The Democratic Party of Oregon is the
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
affiliate of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
. The State Central Committee, made up of two delegates elected from each of
Oregon's 36 counties and one additional delegate for every 15,000 registered Democrats, is the main authoritative body of the party.
After Oregon was admitted as a state in 1859, Oregon elected twice as many Democrats as Republicans between 1859 and 1879 in statewide elections.
[History of the Democratic Party in Oregon, 1900-1956, Burton, Robert E.] It is currently the dominant party in the state, controlling all but one of Oregon's five
U.S. House
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
seats, both
U.S. Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
seats, both houses of the
state legislature
A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system.
Two federations literally use the term "state legislature":
* The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...
, and the
governorship
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
.
Platform and Legislative Agenda
At the beginning of the 2022 short session, House Democrats announced priorities as addressing homelessness and cost of housing, community safety, education, workforce development and training, childcare, access to health care, and climate change.
Current membership
As o
August 2021 there were 1,026,458 registered Democrats in Oregon, compared to 730,113 registered Republicans, and 982,540 registered Non-Affiliated voters.
Organization
As prescribed by Oregon state statutes governing major political parties, the party comprises all registered voters designating their party affiliation as Democrat. In each biennial primary election conducted in even-numbered years, such affiliated voters elect members from each precinct to their respective county's central committee, which in turn elects delegates to a state convention, charged with organizing the party at the state level, and arranging for the day-to-day conduct of the party. These county central committees also send delegates to the standing committees of their respective congressional districts, which support their constituent county central committees and coordinate district-wide party activities and campaigns.
Officers
* Chair:
Carla Hanson
Carla "KC" Hanson is an American politician who currently serves as the Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Oregon.
Hanson has a history of progressive and liberal activism and has previously served as chair of the Multnomah County Democratic ...
Bio)
* Vice-chair
Pete Lee* Vice-chair
Rosa Colquitt* Secretary
Eileen Kiely* Treasurer
Eddy Morales* DNC Member
Michelle Risher* DNC Member
Travis Nelson* DNC Member
Matt Keating
Party caucuses
The state party recognizes 17 party caucuses formed to address specific political issues in their constituent communities:
* Asian American & Pacific Islanders Caucus
* Black Caucus
* Disability Justice Caucus
* Education Caucus
* Elections Integrity Caucus
* Environmental Caucus
* Gun Owners Caucus
* Health Care Caucus
* Labor Caucus
* Latino Caucus
* Native American Caucus
* Rural Caucus
* Small Business Caucus
* Stonewall Caucus (LGBTQ+)
* Veteran's Caucus
* Women's Caucus
* Young Democrats Caucus
Current elected officials
Members of Congress
Of the seven delegates Oregon sends to the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...
, six of them are Democrats.
U.S. Senate
Since
2009
File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...
, Democrats have held both of Oregon's seats in the
U.S. Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
:
File:Jeff Merkley, 115th official photo (cropped).jpg, Junior U.S. Senator
File:Ron Wyden 117th Congress (cropped).jpeg, Senior U.S. Senator
U.S. House of Representatives
Democrats hold four of the five seats Oregon is apportioned in the
U.S. House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
following the
2010 Census:
Statewide offices
The Oregon Democratic Party holds all five elected state executive offices.
File:Kate Brown in 2017 (cropped).jpg, Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
File:Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum addresses attendees at the conference (15478927731) (cropped).jpg, Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general.
In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...
File:Rep. Shemia Fagan (9515724183) (cropped).jpg, Secretary of State
File:Tobias Read 2017.jpg, Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The significant core functions of a corporate treasurer include cash and liquidity management, risk management, and corporate finance.
Government
The treasury o ...
*
Commissioner of Labor and Industries:
Val Hoyle
Valerie Anne Hoyle (born February 14, 1964) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2023. Until 2023, she served as the commissioner of Oregon's Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) (commonly called the "Labor Co ...
(''this office is
nonpartisan
Nonpartisanism is a lack of affiliation with, and a lack of bias towards, a political party.
While an Oxford English Dictionary definition of ''partisan'' includes adherents of a party, cause, person, etc., in most cases, nonpartisan refers sp ...
'')
Legislative Leadership
*
Senate President: Peter Courtney
Peter Michael Coleman Courtney (born June 18, 1943) is an American politician, lawyer, and professor who is currently a Democratic member of the Oregon State Senate, representing the 11th District (in Marion County and including parts of Salem ...
