Good luck, Nick! As a friend and former journo who went into political organizing, some thoughts:
1. Covering politics has nothing to do with political campaigns.
2. Your secret weapon is your ability to communicate complex ideas simply — and your passion — use them!
3. Consultants are your enemy, not your friend. Skepticism warranted.
4. Be ready for as many problems from entrenched allies, unhappy with a newcomer not waiting his turn, as from opponents.
5. Hire community organizers to train volunteers, not just political journey men/women.
6. Your main job is not raising money: It’s running an inclusive, exciting, welcoming campaign. Prioritize volunteering (which everyone can do) over fundraising (for the few who can afford it).
7. Find a spot for everyone who walks the through the door: Asking only for help with hard core canvassing/phone calling leaves out too many who will come around when they get excited by being part of the team.
8. Avoid conventional wisdom and embrace insurgency: You may not win but you’ll have a lot more fun!!
Hello, Nick. Can we get some focal points of your campaign? How will you deal with the intense divisiveness in this state? Rising housing costs? Homelessness? Increased murder rate? Antifa/Proud Boys? The vast majority of Oregonians just want to live peacefully. What will you do about the radicals on both sides of the aisle? We’re tired of living in fear. We’re tired of seeing the city destroyed by homelessness and drug addiction. We’re tired of seeing the massive infighting and divisive rhetoric. “You’re one of us, or you’re one of them” has to go. Can you unite this state?
I have seen your articles & column over the years with gratitude listening to reason in my head as I read them. I’ve been living in CA for the last 38 years and am looking forward to retiring on Whidbey Island, WA next summer, so I won’t be able to vote for you. However, I know a former neighbor & a friend who live in Portland, who I’ll reach out to so they can have your candidacy a good look. Good luck in your journey….I dearly hope you win.
I have the utmost respect for you and am genuinely excited about your candidacy. I get the “why”. I guess I’m more curious about the “how”. How would you address your relative lack of experience in government?
Years ago Ruth Messinger introduced me to your reporting on Darfur - and ever since I have followed your articles and yours and Susan’s books to get a glimpse of the moral compass the world should have when the spotlight is NOT shining on it.
I am now equally as inspired to see your shift to political life where those strongly held beliefs can translate into potential legislation.
If I were in a personal place to do so, I would happily relocate to Oregon to help make it happen. But, as I’m not, it is my honor to donate to your campaign.
I applaud your efforts and wish you well! More people should get involved just as all the entrenched cronies should be booted out if not outright jailed for their personal agendas. God bless you and good luck! I'm from SC but having been to Oregon and loving the area but seeing all the problems your state is facing, Oregon needs you.
As a resident of eastern and central Oregon for over 30 years, I hope you are planning to spend some time out here. I realize the Democratic primary is largely a Valley affair, but we could use a governor who can work on bridging the Urban/Suburban-Rural divide and who works well with eastern, central and southern Oregon officeholders and stakeholders.
I've always loved your columns, Nick. Loved your and Sheryl's book, Half the Sky. But you're putting me in an awkward situation here. For the last five or six years I've been protesting, whether about Trump, Matthew McConaughey, Kanye, Marianne Williamson, or other celebrities who've run for office – and always a higher executive office, like governor or president – that they are welcome to politics, but should start at the bottom like everyone else, and work their way up. Arnold Schwarzenegger seemed to be the outlier, the exception that proved the rule, who turned out to be competent at the job. Now you're running – for governor, no less – and I need to know what makes you think you can do that job, at that level, with no related experience. I trust your big heart completely, and your love for the state has been clear for years to anyone who's read your columns and books. And I trust your commitment to democracy. But have you looked at the job description? And did you say, "Sure, I can do that?" Thanks, man, and godspeed.
The question "Why?" is less pressing than the question "Why you?" We have no shortage of Oregonians who love our state, have seen the hardships we face, and want to do something about it. Many of them have been in the state for years, or decades, doing something about it.
I am certainly open to voting for you over, say, Tina Kotek or Tobias Reed, but to do so I'll need to hear a rationale beyond "Tom McCall = Journalist." Are you smarter than the alternatives? Have better ideas? Are willing to take bigger risks? Do you think you're uniquely able to bridge partisan differences? I have no doubt about your compassion for others, but I wasn't exactly under the impression that other Oregon politicians lacked that.
