fixing oregon republicans Archives - The I Spy Radio Show

15-44 How to Win (and NOT to Win) Oregon

By Dr Mark | November 1, 2025 | Comments 0 Comment

Show 15-44 Summary: .When it comes to Republicans’ chances in Oregon for statewide races, they don’t need Democrats to defeat them. Because Republicans can, and all too often are, their own worst enemies. After Christine Drazan’s announcement this week that she is officially running once again for governor, there is already a slew of social media posts by Republicans saying they will never vote for her. Which is a great way not to win. So how do Republicans win? We talk with a long-time Republican consultant and a a recent “outsider” Oregon political activist to get their thoughts.

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Air Dates: November 1st & 2nd, 2025 | Guests: Greg Leo & Chuck Wiese

This Week – Can Oregon Republicans Not Kill Their Chances?

Republicans can save Oregon but they have to save each other first. And that means stop savaging each other in the primaries.

Primaries are different than general elections. In general elections, you are voting for who wins. In primaries, you are voting for who competes. You are selecting your team while the other parties select their team.

But all too often, Republicans—more so than the sheep-like Democrats who will vote for anyone (or anything) with a “D” in front of their name—savage and tear down the other Republican candidates in favor of their choice. They announce they will never vote for “the other guy” that their Republican teammates chose. And proceed to savage the other candidates, tearing them down. And inadvertently planting seeds why no one should vote for them in the general.

Is it more important to win the election? Or that your candidate wins?

Don’t discourage. Encourage.

Republican “Insider” and “Outsider” Views

Christine Drazan officially entered the race for Oregon’s governor this week. (Which as no surprise. No serious person thought she wouldn’t.) Up until then, Danielle Bethell, a Marion County Commissioner, was the only legitimate candidate. But what immediately obvious was the hateful comments — not by Democrats. But by Republicans.

Danielle Bethell’s campaign website – daniellebethellforgovernor.com
Christine Drazan’s campaign website – christinefororegon.com

We talk first to Greg Leo, a long-time political communications expert who got his start in the Reagan White House. He also spent a lot of time working within and for in the Oregon Republican Party as their communications director. Now, he’s a political consultant. We get his take on Christine Drazan entering the race, how to stop Republicans from spoiling their fellow Republicans’ chances, and what Republicans can do to actual win. That means wooing Democrats and non-affiliated voters. Could an actual conservative Republican do that?

Then we talk with Chuck Wiese, a conservative Republican. But someone who is not involved in Republican party politics. But Chuck is becoming more and more of a political activists, having supported and been part of multiple lawsuits against Oregon, focusing especially on election integrity.

We know Chuck is no fan of Drazan, base don how she ran last time. To get his vote, what does she have to do different this time? How can she prove herself to him—one of her biggest doubters? And can Republicans put aside their differences and preferences to focus on winning the general election?

Because Oregon really and literally cannot afford another Democrat governor.

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Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Greg will be speaking at the Capital City Republican Women’s luncheon on Nov. 13th. Meeting runs from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm. Lunch is optional but is $14.00 if you’d like to eat. To attend, please RSVP by sending an email to ccrwsalem@reagon.com.
Learn more about America’s 250th! Head to America250.org for events, state pages, and how you can get involved!
Danielle Bethell’s campaign website – daniellebethellforgovernor.com
Christine Drazan’s campaign website – christinefororegon.com

Oregon Republicans - after huge 2018 losses, can they finally turn their luck around?

Oregon Republicans suffer huge losses in 2018. But is there hope?

By Dr Mark | November 17, 2018 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show Summary: After 30 years of losing the governorship, and huge losses in 2018, Oregon Republicans are starting to feel like the Charlie Browns of the political world. But there’s hope to turn their luck around. Find out why.

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Original Air Dates: Nov. 17 & 18, 2018 | Jayne Carroll & Sam Carpenter

This Week: There’s the famous 1969 TV commercial, where a boy asks Mr. Owl, “How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?” You know the answer. One… two… three.

How many losses, how many lickings, will it take before the Oregon Republican Party makes the changes needed to finally win in Oregon?

It’s been 30 years (thirty!) since the last time Republicans won. 2018 was no different. Oregon Republicans lost the governor’s race again. But Knute Buehler’s race hurt down-ballot races as well. Oregon Republicans lost so badly to the Democrats that the Democrats have a super-majority in both the Oregon house and senate.

How many more losses will it take before something changes? That’s what we’d like to know.

Oregon Republicans: Aftermath of 2018 Midterms

On last week’s I Spy Radio Show, we talked about some bright spots in the 2018 midterms. Namely, some 2nd Amendment ballot initiatives that passed in eight counties. Eight. But we also talked about how Knute Buehler, the Republican candidate for governor, kept shooting himself in the foot by turning his back on his Republican base.

But we didn’t talk about the party itself. That’s this week.

Fixing the Oregon Republican Party

Maybe “fixing the Oregon Republicans” is the wrong way to put it (given the 2018 results, they’re already pretty neutered). But something has to be done.

What has happened to Oregon’s Republican party that led to the smacking we saw it take this last election? Does nothing need to change? If nothing needs changed, then why do R’s keep losing? If something needs to change, then what needs fixed to turn Republicans into winners?

Without asking those question we can’t move forward. Clearly, something needs to change because it’s blatantly obvious that how the party has always handled its business is just not working anymore. It’s not just a matter of “get better candidates.”

Make Oregon Republicans Successful Again

So we call upon two people who have different insights from two different perspectives. One who has observed and reported on politics but has also managed campaigns and ballot initiatives. And the other who has been a candidate and saw the dysfunction up close and personal—not only as a candidate but as a businessman who was a highly successful business consultant, specializing in turning around failing businesses.

Jayne Carroll: A Political Observer’s View

Jayne Carroll kicks off the show. We talk about Knute, his strategy to woo Democrats, what we can expect from two years of Democrat stranglehold, and the unfair and confusing ballot measures that have led to some people still thinking that “at least the grocery tax was defeated.” (No. It wasn’t.) Tune in to where the 2018 ballot measures are leading us and her thoughts on how the Oregon Republicans can start making inroads into the heart of the Blue Swamp, Portland and Eugene.

Sam Carpenter: Candidate & Businessman’s Solutions

Then we turn to gubernatorial candidate Sam Carpenter, who discusses what happened during the primary. You may be surprised (shocked) at the supports the Oregon Republicans offer to candidates. Or doesn’t.

We also ask him if he was a business turnaround consultant coming in to the ORP to fix its problems what would he do. It turns out, not only does he give specific examples of what needs to be fixed, Sam has decided to put action to his words and has announced he’ll be running for the Chair of the ORP. Leadership means everything and Sam wants to apply his skills of correcting an organization that continues its downward spiral that he wants to stop.

Are You Satisfied with the Oregon Republicans?

Are you satisfied with the Oregon Republican Party? Do we keep doing what we’ve been doing? Or is it time for something to change? Tune in to hear our guests to hear their suggested fixes — and then let us know what you think needs to happen to Make Oregon Red Again.

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Links Mentioned

Be sure to catch the Jayne Carroll Show. You can listen live or download the podcasts at thejaynecarrollshow.net
Sam Carpenter’s Facebook page and Sam’s Make Oregon Great Again website. His book will be available in early December