Democratic front-runner Ted Kulongoski won his party’s nomination for governor Tuesday, advancing to face come-from-behind Republican Kevin Mannix in the Nov. 5 general election.
Kulongoski led almost every poll for the past several weeks, and his nomination came as little surprise. But GOP pundits — and many polls — had predicted conservative Mannix would lose the Republican primary to more moderate challengers Ron Saxton or Jack Roberts.
But Saxton and Roberts conceded the race to Mannix shortly after 10 p.m., when various media sources showed the conservative ahead by 10,000 votes statewide. At press time, Roberts had placed second, leading Saxton by less than 600 votes.
In a Eugene concession speech, Roberts told his supporters to rally behind Mannix for the good of the Republican party. But Saxton supporters said Mannix’s appeal is limited to far-right voters, which will practically assure Kulongoski the win.
“Republicans have shot themselves in the foot one more time,” Saxton campaign manager Mike Beard said. “We had an opportunity here to elect a Republican who could actually win the general election.”
Roberts said he plans to pledge his full support to the Mannix campaign.
“I’ve said he couldn’t win in the primary, and he proved us wrong,” Roberts said. “And I think he’ll do it again in November.”
Kulongoski said he isn’t listening to predictions that he is a lock for the governorship, and he is planning for a closely-contested battle against Mannix in November.
“I’m surprised at the margin of victory I received” in the primary, Kulongoski said. “But I don’t look at this as any easier. I have great respect for Kevin’s political skills.”
Kulongoski beat fellow attorneys Jim Hill and Bev Stein, who were second and third, respectively.
Despite finishing third, Stein said she was proud of the support she received and planned to give Kulongoski full backing in his gubernatorial race.
“I felt like I ran a great campaign,” Stein said. “I involved people that had never been a part of the process before. Ted won the election, and I believe Oregon
deserves a Democratic governor.”
As of press time, Oregon voters were overwhelmingly approving two ballot measures funding higher education issues and closely
defeating a measure to transfer money from a rainy day fund to Oregon schools.
Voters were passing Ballot Measure 10, which allows Oregon universities to own stock in corporations that use university-created technology, and Ballot Measure 11, which amends that Oregon Constitution to allow Oregon Health Sciences University to gain less expensive general obligation bonds for research and campus improvements.
Voters appeared to have rejected Ballot Measure 13, which would have transferred $220 million to the state school fund to temporarily solve a K-12 budget crisis, in a 52 percent to 48 percent decision.
Check today’s dailyemerald.com for updated election returns. For statewide results, go to oregonvotes.com.