Pelosi visits Oregon after GOP group targets blue state as opportunity for 'meaningful gains'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Oregon, a traditionally blue state, for an Inflation Reduction Act roundtable event after a GOP group listed it as a state where Republicans could make gains and possibly flip the state Legislature in the future. 

The Oregon Capital Chronicle reported that the Republican State Leadership Committee has listed Oregon as a blue state where Republican candidates could make "meaningful gains."

According to its official website, the RSLC is the "largest organization of Republican state leaders in the country and only national committee whose mission is to recruit, train, and elect Republicans to multiple down-ballot, state-level offices."

In late August, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy held a public safety roundtable in Portland, which was attended by the Oregon Republican congressional candidates.

Oregon Democratic Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici joined Pelosi at the event on Tuesday to tout the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act's energy provisions. The roundtable was organized by the Energy Trust of Oregon. Tracy Scott, the organization's director of energy programs, participated in the event.

After the Democrats' event, Blumenauer was asked for his reaction to automakers increasing the prices of select electric vehicles as the Democrat-led Congress passed the $740 billion Inflation Reduction Act, which included a $7,500 tax credit for the purchase of EV models that meet certain criteria.

In response, Blumenauer said expanding federal tax subsidies will help Americans families afford to drive an EV.