Dr. Bud Pierce: Is Oregon ready for a Republican governor? | EP 19

Dr. Bud Pierce is a familiar name in Oregon. A cancer doctor, he was the GOP nominee for Governor in 2016, losing to Governor Kate Brown by about 8 points. Six years later, with an open seat in 2022, Dr. Pierce is once again a leading contender for the GOP nomination -- and he thinks Oregon is ready to break the Republican losing streak. This interview spans Dr. Pierce's personal life, political views, and policy ideas.

He shares how he has coped with the recent loss of his wife, Selma, and what advice he has for others who are grieving. Dr. Pierce also offers his perspective on masks, vaccines, and other pandemic-related policy. He has an interesting reason for opposing mask mandates (it has to do with his goal of getting more people vaccinated). We talk about the GOP brand and the impact of Donald Trump, Portland's challenges with housing and homelessness, and his view on the Governor's role in education policy and how he would measure his success. We also talk about campaign finance reform and the impact of his significant self-funding on the race.