Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Christine Drazan to Speak at Oregon GOP Event
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Florida governor, Christine Drazan to speak at Oregon Republican Party event
Florida governor, Christine Drazan to speak at Oregon Republican Party event
Anastasia Mason
Salem Statesman Journal
Video shows governor candidate Christine Drazan share plan for Oregon
Sen. Christine Drazan, Republican candidate for governor, outlined her plan for Oregon on August 25 in Portland.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will headline a September 26 Oregon Republican Party event that will also feature Oregon gubernatorial candidate Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby.
The Reagan Dinner, the largest annual gathering of Republicans in the Pacific Northwest, brings "people together from around the region to celebrate our Republican values and our work to secure a strong, healthy, and prosperous future for Oregon and all Oregonians," according to LaJuana Decker, communications chair of the Oregon Republican Party.
The event's theme focuses on celebrating the United States' semiquincentennial.
“This year’s Reagan Dinner is especially meaningful as we come together to celebrate 250 years of the greatest experiment in self-government the world has ever known,” said Connie Whelchel, chair of the Oregon Republican Party. “We are thrilled to welcome Governor Ron DeSantis to Oregon and honored to have such an outstanding group of Oregon leaders joining us for this special evening.”
Drazan will speak at the event, along with U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, Oregon Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, and 2002 Miss America winner Katie Harman Ebner.
DeSantis' office and Drazan's campaign did not respond to questions about the content of their speeches or if DeSantis would endorse Drazan.
Democratic party leaders from Florida and Oregon have said Drazan and DeSantis are one and the same.
“If you want a preview of what the Drazan administration would look like, look no further than the chaos Ron DeSantis has brought to Florida," said Nathan Soltz, chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon. "Oregon voters have repeatedly rejected far-right extremists like DeSantis and Drazan at the ballot box, and will do so again this November.”
In a social media video, DPO executive director Candy Emmons highlighted DeSantis' record on abortion and said Drazan is "hiding who she really is" on the issue. Oregon Right to Life has endorsed Drazan.
"When DC comes to Oregon," Emmons said, "Who will defend Oregon? Who will have our backs? It's time to say 'hell no' to Trump, DeSantis, Drazan and their entire MAGA agenda."
DeSantis' trip to Oregon comes as the Florida governor is term limited and will leave office in January.
Incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek has focused her reelection campaign on tying Drazan to Trump, including in a September 23 ad calling Drazan "Trump's right hand" in Oregon.
The sold-out, 400-plus attendee event in Hillsboro is closed to the press. Tickets started at $175.
Anastasia Mason covers state government for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at [email protected] or 971-208-5615.