Potential 2010 gubernatorial candidates: Republicans

Since the last elected Republican governor of Oregon, Vic Atiyeh, took office in January of 1979, it doesn’t look good for the party’s 2010 prospects. However, hope is still in the air for some candidates. Here is a list of what Oregon’s Grand Old Party has been throwing around so far.

Although he holds his Washington, DC job very near and dear to his heart, Senator Gordon Smith continues to receive several pleas from party insiders to take his mainstream popularity to Mahonia Hall in Salem. As the only Oregon GOPer who has won statewide office in the last six years, many speculate he is the party’s last hope to resurrect their status in the Oregon political scene.

Speculation of a run for governor by Congressman Greg Walden was rampant throughout this year’s Dorchester Conference in Seaside until revelations of his mismanagement as auditor of the RNCC’s finances began to surface. Democrats are also having fun these days poking at Walden’s vote against timber subsidies for rural counties in favor of protecting big oil companies. His biggest strength right now is a hefty federal bank account, which could be used for a state run.

State Senator Jason Atkinson ran in the 2006 Republican primary, coming in a distant third place to Ron Saxton and Kevin Mannix, but the rural Oregon legislator has not shied away from putting his name on the ballot one more time. Running for higher office has been a long time goal for the rural Republican, however, he’s young enough to put another run on hold until 2014 (fingers crossed the Oregon electorate pendulum has swung back toward the GOP).

Known throughout the Oregon legislature as consummate moderate negotiator for his caucus, State Senator Frank Morse brings a new name to the list of potential candidates. More of a businessman than an ideologue, he could potentially appeal to the more libertarian nature of many Oregonians both in the valley and rural areas. For now, he is certainly a legislator to watch in the 2009 legislative session.

Kevin Mannix. He just can’t help himself.

Attempting to build an organization in his bid for Treasurer, former senior advisor to Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski and Pixelworks CEO Allen Alley may give his personal bank account another workout in 2010. Positioning himself as a moderate Republican, he leans less on ideological pandering and more on pragmatism, which could ultimately prove difficult to get out of a Republican primary.

While some are still pleading with 2006 Republican nominee Ron Saxton to take another stab at the governor’s office, the Portland attorney turned Jeld-Wen VP has repeatedly rebuffed any further interest in running again. A Saxton run at this point is unlikely.