Still with a major following, Bernie Sanders has visited Oregon to stomp for Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections. He told a crowd at the Roseland Theater, “This is the most important midterm election in the modern history of our country.” He is traveling through the area to energize young voters and shore up support for vulnerable Democratic candidates. Other planned stops for Sanders include California, Texas, Michigan and the battleground states of Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was at rallies in Portland and Eugene, Oregon. His visits also included appearances with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek and Oregon’s Democratic nominee for the state’s 4th District congressional seat, Val Hoyle. Hoyle is running against Republican Alek Skarlatos for the seat left open by the retirement of longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio.
The longtime leftist Dem criticized the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned the right to abortion. He then began urging Democratic candidates to take up the issues of the nation’s wealth inequality; a Republican-controlled Congress that may cut Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare as well as the way that high corporate profits in the oil, food and prescription drug industries may be fueling inflation.
“If you’re sick and tired of paying four, five or even six bucks a gallon for a gallon of gas, understand that the largest five oil companies in America made $59 billion in profits during the second quarter alone of this year,” Sanders said. His angle blamed inflation on the supply chain disruptions stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine and “corporate greed.”
Oregon is usually considered a far left leaning state but is now one of the most competitive governor’s contests in the country. Considered a toss up by analysts, the three-way race features Kotek, Republican Christine Drazan and nonaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson. Democrats are concerned that Johnson may act as a spoiler by siphoning votes from Kotek and potentially boosting the GOP in turn.
Democrats hope the rallies will energize their base and sway potential Johnson voters to support their candidate instead. Sanders is the latest high-profile progressive to stump for Kotek after Sen. Elizabeth Warren visited Portland last weekend. President Joe Biden also campaigned with Kotek during a recent trip to Oregon, and former president Barack Obama has urged voters to support her in a recently released digital ad, as national Democrats pay close attention to the race.