One more thing! I hope in your campaign you avoid the schtick of using Portland as a whipping post. It's so boring. As a small business owner whose office was robbed during the summer of 2020, I'm a little tired of hearing how "failed leadership" is to blame. Please don't overpromise. If you simply say, "I think I could be good at this, and here's why, give me a chance because I really want to help," I think that should be enough.
I can tell that your heart is really in this, and that you truly love your home and its inhabitants. I don't live in Oregon, but I have read your work for years, and although I will miss seeing you in the Times, I'm happy to still be able to see you here. Good luck with your campaign. I'll be cheering you on from West Virginia!
I began reading your reports years agoin the NYT, and I was thrilled to learn you were from Yamhill (I’m in Amity.). You would be a wonderful governor. I am hoping that comes to pass. Best of luck.
I wish to keep reading your column Sir, From Nigeria here WISHING YOU ALL THE Best. is good that your are following your inner mind, and this is a great state for Oregon and humanity. May more of the Good people like you stand up, break the professional barriers and step into Politic. Cheers Sir
I’m not able to make significant campaign contributions but I could do other things to help. We’ve had plenty of presidents who have had legislative experience. Like Richard Nixon. We need somebody with heart. You’re the guy. I feel a glimmer of hope again.
Spoken like a true politician. Your narrative is great but you don’t really say anything. What do you stand for? The steaks are extremely high right now, the stakes are also really high! What about mandates? What about freedom of speech? What about the need for businesses to be able to survive? So that we can feed and house the people. OK, I get that you’re unhappy with the pharmaceutical companies for turning millions into addicts that’s a good place to start. The emphasis on prevention sounds good. You can’t please all the people all the time so you may as well stick your neck out and make it a little more clear what you’re standing for. The reason you interest me is because I am shocked at what is happening to journalism. Taking a stand for freedom of speech and journalism that is objective and reflects both sides of the story in an era of news media owned by a few monopolies is a hard place to stand but it’s a necessary one. Start conversations to engage the public and allow them to have free discourse using critical thinking would role model to our high school students what it means to have a life and to have a life of the mind and take care.
Good luck, Nick! As a friend and former journo who went into political organizing, some thoughts:
1. Covering politics has nothing to do with political campaigns.
2. Your secret weapon is your ability to communicate complex ideas simply — and your passion — use them!
3. Consultants are your enemy, not your friend. Skepticism warranted.
4. Be ready for as many problems from entrenched allies, unhappy with a newcomer not waiting his turn, as from opponents.
5. Hire community organizers to train volunteers, not just political journey men/women.
6. Your main job is not raising money: It’s running an inclusive, exciting, welcoming campaign. Prioritize volunteering (which everyone can do) over fundraising (for the few who can afford it).
7. Find a spot for everyone who walks the through the door: Asking only for help with hard core canvassing/phone calling leaves out too many who will come around when they get excited by being part of the team.
8. Avoid conventional wisdom and embrace insurgency: You may not win but you’ll have a lot more fun!!
Hello, Nick. Can we get some focal points of your campaign? How will you deal with the intense divisiveness in this state? Rising housing costs? Homelessness? Increased murder rate? Antifa/Proud Boys? The vast majority of Oregonians just want to live peacefully. What will you do about the radicals on both sides of the aisle? We’re tired of living in fear. We’re tired of seeing the city destroyed by homelessness and drug addiction. We’re tired of seeing the massive infighting and divisive rhetoric. “You’re one of us, or you’re one of them” has to go. Can you unite this state?
I have seen your articles & column over the years with gratitude listening to reason in my head as I read them. I’ve been living in CA for the last 38 years and am looking forward to retiring on Whidbey Island, WA next summer, so I won’t be able to vote for you. However, I know a former neighbor & a friend who live in Portland, who I’ll reach out to so they can have your candidacy a good look. Good luck in your journey….I dearly hope you win.
I have the utmost respect for you and am genuinely excited about your candidacy. I get the “why”. I guess I’m more curious about the “how”. How would you address your relative lack of experience in government?
Years ago Ruth Messinger introduced me to your reporting on Darfur - and ever since I have followed your articles and yours and Susan’s books to get a glimpse of the moral compass the world should have when the spotlight is NOT shining on it.
I am now equally as inspired to see your shift to political life where those strongly held beliefs can translate into potential legislation.
