As the political clock ticks down in Oregon, some key races remain conspicuously void of candidates. With the filing deadline looming at 5 p.m. today for the 2024 primaries, important positions such as the secretary of state, the treasurer, and the attorney general still have vacant spots on both Republican and Democratic slates.
Election buzz officially began this week. By Monday afternoon, nearly 320 candidates had thrown their hats into the ring for a variety of offices, as reported by the Democratic Underground. One day ahead of the deadline, at least one person is running for every state legislative seat. However, the intensity for commitment falters with higher stakes; the big-ticket polls have drawn fewer contenders.
In the presidential race, Republicans are so far seeing only former President Donald Trump, while Democratic voters will be choosing between President Joe Biden and Marianne Williamson. Meanwhile, the upcoming retirements and re-election bids are shaping Oregon's congressional contest. One of the competitive districts up for grabs is Portland's 3rd Congressional District due to Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s retirement, noted the Oregon Capital Chronicle. The 5th and 6th districts are predicted to be heated battles in the general elections.
The fight for the attorney general's seat has Will Lathrop leading the charge for the Republicans, after securing a formidable $500,000 for his campaign. He'll challenge Michael Cross for the party’s nomination. Running unopposed on the Democratic side is former House Speaker Dan Rayfield. In a last-minute turn, Republicans snagged Nate Sandvig, a renewable energy executive, for the treasurer race, as Jeff Gudman, a two-time Republican nominee for the position, switches teams to run as a Democrat alongside Sen. Elizabeth Steiner of Portland. This late-game candidacy was revealed by the IJPR.
The political hustle of finding suitable candidates is reminiscent of 2012 when Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp entered the fray hours before the filing deadline, opposing fellow Bend Republican Chris Telfer, as the Oregon Capital Chronicle recounts. With the clock ticking towards the filing deadline, Oregon's political parties find themselves in a familiar scramble to fill the ballot.
