In Other News: Tina Releases New TV Ad, Advocates Slam Johnson’s Conservative Record
[Portland, OR] – The biggest news this week broke on Wednesday when Willamette Week first reported that gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson is spurning a long-standing customary practice by refusing to release her tax returns to the newspaper. Johnson’s refusal drew comparisons to another wealthy conservative who broke this norm of transparency – Donald Trump. From Nigel Jacquiss:
“In making that choice, Johnson deviated from recent norms in Oregon and across the country … There has been one major exception, of course: Candidate and then President Donald Trump refused to turn over his tax returns in 2016 and again in 2020.”
The Oregonian added more details about Johnson’s personal wealth and potential conflicts of interest. From Hillary Borrud:
“Johnson, who records show inherited more than $11 million from her mother and timber baron father starting in the 1980s, receives significant income from stock holdings and trust funds.”
The Story on KGW broke down the significance of Johnson’s latest dodge for voters. From Pat Dooris:
“You may be asking well, why should I care? And, experts say it’s all about reassuring the public that the candidate does not have a conflict of interest if they’re elected to the state’s highest office….
“Johnson is part of a wealthy Central Oregon timber family. That form shows Johnson’s husband has ownership stake in five different companies, and that she has trusts and a large investment portfolio of stocks – and some of them have legislative interest right here in Oregon. That includes an oil transportation company called Global Partners which has a terminal in Johnson’s former Senate district. Willamette Week reports that the company has given Johnson’s campaign $160,000. But, without her tax returns we don’t know how much income she’s received from the company stock.”
KOBI Medford covered the Trump-like controversy, too. Craig Smullin reports:
“Sharing tax returns has been standard practice in elections for decades. But, not doing so has gained traction after former President Donald Trump declined to share his tax returns in both his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. Reportedly, many of Johnson’s holdings have significant legislative interests in the state, including Boeing, oil transportation company Global Partners and investment company Weyerhaeuser.”
In another breach of transparency norms, Johnson convened a press conference to announce that she had enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot and then “left without taking questions” from the gathered media. Still, the news that she will likely be on the ballot was greeted by a series of advocates slamming Johnson for her out-of-touch, conservative record.
Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts said:
“The vast majority of Oregonians support gun safety and have NO INTEREST in moving the state backward by voting for someone like Betsy Johnson – an NRA ally with a voting record akin to the most extreme Republicans in the nation.”
An Do, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon added:
“Both of Tina’s opponents oppose the Reproductive Health Equity Fund. Both of Tina’s opponents are using the same language being pushed by well-funded extremists who are creating a false panic about sex education and equity work in schools. Both voted against legislation in 2021 that would make sure reproductive health services are protected during healthcare mergers. In 2015, Besty Johnson voted against a bill that helps patients keep their reproductive healthcare choices private.”
EMILY’s List’s spokeswoman Danni Wang focused on Johnson’s ties to an anti-abortion extremist:
“Don’t be fooled: Bridget Barton, who heads Republicans for Betsy, said Drazan and Johnson are “virtually identical” on issues of abortion access, at a time when anti-abortion extremists are actively working toward stripping away our right to choose.”
In fact, the growing awareness that Tina Kotek is the only trusted champion for reproductive freedom is going to be a huge factor in this three-way race. The Oregonian and the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported on new polling that shows “abortion is galvanizing some Democrats toward Tina Kotek.” From Lynne Terry at the Chronicle:
“Polling by DHM Research last week which has not yet been released showed that the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, rescinding the constitutional guarantee of abortion rights, is galvanizing some Democrats.
“‘There is a big change with Democrats and abortion,’ Horvick said. ‘In January, just 1% of Democrats said abortion is the most important issue in the gubernatorial election. Now 16% of Democrats say it’s the most important issue,’ Horvick said.
“Kotek has long supported abortion rights, including the decision by the Legislature this February to allocate $15 million to help women access abortion care. Drazan opposes abortion and considers Oregon’s law that doesn’t limit abortions to be ‘extreme.’ She has said she would veto any legislation that’s ‘designed to push Oregon further outside the mainstream.’ Johnson has consistently supported abortion rights, though she disapproved of the Legislature giving money to help women from out of state access care.
“Nevertheless, Democrats concerned about abortion access seem to think Kotek is a safer choice, Horvick said. ‘I really think among those wavering Democrats that they have responded to the issue of abortion and are coming back home,’ Horvick said.”
Meanwhile, Drazan is not shy about her extreme anti-abortion views, which are out-of-touch with most Oregonians. Her campaign has repeatedly highlighted her partnership with conservative Republican Governor Doug Ducey, who touts his mission to make Arizona “among the top pro-life states in the nation” (i.e., the direct opposite of Oregon, where we have the strongest reproductive rights in the nation thanks to leaders like Tina).
In other news, the Tina for Oregon campaign released a new ad this week, “Essential,” where Tina speaks directly to voters about her fight for working families across Oregon.
The ad highlights Tina’s track record as a champion for working people – raising the minimum wage and making sure workers have paid sick days and paid family leave – and her commitment to keep fighting to make housing, health care and child care more affordable as Governor.
Tina also earned the endorsement of Oregon-AFT this week:
“With all of the challenges Oregon is facing, we need a Governor who will always be on the side of working families. That’s Tina Kotek, hands down,” said Jaime Rodriguez, AFT-Oregon President. “AFT-Oregon is proud to endorse Tina because we know that as governor she will support all of our schools from Pre-K to K-12, community colleges and public universities, and we trust that she will fight to make child care, housing and health care more affordable and accessible.”