If I were in a personal place to do so, I would happily relocate to Oregon to help make it happen. But, as I’m not, it is my honor to donate to your campaign.
Hope you're able to hold on to your humanity!
I applaud your efforts and wish you well! More people should get involved just as all the entrenched cronies should be booted out if not outright jailed for their personal agendas. God bless you and good luck! I'm from SC but having been to Oregon and loving the area but seeing all the problems your state is facing, Oregon needs you.
As a resident of eastern and central Oregon for over 30 years, I hope you are planning to spend some time out here. I realize the Democratic primary is largely a Valley affair, but we could use a governor who can work on bridging the Urban/Suburban-Rural divide and who works well with eastern, central and southern Oregon officeholders and stakeholders.
I've always loved your columns, Nick. Loved your and Sheryl's book, Half the Sky. But you're putting me in an awkward situation here. For the last five or six years I've been protesting, whether about Trump, Matthew McConaughey, Kanye, Marianne Williamson, or other celebrities who've run for office – and always a higher executive office, like governor or president – that they are welcome to politics, but should start at the bottom like everyone else, and work their way up. Arnold Schwarzenegger seemed to be the outlier, the exception that proved the rule, who turned out to be competent at the job. Now you're running – for governor, no less – and I need to know what makes you think you can do that job, at that level, with no related experience. I trust your big heart completely, and your love for the state has been clear for years to anyone who's read your columns and books. And I trust your commitment to democracy. But have you looked at the job description? And did you say, "Sure, I can do that?" Thanks, man, and godspeed.
Hi Nick! Lifelong Oregonian here.
The question "Why?" is less pressing than the question "Why you?" We have no shortage of Oregonians who love our state, have seen the hardships we face, and want to do something about it. Many of them have been in the state for years, or decades, doing something about it.
I am certainly open to voting for you over, say, Tina Kotek or Tobias Reed, but to do so I'll need to hear a rationale beyond "Tom McCall = Journalist." Are you smarter than the alternatives? Have better ideas? Are willing to take bigger risks? Do you think you're uniquely able to bridge partisan differences? I have no doubt about your compassion for others, but I wasn't exactly under the impression that other Oregon politicians lacked that.
One more thing! I hope in your campaign you avoid the schtick of using Portland as a whipping post. It's so boring. As a small business owner whose office was robbed during the summer of 2020, I'm a little tired of hearing how "failed leadership" is to blame. Please don't overpromise. If you simply say, "I think I could be good at this, and here's why, give me a chance because I really want to help," I think that should be enough.
Best of luck with your campaign!
Griffin
I can tell that your heart is really in this, and that you truly love your home and its inhabitants. I don't live in Oregon, but I have read your work for years, and although I will miss seeing you in the Times, I'm happy to still be able to see you here. Good luck with your campaign. I'll be cheering you on from West Virginia!
I began reading your reports years agoin the NYT, and I was thrilled to learn you were from Yamhill (I’m in Amity.). You would be a wonderful governor. I am hoping that comes to pass. Best of luck.
I wish to keep reading your column Sir, From Nigeria here WISHING YOU ALL THE Best. is good that your are following your inner mind, and this is a great state for Oregon and humanity. May more of the Good people like you stand up, break the professional barriers and step into Politic. Cheers Sir
I’m not able to make significant campaign contributions but I could do other things to help. We’ve had plenty of presidents who have had legislative experience. Like Richard Nixon. We need somebody with heart. You’re the guy. I feel a glimmer of hope again.
May the force be with you. My very good wishes for success and stamina are.
Spoken like a true politician. Your narrative is great but you don’t really say anything. What do you stand for? The steaks are extremely high right now, the stakes are also really high! What about mandates? What about freedom of speech? What about the need for businesses to be able to survive? So that we can feed and house the people. OK, I get that you’re unhappy with the pharmaceutical companies for turning millions into addicts that’s a good place to start. The emphasis on prevention sounds good. You can’t please all the people all the time so you may as well stick your neck out and make it a little more clear what you’re standing for. The reason you interest me is because I am shocked at what is happening to journalism. Taking a stand for freedom of speech and journalism that is objective and reflects both sides of the story in an era of news media owned by a few monopolies is a hard place to stand but it’s a necessary one. Start conversations to engage the public and allow them to have free discourse using critical thinking would role model to our high school students what it means to have a life and to have a life of the mind and take care.