The four leading Republican candidates for Oregon governor appeared together at a forum hosted by the Oregon Republican Party at the Hillsboro Events Center on April 16. The event gave voters their first chance to see Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell, state Representative Ed Diehl of Stayton, state Senator Christine Drazan of Canby, and former Portland Trail Blazer Chris Dudley share a stage ahead of the primary.
The forum was designed to minimize direct confrontation among the candidates. Organizers seated them at individual tables instead of lecterns, which reduced physical contrasts and potential tension. Around 400 people attended in person while others watched via livestream as moderators Bruce Sussman and Angela Todd asked questions on topics including education, taxes, housing, homelessness, forest policy, and public safety.
Notably absent from both questions and answers were discussions about abortion or former President Donald Trump. Although polling shows Trump remains popular with Republicans in Oregon, his name was not mentioned during the evening. Afterward Dudley told reporters: “I’m focused on Oregon issues, and the questions were specific to Oregon.”
During the event all four candidates emphasized similar themes such as cutting taxes and reducing regulation. There was little interaction between them. Bethell highlighted her public-sector executive experience from her service on the Marion County Board of Commissioners but expressed frustration that “party elites” are not giving her attention equal to that received by other candidates.
Drazan referenced Governor Tina Kotek several times throughout her responses: “The No. 1 question here tonight is who can beat Tina Kotek,” she said. Dudley presented himself as an outsider with business experience outside politics: “We need to go to where people agree, rather than where they disagree.” Diehl pointed to his role in gathering signatures against a recent gas tax increase as evidence he could energize conservative voters: “There are 120,000 Republicans on the bench who don’t vote and another 120,000 conservative nonaffiliated voters,” Diehl said.
The four candidates are scheduled for additional joint appearances later this month.