* Senate President Pro Tempore:
James I. Manning, Jr.
* Senate Majority Leader:
Rob Wagner
Robert Leicester Wagner (August 2, 1872 – July 20, 1942) was the editor and publisher of ''Script'', a weekly literary film magazine published in Beverly Hills, California, between 1929 and 1949.
Rob Wagner was a magazine writer, screenwrite ...
* Speaker of the House:
Dan Rayfield
Dan A. Rayfield (born March 1, 1979) is an American politician serving as the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives representing the 16th district, which includes Corvallis and Philomath.
Early life and education
Rayfield was born in O ...
* Speaker Pro Tempore of the House:
Paul Holvey
Paul R. Holvey (born January 1954) is an American politician. He is a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 8 since his appointment in January 2004, and serves as the Spea ...
* House Majority Leader:
Julie Fahey
* House Majority Whip:
Andrea Salinas
Andrea Rose Salinas (born December 6, 1969) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2023. Oregon's 6th congressional district includes all of Yamhill and Polk counties, the part of Marion County that includes Salem ...
Oregon State Legislature
Senate
House of Representatives
, 5 , ,
Ashland , ,
Pam Marsh
Pam Marsh (born November 4, 1954) is an American Democratic politician currently serving in the Oregon House of Representatives. She represents the 5th district, which covers southern Jackson County, including the city of Ashland.
Career
Mars ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 8 , ,
Eugene , ,
Paul Holvey
Paul R. Holvey (born January 1954) is an American politician. He is a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 8 since his appointment in January 2004, and serves as the Spea ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 10 , ,
Otis
Otis may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Characters
* Otis (Superman), in the films ''Superman'' and ''Superman II'' and related DC Comics media
** Otis Graves, in the TV series ''Supergirl''
* Otis (The Walking Dead), Otis (''The Walking Dead' ...
, ,
David Gomberg
David Gomberg (born June 9, 1953) is a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 10 on the state's central coast since January 14, 2013. He served in political staff and lo ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 11 , ,
Eugene , ,
Marty Wilde
Marty Wilde, (born Reginald Leonard Smith; 15 April 1939) is an English singer and songwriter. He was among the first generation of British pop stars to emulate American rock and roll, scoring several 1950s hit singles including "Endless Sle ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 12 , ,
Springfield
Springfield may refer to:
* Springfield (toponym), the place name in general
Places and locations Australia
* Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast)
* Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council)
* Springfield, Queenslan ...
, ,
John Lively , , , Democratic
, -
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Eugene , ,
Nancy Nathanson
Nancy Nathanson (born 1951 in Dallas, Texas) is a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing the 13th district. Nathanson attended Northwestern University, and later the University of Oregon where she received a Bac ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 14 , ,
Julie Fahey , , , Democratic
, -
, 16 , ,
Corvallis , ,
Dan Rayfield
Dan A. Rayfield (born March 1, 1979) is an American politician serving as the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives representing the 16th district, which includes Corvallis and Philomath.
Early life and education
Rayfield was born in O ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 20 , ,
Monmouth
Monmouth ( , ; cy, Trefynwy meaning "town on the Monnow") is a town and community in Wales. It is situated where the River Monnow joins the River Wye, from the Wales–England border. Monmouth is northeast of Cardiff, and west of London. I ...
, ,
Paul Evans , , , Democratic
, -
, 21 , ,
Salem
Salem may refer to: Places
Canada
Ontario
* Bruce County
** Salem, Arran–Elderslie, Ontario, in the municipality of Arran–Elderslie
** Salem, South Bruce, Ontario, in the municipality of South Bruce
* Salem, Dufferin County, Ontario, part ...
, ,
Chris Hoy
Sir Christopher Andrew Hoy MBE (born 23 March 1976) is a former track cyclist and Racing driver from Scotland who represented Great Britain at the Olympic and World Championships and Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.
Hoy is eleven-times a wor ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 22 , ,
Woodburn , ,
Teresa Alonso Leon
Teresa Alonso Leon (born 1975) is an American Democratic politician who served in the Oregon House of Representatives for three terms from 2017 to 2023. She represented the 22nd district, which covers parts of Marion County along Interstate 5, f ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 26 , ,
Wilsonville , ,
Courtney Neron
Courtney Neron is an American politician from Oregon. A Democratic Party (United States), Democrat, she represents Oregon's 26th House district, District 26 in the Oregon House of Representatives, which is currently assembled for its 81st Oregon ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 27 , ,
Beaverton , ,
Sheri Schouten , , , Democratic
, -
, 28 , ,
Aloha
''Aloha'' ( , ) is the Hawaiian language, Hawaiian word for love, affection, peace, compassion and mercy, that is commonly used as a simple greeting but has a deeper cultural and spiritual significance to native Hawaiians, for whom the term is u ...
