Poll: Drazan tops list of Republicans for Oregon governor
Published 6:00 am Saturday, May 7, 2022
SALEM — According to a new poll, Christine Drazan has emerged as the leader of a 19-candidate field seeking the Republican nomination for governor.
The survey was conducted by Nelson Research of Salem, which conducted a similar poll a few weeks ago. Although Drazan was second then, “undecided” led with 67.9%.
Though 27.4% of the current sample of 514 Republican voters said they were still undecided, Drazan now leads the field with 18.9%, followed by Bob Tiernan at 14% and Bud Pierce at 9.5%. Three others — Stan Pulliam, Kerry McQuisten and Marc Thielman — trailed with smaller shares. All percentages include “leaners.”
Voters were reached online and by phone between April 29 and May 2. The margin of error is 4.3 percentage points.
Ballots have been mailed or are in the mail for the May 17 primary, in which only registered Republicans can choose their nominee. Ballots must be postmarked or returned by May 17.
When Nelson Research conducted its first survey on April 13 and released results the next day, Pierce led with 10.7%, Drazan at 8.2%, and Pulliam, Tiernan and Bill Sizemore at 5.2% each. All figures include “leaners.”
But the first survey was conducted just as advertising got underway — and Drazan and Tiernan had the most cash on hand at that time, according to reports filed with the Oregon Elections Division.
Drazan is a former state representative from Canby and was House Republican leader from 2019 to 2021. In addition, she has been president of the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.
Tiernan also is a former state representative from Lake Oswego from 1993-97, and a former Oregon Republican Party chairman. He is a business consultant and lent $500,000 to his campaign.
Pierce is a physician from Salem, specializing in oncology and hematology. He was the losing Republican nominee against Democratic Gov. Kate Brown in 2016.
Pulliam is the mayor of Sandy. McQuisten is the mayor of Bake City. Thielman is a former Alsea schools superintendent. Sizemore owns a painting business in Redmond; he was the losing Republican nominee against Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber in 1998.
