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Afterleaving his “dream job"as a columnist forThe New York Timestorun for governoras a Democrat in Oregon, Nicholas Kristof’s campaign has hit a significant snag.
State officials determined he’s actually not eligible to run due to Oregon’s residency requirements.
Kristof, 62, grew up on a sheep and cherry farm near Yamhill, Oregon, and has spent the last four years working with his wife and three adult children to “revitalize our family farm,” transitioning to cider apples and grapes, according to abio on his campaign website.
But Fagan, who is a Democrat, said that the formerTimesemployee is not considered a resident in part because he voted in New York for the 2020 election.
“Oregon statute provides directly that … if a person casts a ballot in another state, they are no longer a resident of Oregon. It’s very, very simple,” Fagan told reporters,according to the Associated Press.
“For 20 years living, working, raising his kids, holding a driver’s license, filing taxes and voting as a New York resident until a year ago just doesn’t pass the smell test,” she also said.
Oregon law requires candidates to have three years of residency prior to an election to run for governor.
Kristof said will appeal the decision. “A failing political establishment in Oregon has chosen to protect itself, rather than give voters a choice,” hewrote on Twitter on Thursday. “We will challenge this decision in court, and we are confident we will prevail, because the law is on our side.”
“I come from outside the political establishment and I don’t owe insiders anything,” Kristof later told reporters at a news conference, according to the AP. “They view my campaign as a threat and so, instead of working to end homelessness, they’re working to end my candidacy.”
Kristoff reportedly made a sworn statement that he moved to Oregon in 1971 as a child and has considered it home ever since. The AP also reports that his attorneys said he paid taxes on Oregon properties and filed income tax returns there in 2019 and 2020.
Making his case in court could take time — and candidates as well as election officials are up against a looming deadline.
“If Mr. Kristof chooses to appeal, the Oregon Elections Division is committed to doing everything possible to allow Oregon courts to decide promptly,” Oregon Elections Director Deborah Scroggin said in a statement. “My office remains focused on ensuring a fair process and meeting our March 17th deadline, after which clerks begin printing ballots. While the primary election is in May, for Oregon’s elections administrators, the work begins much sooner.”
source: people.com