, ,
Wlnsvey Campos, , , Democratic
, -
, 29 , ,
Forest Grove , ,
Susan McLain , , , Democratic
, -
, 30 , ,
Hillsboro , ,
Nathan Sosa
Nathan Sosa is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 30th district. He assumed office on February 1, 2022.
Early life and education
Sosa grew up in Las Vegas. He and his youn ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 31 , ,
Clatskanie , ,
Brad Witt , , , Democratic
, -
, 33 , ,
Portland
Portland most commonly refers to:
* Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States
* Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
, ,
Maxine Dexter
Maxine Dexter (born December 5, 1972) is an American physician and politician serving as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives. She was appointed in June 2020 after the death of Mitch Greenlick. She represents the 33rd district, whic ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 34 , ,
Beaverton , ,
Ken Helm , , , Democratic
, -
, 35 , ,
Tigard , ,
Dacia Grayber, , , Democratic
, -
, 36 , ,
Portland
Portland most commonly refers to:
* Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States
* Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
, ,
Lisa Reynolds
Lisa Reynolds is an American physician and politician. Since 2021, she serves as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 36th district, which contains downtown Portland and other parts of the western side of the city.
Early li ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 37 , ,
Tualatin , ,
Rachel Prusak
Rachel Prusak (born 1975) is an American Democratic politician and nurse practitioner who served as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2018 to 2023. She represented the 37th district, which includes West Linn, Durham, Rivergro ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 38 , ,
Lake Oswego
Lake Oswego () is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon, primarily in Clackamas County, with small portions extending into neighboring Multnomah and Washington counties. Located about south of Portland and surrounding the Oswego Lake, the town was ...
, ,
Andrea Salinas
Andrea Rose Salinas (born December 6, 1969) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2023. Oregon's 6th congressional district includes all of Yamhill and Polk counties, the part of Marion County that includes Salem ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 40 , ,
Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-conse ...
, ,
Mark Meek
Mark Meek is an American politician and businessman serving as a member of the Oregon State Senate for the 20th district. He previously represented the 40th district in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023.
Early life and educa ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 41 , ,
Milwaukie , ,
Karin Power
Karin Power (born 1982/83) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician who previously served in the Oregon House of Representatives. She represented the 41st district, which covers parts of Clackamas County and Multnomah County, including ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 42 , , rowspan="6", Portland, ,
Rob Nosse
Robert Nosse (born 1967) is an American politician who serves as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives. He represents District 42, which includes parts of Southeast and Northeast Portland.
Early life and education
Rob Nosse was born ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 43 , ,
Tawna Sanchez
Tawna Dee Sanchez (born August 23, 1961) is an American politician, currently serving as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives. She represents the 43rd district, which covers parts of north-central Portland.
Early life and education
...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 44 , ,
Travis Nelson
Travis Nelson is an American politician and nurse serving as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 44th district. He assumed office on February 1, 2022. He is the first openly LGBTQ+ man of color and the first openly LGBTQ+ A ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 45 , ,
Barbara Smith Warner
Barbara Smith Warner (born 1967) is a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. She serves in the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 45, which includes northeastern Portland, and Maywood Park.
Early life and career ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 46 , ,
Khanh Pham
Khanh Pham (born 1978) is an American politician and activist serving as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 46th district. She assumed office on January 11, 2021.
Early life and education
The daughter of refugees from Sa ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 47 , ,
Andrea Valderrama
Andrea Valderrama is a PeruvianAmerican politician who is currently the Oregon state representative in Oregon's 47th district. She was appointed to the seat after incumbent Democrat Diego Hernandez resigned. Prior to her time in the Oregon Hou ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 48 , ,
Happy Valley , ,
Jeff Reardon
Jeffrey James Reardon (born October 1, 1955) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1979–1994 with the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta B ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 49 , ,
Troutdale , ,
Zach Hudson, , , Democratic
, -
, 50 , ,
Gresham , ,
Ricki Ruiz, , , Democratic
, -
, 51 , ,
Happy Valley , ,
Janelle Bynum
Janelle S. Bynum (born 1974/75) is an American Democratic politician currently serving in the Oregon House of Representatives. She represents the 51st district, which covers southern Multnomah County and northern Clackamas County, including the ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 52 , ,
Hood River , ,
Anna Williams Anna Williams may refer to:
* Anna Williams (poet) (1706–1783), writer and friend of Samuel Johnson
* Anna Maria Williams (1839–1929), New Zealand teacher and school principal
* Anna Wessels Williams (1863–1954), pioneering female doctor an ...
