By Jeff Duewel of the Daily Courier
The primary elections for state legislators from districts anchored by Grants Pass have no lack of intrigue, with some political veterans and neophytes, and a write-in campaign.

The candidates were not sorted out until the afternoon of the filing deadline last month, when Sen. Herman Baertschiger Jr.'s announcement that he was running for the Josephine County Board of Commissioners set off a last-minute scramble by local Republicans.

Ballots go out in the mail Wednesday for the May 19 election, amid the social distancing and other restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic. Up for grabs in the heavily Republican region are vacancies for Baertschiger's Senate District 1 seat and Carl Wilson's House District 3 seat.

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"Wilson's wife, Malinda, who considers Binker a good friend, said that House Republican leadership has actually declined to support some suggested candidates for District 3.
'They vet them out,' she said. Those with "baggage" might not make the cut."
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“Oregon Firearms Federation Director Kevin Starrett on KMED's Bill Meyer Show, Jan. 15 urged local voters to offer grassroots support for Michelle’s write-in campaign. “Michelle is somebody who really knows her way around the capitol, who has really the best philosophy and best instincts…she is a good solid believer in liberty,” explained Starrett.”
 
Click here to listen to more of Starrett’s interview with Bill Meyer.

"I'm prepared to step into the political arena and do whatever it takes to win this primary as a write-in candidate because I care deeply about the people of Josephine County," Said Michelle Binker (R-Cave Junction) READ MORE

Why is Michelle Binker running a unique write-in campaign? She explains all about the process and the politics on The Bill Meyer show, KMED Jackson and Josephine Counties. Michelle was Bill’s guest on January 7th. Check it out at this link. ​

Grants Pass Daily Courier, Jan. 7, 2020 - Michelle Binker, chief of staff for state Rep. Carl Wilson since 2015, announced in November she was running for her soon-to-retire boss’s former seat, covering the heart of Josephine County. But she will have to do it as a write-in candidate. Binker said Monday she missed a deadline in September to change her voting registration from Libertarian to Republican, and as a result she will not be on the Republican ballot in the May primary. (Read more)