Kevin Mannix |
Brian Boquist |
Mike Erickson |
Vicki Berger |
There's excitement among quite a few Oregon Republicans, something few probably were expecting at this point in what mostly looks like a dismal GOP season west of the Cascades. Partly connected with that, there's some push and some excitement among a number of visible Republicans, at this point anyway, for one particular prospect for the newly-opened U.S. House seat, a man who has lost four statewide races in a row without ever winning an election above the state legislative level, and then mostly as a Democrat.
That would be Salem attorney Kevin Mannix, who after his last loss - for governor in 2006, coming in second in the Republican primary - seemed to be out of major office politics. But more interest seems to be centering around him than the two other most likely prospects (with the distinct possibility of more to come). Those other two are former and unsuccessful candidates for the 5th district seat: Mike Erickson, who ran against retiring Democratic Representative Darlene Hooley in 2006, and Brian Boquist, who ran in 2000 and 2002. A fourth prospect is state Representative Vicki Berger. That all of these would be (for different reasons) serious, substantial candidates says something about the residual Republican strength in the 5th.
Which of them might be strongest in the general election is an imponderable for the moment, since we have no clear idea who the Democratic nominee - or even the Democratic contestants - may be. (Could include one of the Schraders, or maybe Labor Commissioner Dan Gardner, or any of a half-dozen other prospects. We don't know yet.) But, albeit as a preliminary thing, we can start thinking about how these Republicans may fare facing off against each other. (more…)