, , , Democratic
, -
, 54 , ,
Bend , ,
Jason Kropf
Jason Kropf is an American politician and attorney serving as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 54th district. Elected in 2020, he assumed office in January 2021.
Early life and education
Kropf is a fifth-generation re ...
, , , Democratic
History
Territorial period
An initial call for a "thorough and permanent" Democratic Party organization in the
Territory of Oregon
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Ori ...
was sounded by editor
Asahel Bush
Asahel Bush (June 4, 1824 – December 23, 1913) was an American newspaper publisher and businessman in Salem, Oregon. As publisher of the ''Oregon Statesman'' newspaper, he moved the paper to Salem when the territorial capital moved to that city. ...
in his ''
Oregon Statesman
The ''Statesman Journal'' is the major daily newspaper published in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1851 as the ''Oregon Statesman'', it later merged with the ''Capital Journal'' to form the current newspaper, the second-oldest in Oreg ...
'' in June 1851.
[''Oregon Statesman,'' June 13, 1851, cited in David Alan Johnson, ''Founding the Far West: California, Oregon and Nevada, 1840-1890.'' Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1992; pg. 53.] The highly partisan Bush kept up a relentless drumbeat in his paper against
Whig officials and party members, characterizing them as promoters of "monopolies, tariffs, and bank charters
hich
Ij ( fa, ايج, also Romanized as Īj; also known as Hich and Īch) is a village in Golabar Rural District, in the Central District of Ijrud County, Zanjan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also ...
fertilize the rich man's soil with the sweat of the poor man's brow." Bush's call was heeded on Independence Day, 1851, with the convocation of a territorial convention at which a central committee was chosen and
James Nesmith
James Willis Nesmith (July 23, 1820 – June 17, 1885) was an American politician and lawyer from Oregon. Born in New Brunswick to American parents, he grew up in New Hampshire and Maine. A Democrat, he moved to Oregon Country in 1843 where he e ...
was made chairman.
"The Democracy" of the pre-Civil War period was supported primarily by farmers, and featured a regular cycle of party activities during the agricultural slack time of winter through spring which included local caucuses,
Jackson
Jackson may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Jackson (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name
Places
Australia
* Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region
* Jackson North, Q ...
jubilees, an annual
Jefferson Jefferson may refer to:
Names
* Jefferson (surname)
* Jefferson (given name)
People
* Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third president of the United States
* Jefferson (footballer, born 1970), full name Jefferson Tomaz de Souza, Brazilian foo ...
-Jackson dinner, county conventions, and Fourth of July bonfires.
The Anti-Democrats of the period, worse organized at the Democrats at the precinct, county, and territorial level, focused upon the issues of
temperance
Temperance may refer to:
Moderation
*Temperance movement, movement to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed
*Temperance (virtue), habitual moderation in the indulgence of a natural appetite or passion
Culture
*Temperance (group), Canadian danc ...
and advancing Protestant
nativism, marching into elections under three distinct political banners: the
People's Party in 1853; the
Whig and American party in 1855; and the Republican, Independent, and Maine Law in 1857. Their comparatively superior system of party organization led to Democratic dominance in the pre-statehood period, although factionalism revolving around control over federal appropriations and
patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...
left the Democratic majority party anything but a united organization.
Early statehood period
The party's first convention post-statehood was held in
Salem
Salem may refer to: Places
Canada
Ontario
* Bruce County
** Salem, Arran–Elderslie, Ontario, in the municipality of Arran–Elderslie
** Salem, South Bruce, Ontario, in the municipality of South Bruce
* Salem, Dufferin County, Ontario, part ...
on April 20, 1859. Bitterly divided over the issue of
slavery
Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...
,
the convention nominated
Lansing Stout
Lansing Stout (March 27, 1828 – March 4, 1871) was an American politician and lawyer. He was the second person elected to the United States House of Representatives from the state of Oregon. A New York native, he also served in both the Calif ...
