“Betsy is not speaking for Independents by polarizing Oregonians”
This week, gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson drew criticism from community leaders and even the Independent Party of Oregon for disparaging Portland as the “city of roaches.”
Johnson’s remarks drew a backlash from community leaders, which was then covered by several local media outlets. In one story by the Oregon Capitol Insider, Johnson was initially referred to as “an independent candidate for Oregon governor” – which drew a sharp response from the Independent Party of Oregon itself on Twitter:
“Betsy is not speaking for Independents by polarizing Oregonians, mocking Portland and scoring political points on the state’s homelessness crisis, which happened on her watch as much as anyone else’s.”
“Betsy Johnson and the corporate special interests bankrolling her campaign are spending millions of dollars trying to convince voters that she’s an ‘independent,’ so the fact that the Independent Party of Oregon is openly criticizing Johnson’s campaign is a major signal to voters,” said Katie Wertheimer, Communications Director for the Tina for Oregon campaign. “The simple fact is that Betsy Johnson has a 20 year record of siding with Republicans and against working families in Oregon.”