Oregon GOP leadership showdown

Sam Carpenter and his allies are dead wrong. They are driving the GOP into self extinction. End the culture war. Start being inclusive. Stop the divisive rhetoric.

From a Guest Post by a former GOP candidate on the future of the Oregon GOP.

"I feel very strongly that Sam Carpenter should not be the only voice giving the future direction of the Oregon Republican Party. It's time for me to start speaking up."

                       Jessica Gomez, technology entrepreneur, former GOP candidate

The GOP lost big in the 2018 Blue Wave in Oregon. What is the GOP to do? 

A power struggle is underway.

Buehler: branded a Republican

Sam Carpenter leads a group trying to replace the current party leadership. He had won 28% of the GOP vote in his losing campaign for the primary nomination for Oregon governor, running as a conservative pro-Trump candidate. He says he should have won because he, not the winning candidate Knute Buehler, represents the majority of Republicans, and indeed all Oregonians. Carpenter is sharply critical of the party leaders who, "without a shred of resistance," let him lose his election to moderate Buehler.

Jessica Gomez says Carpenter has it backwards.

Moving hard right and "rallying the base" with Trump style culture war rhetoric narrows the Republican brand in Oregon, she says. Trump and his Oregon supporters made the brand so associated with divisive talk and policies that even very electable moderate Republicans like Buehler cannot win election with the aura of Trump hanging over their party band. The Republican brand was pulled to an extreme that damages them in a statewide race.

The result is that Democrats turn out. Republicans don't.

Wake up, she says. The culture war issues are not popular; the ballot measures  on abortion and sanctuary cities lost. The Party is getting smaller, not bigger, and those remaining loyalists are trying to take over the party machinery and move it even further to the right. This will make the problem worse.

She has a story to tell. She says there is a better, alternative path for the GOP in Oregon.

Guest Post by Jessica Gomez

My Party At The Crossroads 

Jessica Gomez

The next Oregon Legislative session is only weeks away. There is much discussion about the Democrats having super-majorities in both houses of the legislature, as well as new Oregon Republican Party leadership and which direction to take the party. My honest assessment is that the culture and messaging of the Democratic Party better resonates with Oregonians than that of the Republican Party, creating an interesting crossroads we must face
.

I am convinced that when the Republican Party engages in messaging that is traditionally used to “rally the base,” it actually drives away moderate Oregon Republicans. As moderates leave the party, the base moves further to the right, forcing our candidates to move in the same direction. This makes it nearly impossible for Republicans in a blue state like Oregon to win both primary and general elections. As a party, we are enabling a process of self-extinction.
  

How The Oregon Republican Party Can Be A Viable Alternative To The Democratic Party

When I joined the Republican Party two years ago, I received a very warm welcome from many of our members who were happy to have new energy and ideas. I am fiscally conservative, but socially moderate. I have spoken to many non-affiliated, Independent voters, and even Democrats that share many of my beliefs. After speaking with thousands of people as I campaigned this summer, I believe — more so now than ever before — in the path we must take as Oregon Republicans, to rebuild our party.

1.    End The Culture War

Oregon voters have spoken. Every Conservative ballot measure was defeated by a much greater margin than Knute Buehler’s loss. That is clear evidence that the party should not dwell on culturally conservative ideology, but rather adopt more pragmatic approach. The longer we engage Progressives on divisive cultural issues, the longer our party will remain in the minority. 

2.    Platform And Community Engagement

The Oregon Republican Party needs to focus on policies that are inclusive, diverse, and support good governance.We should continue to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free enterprise, and individual rights.As the Democratic Party continues to move further to the left, they will leave behind many voters with no party that represents them.This presents an opportunity to become relevant in Oregon again.We will need to engage members of our community that will enable this transformation.

3.    Maintain A Positive Message

Gomez with portrait of Tom McCall

People are tired of divisive rhetoric. It is not good for our state or our country. We must have civility and respect in our politics and policy-making. We need to lead by example.

4.    Stay Focused On The Future

Oregon is changing at an incredible pace. Urbanization, a growing economy, culture and demographics, the environment, and advances in technology are driving a significant part of this change. The Oregon Republican Party needs to think about issues and policies in a dynamic and forward-thinking way, so that we are ready with ideas and policies that are not just relevant today, but also in the future. 

The Oregon Republican Party needs to free itself from culturally divisive issues and focus on what matters in the lives of our constituents. Based on Sam Carpenter’s recent statements, I do not believe that he has the desire to lead our party in that direction. That is very unfortunate.

I understand that change is difficult. Change is uncomfortable. But change is necessary if we want to be relevant. The Republican Party is doing a disservice to the people of Oregon if we cannot be a viable alternative to the Democratic Party.