, supported by pro-slavery factions led by
Joseph Lane
Joseph "Joe" Lane (December 14, 1801 – April 19, 1881) was an American politician and soldier. He was a state legislator representing Evansville, Indiana, and then served in the Mexican–American War, becoming a general. President James K. P ...
, for the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
over incumbent Democrat
La Fayette Grover
La Fayette Grover (November 29, 1823May 10, 1911) was a United States Democratic Party, Democratic politician and lawyer from the U.S. state of Oregon. He was the List of Governors of Oregon, fourth Governor of Oregon, represented Oregon in the ...
. Democratic control of the state legislature between 1859 and 1879 resulted in the selection of eight Democrats as US senators, and only three Republicans were chosen.
Beginning in the 1880s the Democrats became the minority party when immigrants from Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and foreign countries moving over to Oregon chose the Republican Party as their main party.
With the start of the 1880s the Democrats had become the minority, and that stayed that way, for the most part, until the start of World War II. During those years however there were a few blips such as 1890 that had the Democrats back on the political map. The adoption of the direct primary gave the Democrats new forms of institutional democracy which lead the way for political advancement.
The people of Oregon had a new way of thinking about politics and the Democrats started to use the reform-minded mentality that existed in some of the populous to overturn the Republican control of state politics.
Democratic reform
The Democrats first started to make alliances with third parties in the 1890s but then moved on to market themselves as a partisan organization.
The governor at the time,
Sylvester Pennoyer
Sylvester Pennoyer (July 6, 1831May 30, 1902) was an American educator, attorney, and politician in Oregon. He was born in Groton (town), New York, Groton, New York (state), New York, attended Harvard Law School, and moved to Oregon at age 25. A H ...
, gathered a coalition with a start-up party called the Union Party and independent Republicans from Portland.
Pennoyer won his re-election bid and this gave Democrats the confidence they were looking for to beat the Republicans, but the Republicans swept the rest of the state with the exception of a couple of seats in the state legislature.
Pennoyer warned both parties of a third party rising due to lack of acknowledgment of political problems that faced the nation. He was correct as the
People's Party emerged in Omaha. Pennoyer was agitated with the platforms of both parties that he left and joined the Populists.
This created a split in the party between people who wanted to follow Pennoyer to the People's Party and the people who wanted to stay as Democrats.
The refusal of the People's Party to join forces with the Democratic Party led to easy elections for Republicans in the years to come. In 1896 factionalism between these parties led the Republicans carrying Oregon in the Presidential and Congressional elections. State legislature elections resulted in the Populist leading the Democrats in elected members 18–7.
The only meaningful victory that the Democrats could look to was that of Sylvester Pennoyer, who returned to the Democratic ticket and won the election for mayor, being supported by the Democrats and Populists together.
The only other Democratic success was that the people of Oregon responded to the call to reform as the Democrats took 12 counties from the Republicans in that presidential election.
The Great Depression and the re-emergence of the Democrats
Between 1900 and 1932 the Republicans enjoyed a two-one ratio over the Democrats, and sometimes three-one. There was no real changed even during the Franklin D. Roosevelt years where the Republican registration never dipped below 50% throughout the state.
This remained the case until the boom in employment caused by World War II. This resulted in a drastic increase in Oregon population, which benefited the Democratic party. Workers that came in provided a base to rebuild the Democratic Party.
As the Great Depression struck the nation in the 1930s the Oregon Democrats saw this as an opportunity to gain prominence once again. The people of the state reacted very strongly against the Republican leadership that was in power during the economic collapse that spark the depression. Party officials believed that this collapse finally gave the party a concrete issue and they also believed that they would be able to make Oregon a two-party state once again.
The state committee organized meetings between 1930 and 1932 to plan precinct reorganization throughout the state, and shortly after the spike in meetings, a "Young Democratic League" was formed with an active membership of 2,500 members and they were scattered throughout all of the counties of Oregon.
This also ended the avoidance by candidates of the Democratic label as the public saw the Republicans as responsible for the collapse, so the Democrats put themselves out as the party of new ideas.
They viewed the label of Democrat as an advantage, as the national Democratic party saw a rise in popularity. As the Oregon Democrats ran in tandem with Roosevelt in the Presidential election, they saw instant results, the Democrats gained 10 seats the state legislature, going from 7 to 17 and gaining majority in a 30-seat legislature, and in the state senate going from 1 seat to 8, giving an even split in the state senate.
