Even if you don’t agree with the lifestyle that Oregon GOP Candidate Stan Pulliam and his wife MacKensey of 12 years decided to explore in the privacy of their own home (and at least one Facebook group that we know of) you at the very least have to admire that he isn’t backing away from what most politicians would consider a show-stopper. Instead, he appears to be embracing his past, turning into the skid and seeing where the ride takes him. He may find this strategy earns him some respect among more libertarian-minded Republicans but it could hurt him with the Christian-conservative voter base.
GOP Candidate Doubling-Down On Individual Freedom
The trouble all started when the Willamette Week a Portland-based left-leaning newspaper dropped the bomb that the second-ranked GOP Primary Contender for the Governor’s Race Stan Pulliam, currently Mayor of Sandy, OR had engaged in the ‘Swinger‘ lifestyle with his wife before they mutually decided it wasn’t for them. He even went on to argue that ” his past experience as a swinger makes him a better candidate in the GOP primary for the gubernatorial nomination.”
Reporters Nigel Jaquiss and Rachel Monahan interviewed Mr. and Mrs. Pulliam after 2016 screenshots of their participation in the Facebook group “Swinger Facebook Group PDX,” was exposed by political opponents along with a photo of him at the Portland Erotic Ball in 2011. While he has denied allegations that he is bi-sexual he hasn’t sought to deny the photos, screenshots or his and Mrs. Pulliam’s participation. The screenshot from the Swinger Group reads, “Hi Everyone!, MacKensey and I are excited to be added to your little community. Some of you we have already had the pleasure to meet and we look forward to getting to know the rest of you!”
“I think people can relate from all different parts of the state who have been involved in marriages,” he told Willamette Week. “There are different stages of marriage and different ebbs and flows. This is something that was for a brief period in our past and is in the past.”
“In Oregon, we really cherish values of individuality and liberty,” Pulliam said.
“The decisions that we made were for MacKensey and I to make in the privacy of our own homes,” he adds. “We’re certainly not asking anybody to participate or practice or do any of the things that we have decided to do in the past. But we’re also certainly not ashamed of decisions that we’ve made in the past either, as they’ve made us stronger.”
Mr. Pulliam has built his candidacy on his fight against business closures and mandates during COVID19, his support of President Trump and America-First values as well as his fight for election integrity.
As a second-term mayor, he’s been in the game for quite a while and has a stable base, having already raised over $1 million for the campaign. He considers himself “a proud pro-life, pro 2A [Second Amendment], pro-medical freedom and pro-private-property rights conservative.” And tweeted to supporters on Feb. 1st “I am the ONLY candidate who has the courage to say what needs to be said about the integrity of our elections,” adding “If you want an ACTUAL conservative as your next governor then we need your help!”
While the definition of what does and doesn’t constitute “an ACTUAL conservative” may vary, it has to be acknowledged that amazingly, Pulliam tells the Independent, the revelation has led to “very positive interactions” with supporters of his campaign.
“We have continually heard that people mainly care about MacKensey and I, and they just want to make sure that we’re handling this okay,” he said.
The forty-year-old Mayor of a small Oregon town took to Twitter on Feb. 9th to clap back at his detractors saying “To those of you who are peddling this garbage and enjoying politics at its worst… Well, you know what? You can take a hike. Because MacKensey and I, not only are we staying in this race, not only are we going to continue the fight for local communities and families… We’re going to win this thing!”
Last night I took a moment in the midst of a crazy week to record my thoughts. To all the new folks learning about our campaign for the first time: here's what you're probably not hearing on the news. To our supporters: thank you for standing with us. We're going to win! #orpol pic.twitter.com/9hVQAPEeku
— Mayor Stan Pulliam (@StanPulliam) February 9, 2022
