Oregon Public Broadcasting

Lewis and Clark law professor John Kroger is almost certain to be the state's next Attorney General. Kroger defeated state representative Greg Macpherson, as Rob Manning reports.

Kroger rode his credentials as a former prosecutor to a relatively easy victory last night, winning the Democratic nomination for Attorney General.

The victory paves the way for Kroger to succeed Hardy Myers, since Oregon's Republican  party couldn't muster a candidate.

Kroger said he’ll have two main priorities as the state’s top lawyer.

John Kroger: “We’ve got a huge methamphetamine problem in this state, we’ve got a desperate need to do more to protect the environment. And those have been my two priorities from the very first moment I got into this race, and those will be my priorities in office.”

Environmental advocates say they supported Kroger for his opposition to liquefied natural gas terminals. That's an issue that may pit Oregon against the federal government, early in Kroger’s term.