Wife Swap: Oregon Governor Race Shakeup

Headline:

"Republican Candidate for Governor Stan Pulliam Acknowledges He and His Wife 'Explored Mutual Relationships With Other Couples.'" 

Stan Pulliam is the all-in Trump supporter.

The revelation that Stan and MacKensey Pulliam had for a time participated in a Portland area swingers group shakes up the Oregon gubernatorial race. Bill Sizemore, the driving force behind multiple anti-tax ballot issues in Oregon, decided that this opened up a political lane for him. He entered the race.

Pulliam was exposed by anonymous messages sent to reporters showing a screenshot of a 2016 Facebook post. "MacKensey and I are excited to be added to your little community."

Pulliam, the mayor of Sandy, Oregon, was on a plausible path to the GOP nomination. He had the Trump lane. A question facing all GOP candidates is how to thread the needle of being Trump-ish enough to win the primary without making a general election win impossible.  All candidates have been asked: "Was the 2020 election stolen from Trump?" Some candidates refuse to answer. Some say the question is about the past, and they are looking forward. Some said that Biden won. Not Pulliam. He said the 2020 election was "absolutely fraudulent." He called out rival Republicans for attempting to "move on" to other issues. "If your Republican candidate's not gonna call a spade a spade, call it the fraudulent 2020 election in a primary when it's easy, they're never gonna do it as your next governor." 

Prior to this revelation, Oregon pollster John Horvick said, "I would've put him as my favorite. A Trump endorsement would make him an even stronger favorite." Pulliam had decisively won a straw poll of GOP activists. He was raising lots of money.

He is not running as a cosmopolitan hipster. He is running against Portland and what it represents in Oregon. His website emphasizes small town people and values. He said that "day in and day out, we've worked as a team to strengthen our family and to create a better community and state for our girls." Pulliam said this was a mutual exploration by himself and his wife that began and ended prior to his announcement of his campaign for governor. Stan Pulliam assures Republicans he isn't gay. “I’m a heterosexual male, and I’ve only personally engaged in heterosexual activity.”

The revelation changes the GOP governor's race. Trump's endorsement may well have been decisive, but Trump likes to support future winners and Pulliam may be fatally damaged. Republican activists, donors, and pundits are re-evaluating. Opponents are taking careful shots at Pulliam. Candidate Bridget Barton said, "I’m not running for governor to weigh in on someone’s personal life, but Oregonians are tired of career politicians who think they can get away with not being honest about who they really are.”

That is the odd thing. The Pulliam couple were apparently honest with one another and who they really are. Politicians survive complicated marriage stories. Trump's reputation as wealthy playboy was part of his brand as a "winner." Winners get to enjoy the fruits of success, including the sexual company of a wide variety of beautiful young women inside and outside a marriage. "When you're a star, they let you," Trump said. A male candidate would face little political price for admitting to some past "marital mistake," if he then divorced--or if he then reconciled. Either one is OK.

What is different here is the honesty of the relationship and the sexual agency of the wife. He didn't sneak out, nor did she. Both marriage partners were communicating, and were apparently OK with this. If MacKensey Pulliam had been a victim it would be politically unremarkable. She wasn't. That is the bombshell. This will probably damage his campaign. The damage is a window into the norms of this era. Secret adultery is forgivable. Consensual mutual adultery is not.

Stan and MacKensey Pulliam appear to be standing firm and together. They aren't begging anyone for forgiveness. He said, "This campaign has always been based on liberty and individuality, and the ability for Americans to make their own decisions and decide their own future. This past with MacKensey and I is really no different."

Trump voters accept Trump's sexual history. Let's see if they will accept Stan Pulliam's.