Oregon Governor Election Results: Oregon Live Projects John Kitzhaber As Winner Over Chris Dudley

On Wednesday evening, the Oregonian called the Beaver State's 2010 midterm election for Governor for Democratic candidate John Kitzhaber over Republican opponent Chris Dudley.

The local news outlet reports:

Although Republican Chris Dudley continues to hold a slim lead, mathematical calculations based on statewide voting trends show Kitzhaber is likely to overtake him and win by about 10,000 votes out of 1.4 million cast. The newspaper's projections show Kitzhaber winning by 49 percent to 48 percent, which is outside the margin for automatic recount.

Oregon-based station KOIN local 6 also projected Kitzhaber as the winner of the race.

The AP reports:

The former two-term governor Kitzhaber and the political rookie Dudley have spent a combined total of at least $15 million on their campaigns this year.

Pacific University political science professor Jim Moore said a sluggish turnout by independents hurt Dudley, because those independents tend to vote Republican. This year's governor's race is one of the closest in recent history, Moore said, and could mirror other state and national elections in which Democrats eked out victories by narrow margins

UPDATE - 11:00 p.m. ET: The Associated Press officially declared Kitzhaber the winner of Oregon's gubernatorial race on Wednesday night.

Comments

[AirForceZoomer]

09:03 AM on 11/05/2010

So Oregon, a California annex, went Democratic. Whew................big news (like no one could see that coming).

[JohnDrake6]

03:34 AM on 11/05/2010

Brick!

[clearpepsi]

12:28 AM on 11/06/2010

what does that mean?

[springsm]

11:57 PM on 11/04/2010

Way to go Oregon, I am so glad that the right person won. Good for you.

[oregonrain]

11:44 PM on 11/04/2010

We Oregonians can boast a 71% voter turnout this year !

[John Fernelius]

12:14 AM on 11/05/2010

Thank you, vote-by-mail. I'm not sure why we don't have this on a national level.

[clearpepsi]

12:28 AM on 11/06/2010

wow.. that is good, right?

[oregonrain]

09:40 AM on 11/06/2010

I think the percentage is the highest in the country.

[FebM]

11:09 PM on 11/04/2010

whats the tally now?

[The Third Archon]

07:47 PM on 11/04/2010

Whew, dodged a bullet on that one.

P-Town

[LameDuckHunting]

05:09 PM on 11/04/2010

So, Dudley Didn't Dooright...........................

[ChardinisAngel]

10:54 PM on 11/04/2010

LOL

[clearpepsi]

12:31 AM on 11/06/2010

man that watchmen movie was bad...

[mech126]

04:59 PM on 11/04/2010

I am so glad that dudly will not be my governor.....

[ChardinisAngel]

10:55 PM on 11/04/2010

cosign

[RABSR]

04:15 PM on 11/04/2010

Were is the article explaining the wipe-out the Left took in the Governor’s races.

How about the impact these new Gov’s will have on the redistricting of their States.

Too painful for your readers I suppose.

[Jim bob]

04:31 PM on 11/04/2010

Well write it up and submit it. Whine much?

[wtf2009]

04:33 PM on 11/04/2010

Not a problem but don't come crying to the Fed with your beggar bowl in hand - like Bobby Jindal did - when something bad happens. You are on your own pal.

[Jim bob]

04:12 PM on 11/04/2010

That's the good news. The bad news is it was so tight, and Kitzhaber is SOmuch better qualified. Would the other guy have to be walking on all four to lose votes?

On the other hand, I am proud that the state my family is from and I was born in is the most successful state in staying blue (in the west). California is close, but they have more R districts in the inland area. DeFazio in my home territory, and it is really kind of conservative. I imagine Eugene did the trick. And Wyden is still there. Thank whatever stars were shining that night. Go Oregon! (I may be back--I really am getting tired of Arizona's tricks. I'll miss the grand canyon, and the winter sun, but that's about all).

[nadreev]

04:44 PM on 11/04/2010

I have a similiar story but live in CA now, in one of the dumbest, reddist parts. I want to move back home to Oregon, it really is a wonderful state!

[Jim bob]

05:48 PM on 11/04/2010

It is. my 2 favorites are California and Arizona, with New Mex and Oregon pretty close behind...But New Mexico is too far from the ocean and Arizona...well just look at the election results. Amazingly stupid. I really am going to move just because of the politics. It is really hard being both in a state dominated by this kind of $tupidity, and again, on a street and in a neighborhood dominated by this kind of $tupidity. "my" district put Ben Quayle in office, and I'd never be able to get over that. They can have it.

I know Cal has it's problems inland, but at least the state isn't dominated by red politics, and Jerry Brown as governor is probably a really good thing--most particularly compared to the alternative. Plus you've got the Sierras on one side and the ocean on the other. Hard to actually get at the ocean and find a parking place, but hey.

