Oregon Governor's Race 2022 Sees Another Hat Thrown In The Ring

WILSONVILLE, OR — “Oregonians deserve better than the excesses and nonsense of the extreme left and the radical right. Oregonians are ready to move to the middle where the sensible solutions are found.”

That was the message state Sen. Betsy Johnson emailed supporters Thursday morning, announcing that she is running for governor next year. She also said that she is leaving the Democratic Party and will run as an independent.

Live in Wilsonville? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone.

Voters elected Johnson to the state House of Representatives in 2001. She has served in the senate since 2005.

Considered the most conservative Democrat in the senate, Johnson often slowed her colleagues' agenda because of the equal makeup of the body. When the Democrats gained a super majority last year, she lost clout.

Johnson grew up in a moderate Republican family but switched parties when she felt that the Republicans were moving too far to the right. She feels Democrats have moved too far left.

She joins a field that includes House Speaker Tina Kotek and former New York Times columnist Nick Kristof.

Johnson faces an uphill battle running as an independent. She won't have a party structure helping raise money and collecting the more than 20,000 signatures that she will need to get on the ballot.

She leaves office Dec. 31.