we have coming on November 8th, I also talked to a historian who’s authored a new book, "Civil War by Other Means." History and Public Affairs Professor Jeremi Suri, with the University of Texas at Austin.