Oregon would be perfect if it enjoyed a better winter climate. I do love the summers there, and the people still have a little of that old farm and lumber country flavor. A little red, but still pretty good people. I hope they can stay that way. Course I know people going back 2 generations, and I imagine it's different if you're family. Which is something I miss about it too. Yep, it definitely feels like home. Good luck.

[LeeCalif]

05:57 PM on 11/04/2010

Move to a smarter blue section or maybe a little less red .....

[SoCal John]

04:06 PM on 11/04/2010

As a Western state...thank you Oregon for keeping our coast blue...:)

[mech126]

04:56 PM on 11/04/2010

You're welcome...

[LeeCalif]

05:57 PM on 11/04/2010

I second that. Well done, Oregon .........Ducks !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ChardinisAngel]

10:57 PM on 11/04/2010

BEAVERS

[Tully Mars 63]

06:47 AM on 11/05/2010

Go Beavers!

[healthcarenow]

03:11 PM on 11/04/2010

Dr. Kitzhaber is a good guy; I met him12 years ago when he was a speaker at our hospital Medical Ethics Committee...he spoke on access to healthcare...interesting that he is back, maybe he can move healthcare reform along. I'm glad to see the oldies but goodies coming back into office (Jerry Brown, Kitzhaber), we need their expertise...here in AZ we only have oldies (McCain, Brewer), no goodies.

[Devaron Namsaar]

02:13 PM on 11/04/2010

If you live in Oregon, as i do, you would know that in this state their is NO accounting for the vote of the people. Your choices here are: send your vote in by mail or deliver it to the country seat on or around voting day.
There is NO accountability, no receipt for your vote or the mail you send it it. The truth here is that anyone could win just by being part of the "Good ol boys club". Just because someone (and I mean someone, anyone) says there was a vote and it favored so and so does nt actually mean there was a vote and the people elected a certain person.
Talk about voter fraud.... Oregon is the leader of it... Santa Claus could have won the vote for all we know.
Hey Oregon... Prove the vote is as you claim it to be.... (Actually, don't even try too because there is NO way you can do it.). The Oregon voting system is a joke. your vote ballot would be better used as toilet paper.

[Badbowler]

02:26 PM on 11/04/2010

Then please move to Florida.

[healthcarenow]

03:00 PM on 11/04/2010

Ha!

[LeeCalif]

05:59 PM on 11/04/2010

Devaron's point is accountability. There are holes that can be and certainly will be
exploited by the thieving republicans !!!!!!!!!!!

[bgofca]

02:30 PM on 11/04/2010

sour grapes!
by the way, the diabold election machines were corrupted and cost votes and left no permanent record of votes. The mail in/drop off vote in oregon at least is a hard copy and is more easily verified.
we had a 71% voter turnout due to oregonian voter system. i think it is a great system and should be adopted nationwide. the voting machines are not reliable (they are sometimes hackable, they break down, and poorer areas tend to have less machines to vote on so it is harder for the poor to vote. ) Oregon has it right.

[Camurria]

01:28 PM on 11/04/2010

So how's property prices in Oregon? I'm thinking of moving there.

[bgofca]

02:25 PM on 11/04/2010

we just moved to the eugene area this yr. you can get a nice house for 180k to 275k depending on the area. if you are wanting to move to oregon because it's blue, then choose the western part of the state; the eastern part is largely unpopulated and would not be what you are looking for.

[bridge to somewhere]

03:14 PM on 11/04/2010

Unless you like fossil beds...

[Jim bob]

04:17 PM on 11/04/2010

The Eastern part is the most desolate place I've ever been. I've never been to the Gobi Desert but I imagine it is similar. Central is great though. The eastern part is desolate for a reason...and the towns along the eastern border are more Idaho culture than Oregon.

[Ex-Kindergartner]

02:30 PM on 11/04/2010

Depends on where you'd like to move to. Portland and surrounding areas can be quite expensive. Same with Bend. Eugene's not too bad (Springfield is right next door and it is always reasonable.) Pretty much anywhere else is rural and the property values are less, but the politics in those areas can be pretty red. I live in the Southern Willamette valley about 30 minutes from Eugene. LOTS of Robinson signs all around my house, but a quick trip on the freeway and they all disappear!.

[nadreev]

02:36 PM on 11/04/2010

I think those signs will disappear and fade anyway, and you won't even have to hit the freeway.

However, there are still some McCain/Palin signs up where I currently live, but they look as fresh and youthful as McCain himself.

[Jim bob]

04:20 PM on 11/04/2010

The politics are red, but the snobbery in portland seems pretty thick to me. When I tell new Oregonians (my family has been there since 1852, so we think of ourselves as natives) that I'm from Roseburg, they get all holier than me. As if there's something wrong with that. But they still elected DeFazio. Or at least their neighbors did, and they don't threaten violence agaist him...much...

[dfranz]

01:27 PM on 11/04/2010

I'd say that the enthusiasm gap on the west coast was over rated. Washington State had a 70% turnout with mail in ballots and the puget sound voted 65% for Murray. We actually are glad we voted for Obama.