This week, Oregon Public Broadcasting added additional doubts to Democratic Governor Tina Kotek’s re-election prospects by covering the candidacy of Brett Smith, a Molalla healthcare professional running for the State’s top office on the Pacific Green Party ticket. OPB quoted Smith’s impact on Democratic campaign efforts, with the candidate saying, “My name being on there is going to hurt Tina Kotek.” Smith appears on track to hurt Republican nominee Senator Christine Drazan if the 2026 Libertarian Party Convention goes his way.
The Pacific Green Party is Oregon’s chapter of the national Green Party, which prioritizes heavy environmental regulations as the theme for a host of related far left policy priorities. Nationally, the Party’s primary political leader is Dr. Jill Stein, a former Lexington, Massachusetts town council member who has dined with Russian Vladimir Putin, received the endorsement of former KKK grand wizard David Duke, and blamed Ukraine’s invasion by Russia on American provocations. In Oregon, the Pacific Green Party’s platform advocates severe restrictions on farming akin to the recently failed IP28 ballot measure; expanding burdensome anti-housing state land use laws in favor of high-density residential construction; raising property and income taxes; mandating new gun control measures; and forcefully re-orienting the Beaver State’s economy around environmental policies akin to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal.
A source speaking to Right Now Oregon under condition of anonymity disclosed that Pacific Green candidate Brett Smith will be seeking a second partisan nomination today at the Libertarian Party of Oregon’s nominating convention. Oregon law permits candidates to receive the nominations of up to three political parties, which commonly occurs in legislative districts that have heavy voting majorities for one party. The Libertarian Party of Oregon is the Beaver State’s branch of the nationwide movement that promotes socially permissive societies and minimal government intervention in the economy. A Libertarian answer to the question of trans athletes in high school sports, for example, would be that no school should be run by the government, negating any further evaluation of whether individuals assigned male at birth should compete against athletes assigned women at birth who maintain their gender identity. Oregon’s Libertarian Party does not list a full platform on their website as of today, with their “About” page instead highlighting the importance of the rights to life, liberty, and property, clashing with the heavy intervention prescribed by the Pacific Green Party. The Party’s convention announcement invites candidates who are registered Libertarian or pay a $50 fee with a pledge to affirm the non-aggression pledge, a philosophy that would prevent a Pacific Green candidate from implementing a far left climate change agenda.
Smith’s website mentions Lebanon resident Joseph Lehman, who has been seeking the Libertarian Party’s nomination in Congressional District 5 in order to finally become a Congressional candidate after months of identifying himself online as the official third option alongside Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (Democrat) of Happy Valley and Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair (Republican). After receiving the Independent Party nomination for CD5 in 2024, Smith received less than 5% of the vote and claims he opted not to run again in 2026 due to his support for Joseph Lehman. Lehman, who promotes political positions on social media far more in line with the right-wing Libertarian Party, was quick to comment on Smith’s post about OPB’s coverage on his far left candidacy for government, writing, “You’ve got my vote! This is the change we need to see to save our state.” It is unclear on which policies the two office-seekers align, with Lehman’s campaign website promoting tax decreases and 2nd Amendment protections starkly opposed by the Pacific Green Party platform.
Right Now Oregon will follow the proceedings of the Libertarian Party of Oregon nominating convention and report on the nominees. Oregon voters may see a candidate for Governor on the ballot nominated by two political parties with incompatible far-left and far-right visions for state government. Smith acknowledged this in his remarks to OPB, saying, “If I can get a more conservative group to back me, then I’ll be pulling votes from Drazan as well.” It is unclear whether Smith will receive any formal support from the Libertarian Party or other elected officials and campaigns, with his website’s endorsement page showing a gallery populated by six blurry pictures of himself overlaid by a graphic of a rat.
Editor’s Note
Right Now Oregon, LLC President Alex McHaddad is an OPB sustaining member and the Treasurer of the Young Republicans of Oregon PAC, which endorsed Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair for Congress and Senator Christine Drazan for Governor. Right Now Oregon endorses no candidate in any 2026 race and has no plans to do so.
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