PORTLAND, Ore. — One of the candidates looking to be Oregon's next governor snagged a big endorsement this weekend when The Oregonian's editorial board chose to endorse Republican Knute Buehler over Democratic incumbent Kate Brown.
To some political experts, it wasn't a surprise.
"The Oregonian editorial page has been pushing against the Brown administration on a variety of things," said Jim Moore, who specializes in politics and government at Pacific University.
While an endorsement like this for a Republican candidate isn't unique, it hasn't happened in quite awhile, Moore said.
"They endorsed Gordon Smith when he was a Republican running for the Senate. They endorsed a Republican for Secretary of State, Dennis Richardson, so it's not unknown," Moore said. "But it's been a long, long time."
As for swaying power? Thirty or 40 years ago, this kind of endorsement would have made a difference, Moore said, but it's different today. It really comes down to what Buehler does with the endorsement.
"The statewide impact of The Oregonian is gone," Moore said, "so that's not going to really play a role once again, unless Buehler picks it up and starts running ads all over the state that show [the endorsement]."
Moore said Buehler still has his work cut out for him. He said historically Democrats have tended to win by four to seven percent, which is close to where the polls put Brown's lead right now.
"So far, even though people are saying it shouldn't be this close, [the polling numbers are] exactly normal for the past 30 years for a Democrat who wins a race," he said. "So until Buehler really changes that dynamic and we see the polls starting to shift, I don't think they endorsement is going to make that big a difference."
Jeff Howerton, a resident of Rock Creek, said he was surprised by the endorsement but said it will have little impact on who he votes for.
"I was a little surprised, but you know, OK," he said. "It's an opinion. I have one as well and I think no, no impact on my decision."
Another resident of Rock Creek, James Lawson, said he didn't expect The Oregonian to endorse Buehler. "I kind of always figured that Oregon and Portland in general was kind of more Democratic-leaning," he said.
Lawson said he's exhausted by the campaign coverage, especially the ads and the social media noise.
"I'm not real happy with either party," he said, "because they both seem to have become very fractured and very polarized and I don't think you can get a lot done in that type of environment."
Buehler's campaign sent the following statement on the endorsement to KGW on Sunday afternoon.
"The Oregonian endorsement of my campaign is an endorsement of the much needed change in Oregon. Change to create a better, brighter future for all Oregonians. This election is between a status quo Governor, a governor, who thinks small and is failing to lead on critical issues. Or me, a Governor who thinks big, and leads with an open-mind, caring heart and thoughtful voice. I will look beyond the narrow labels that increasingly divide us yet no longer define us. I will challenge the status quo and be a Governor for all of Oregon no matter who you are, where you live, who you love, or how you register to vote."