Oregon — Republican Candidate Patrick Kopke-Hales has withdrawn from the race issuing the following statement:
With a heavy heart and so proud at the same time…
Most of you can easily figure it out, and I decided to jump ahead instead of waiting after the 6pm reveal at Snow Peak tonight in Stayton…
Many people said I should bow out, that I lack maturity and experience, that I shouldn’t have been running in the first place, or pick any hoop I was expected to jump through to meet everyone’s plethora of filters…
I stated in the beginning, from the very start that if a better candidate joined that I would withdraw from the race and put my support behind whom I felt is the best one for Oregon.
I also stated that I would put Oregonians needs before my own, and that I have remained principled in my actions, not just in my words.
The grassroots that we have built, the coalition of like mindedness, a team of people working together for a greater better Oregon is not something I ever dreamed of happening.
The truth is, I’m not charismatic, I’m often confrontational, and I’m stubborn as hell and refuse to budge, especially on what I know to be right.
This whole campaign has never been about me, it’s been about all of us, what is right, what we can fix, and to prepare us for a future as a rich state of people.
It’s been an honor to meet all of you, to engage, answer and to work on solutions that benefit us all for a legacy that is for our children’s benefits.
I know the disappointment in what I know will be difficult for some of you, but I have to hold to my word because it is the most important thing to me, because without it, I would not be the person I am today.
As all of you who have supported me in my decisions, put your faith in me, trusting me to make the right decisions, I ask you to continue that support, faith, and trust into two more decisions I have made…
- Putting my full, unwavering support in Rep Ed Diehl,
And…
- My withdrawal from the governor’s race to support Ed.
I had been following Ed for more than a year, watching what he’s done, the No Gas Tax referendum where we won, meeting Ed and hearing him speak at the Tax Strike Rally in Salem on January 3rd with many, many other individuals whom I’m proud to know.
What Ed and his team were able to accomplish, which I also helped collect signatures for, in such a short time was nothing short of a miracle when Tina did all she could to make it difficult.
Ed continues to bring that same energy, that same drive that same motivation to keep Oregon going, to reverse the course of 4 decades of bad policies, and to usher in a better future, not just for us, but our children’s future.
Today, I stand with Ed, not as his competitor, but as a friend and proud supporter of the things we can accomplish when we all work together.
So, I ask all of you, as you support me, to support what we know to be right, to support each other, and to support our future in Representative Ed Diehl.
Thank you, I love you all, light and love to the rest of you and God bless this journey… I have a great feeling today we’re gonna win in November!
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