John Kroger

Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean is headed to Oregon Sunday to participate in get-out-the-vote events with state Democratic candidates.

The next Attorney General might see a bump in his paycheck, Arnold backs out on Smith and the Peace Party may bring Ralph Nader's dream of Oregon candidacy to a reality. Here are this week's Winners & Losers.

Oregon House Speaker and U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) wrapped up an endorsement from the Oregon State Police Officers Association Thursday.

Joel Haugen, the controversial Republican congressional candidate who wrapped up the Independent Party nomination Wednesday, is creating a stir at the Elections Division as to how his name is to be listed on the ballot.

OREGON CITY -- Oregon House Speaker and U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland), Oregon Attorney General candidate John Kroger, and State Sen. and U.S. Rep. candidate Kurt Schrader (D-Canby) addressed residents' public safety concerns on Monday when they made a joint town hall appearance to speak about their plans to combat Internet predators and the methamphetamine epidemic both on the local and on the federal level.

The Rasmussen poll released yesterday showing House Speaker Jeff Merkley ahead of incumbent Senator Gordon Smith has certainly shaken up what was feeling like a lull in the campaign season.

"Our people came together and took out the man who stole all of our pensions, and your pensions too!" she said referring to Democratic state Rep. Greg Macpherson who overhauled the state's PERS system in 2003.

Back for your viewing pleasure we are giving you our weekly winners and losers.  Not much going on this week, but Vicki Walker managed to garner more press and there is one more Democrat in the city of Portland.  Keep checking the Inside Edge for our weekly cast of characters.

Looks like the Dem primary for governor in 2010 could be more crowded than we expected.  Based on email responses from some very vocal Democrats and on our blog, here are some additional governor wannabes that are being thrown around.

John Kroger, the Democratic candidate for state attorney general, has not only won his own party’s nomination, but he’s secured the Republican nomination as well.

According to The Oregonian, this was possible since “No Republican candidate was on the ballot, so elections officials counted the 13,043 write-in votes. Kroger won.”