This political cycle has seen a good level of speculative office seeking -- by both outsiders and insiders -- fueled no doubt in part by redistricting and the creation of a new 6th Congressional District.

Many of these changes will force current office holders to risk their incumbency to seek other office. Article 2, Section 10 of The Oregon Constitution says:

Lucrative offices. holding other offices forbidden. No person holding a lucrative office, or appointment under the United States, or under this State, shall be eligible to a seat in the Legislative Assembly; nor shall any person hold more than one lucrative office at the same time, except as in this Constition [sic] expressly permitted.

If an officeholder is in mid-term for a seat that has a term longer than two years, they can run for another office and keep their current seat. For instance, the term of Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read (D-Beaverton) isn't up for re-election until the 2024 cycle, so if he loses his bid for governor -- either in the primary or the general -- he can keep his job as Treasurer.

The Gubernatorial race will surely bench some.

Former House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland) is running for Oregon Governor and most insiders say that despite several negatives and general dissatisfaction with the Democrat left, her support from government employee unions is likely to give her the upper hand over State Treasurer Tobias Read and a few other minor candidates.

Former State Representative and House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) has already resigned from her House Seat to run for Governor. Experts like her chances. Despite a crowded field, she has recent, high-profile elected office experience and that sets her apart from the pack a bit. She has some negatives and is not popular with the Republican base, but her lobby connections have placed her in the lead for fundraising among Republican Gubernatorial hopefuls.

State Senator Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) is running as an independent for Oregon Governor. She has already resigned her seat in the Oregon Senate to run for Governor, but at age 71 she may not have had a long political career left, especially with the leftward movement in the State Senate.

Observers like Johnson's chances, despite her entry into the race as a politically unaffiliated candidate. Waning resources in government employee unions and the prediction of an anti-blue wave may be just what she needs to move to Mahonia Hall. Her $5 million campaign war chest won't be depleted by a primary battle, so she'll be well-funded in the general election.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Over the last decade, Oregon gained population and so, during redistricting, a new Congressional District was created. This, of course, creates an instant vacancy and -- as might be expected -- the hopefuls lined up. The new district was created to include Yamhill and Polk Counties, the more denser populated parts of Marion County including Salem and a slice going up to Portland containing just enough Democrats so that the ruling party in Oregon can hold on to more power.

State Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Lake Oswego) entered a controversial battlefield when during the 2021 First Special Session she accepted the position as Co-Chair of the House Special Committee On Congressional Redistricting. Readers will remember that then House Speaker Tina Kotek reneged on a deal made with Republicans and stacked the committee in favor of Democrats. Representative and Co-Chair Salinas made the wound further insulting by drawing herself into the sprawling northernmost tip of the new, vacant district and then filing to run for it.

State Representative Ron Noble (R-McMinnville) will be leaving his legislative seat in order to run for the 6th Congressional district. the former McMinnville police chief is running on a law-and-order platform, despite some weak votes on law enforcement.

The loss of experience at the level of elected officials isn't permanent and may not even be a loss. Lack of statewide officeholders among Republicans has meant that they haven't had much of a credible bench and the movement of these elected officials has the effect of giving broader name recognition and perhaps a political future if they can use the two year rest to build relationships.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-04-25 10:38:29

Last Update: 2022-04-25 13:14:19