These were not the biggest successes for Oregon Democrats however, Charles H. Martin won reelection in the Third Congressional District and Walter Pierce won the Second Congressional District for the first time in Oregon history.
In the 1930s, there was a drastic increase in voter registration for the Democrats, whose numbers rise from 30 percent of state registered voters to 48%, most of this was because of support for FDR's "New Deal".
Roosevelt was solid in Oregon for his four election victories, never once losing the state, but the same could not be said for state Democrats. They were never able to win a senate seat and after the initial Roosevelt election year; the state Democrats did not gain any more congressional seats that were significant.
The fall of the Democrats
The rise of the Democrats was short-lived during this period and the fall can be attributed to the gubernatorial election of former congress member, Democrat Charles H. Martin. Martin ran and won the Governorship as a "champion" of the "New Deal" brought to fruition by Roosevelt.
After the election it became clear that Martin did not support the President or his "New Deal" and this sparked a war between the Democratic state legislature and Martin. He received most of his troubles from the Democrats and gained support from Republicans.
Martin was all but kicked out of the Democratic Party as many of his former supporters stated that they would no longer support him if he ran for governorship again. Despite this Martin declared that he would run again for governor because of promised support from Republicans. Martin lost his reelection bid in the primary to Democrat State Senator Henry Hess. This ended up splitting the party once again and Hess lost the general election for governor. Martin endorsed many Republicans that ran against incumbent Democrats, leading to the loss of majority in both the State House and Senate, plus the loss of the Third Congressional district.
Post World War II rebuilding of the party
After the war, there was no trace of a Democratic Party anywhere in Oregon, so a reorganization effort was started. The biggest triumph in the initial rebuilding was when Monroe Sweetland ran as a candidate for National Committeeman, and then won the seat in the 1948 primaries. Sweetland sought to gain connections to the
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...
administration and eventually succeeded in his goal.
This resulted in the now upstart Democratic presence in Oregon receiving monetary contributions from Democratic figures. This was the one real success in the 1948 election however as the Democrats in the state failed to come up with viable strong candidates for office.
Once Sweetland saw this, he decided to launch strong campaigns for Truman in the state, that also was unsuccessful as Dewey carried the state, but not the presidency. They did however elect some Democrats to smaller positions in the state legislature.
There was no apparent hope for the Democrats until the following election year 1950, when Democrats saw an increase and surpassing of Democratic registration over the Republicans. The 1950 election was as big a disaster as the 1948 election as the Democrats still won no prominent seats in the state, but in 1952 the Democrats ended up seizing the
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general.
In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...
Position from the Republicans, which was seen as a major victory for the Democrats of the state.
1954 was the first time in a long time that Democrats had a sound hold on Oregon Politics, they saw an increase in State Legislature seats, increasing from 11 to 25 and in the Senate increasing from 4 to 6. They also won the first
US Senatorial election in 40 years when
Richard Neuberger
Richard Lewis Neuberger (December 26, 1912March 9, 1960) was an American journalist, author, and politician during the middle of the 20th century. A native of Oregon, he wrote for ''The New York Times'' before and after a stint in the U.S. Army d ...
defeated Republican incumbent Guy Cordon, and
Edith Green
Edith Louise Starrett Green (January 17, 1910 – April 21, 1987) was an American politician and educator from Oregon. She was the second Oregonian woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served a total of ten terms, fro ...
captured
Third Congressional District in an open-seat race against future governor
Tom McCall
Thomas Lawson McCall (March 22, 1913 January 8, 1983) was an American statesman, politician and journalist in the state of Oregon. A Republican, he was the state's thirtieth governor from 1967 to 1975. A native of Massachusetts, McCall grew up th ...
.
Finally, in 1956 it was clear that the Democrats were back in power when they took 3 of 4 races for
US Representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
, a reelection of the Attorney General, a gain of control over the State Legislature, and a victory for Governor of Oregon.
Recent elections
2006 elections
Going into the 2006 elections, Democrats occupied all four of the state's partisan
executive
Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to:
Role or title
* Executive, a senior management role in an organization
** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators
** Executive dire ...
offices and held a majority in the
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the statewide legislature for the US state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the state Sena ...
, but were in the minority in the
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 65,000. The House meets in the west wing of the ...
. Of the statewide office-holders, only Governor
Ted Kulongoski
Theodore Ralph Kulongoski ( ; born November 5, 1940) is an American politician, judge, and lawyer who served as the 36th Governor of Oregon from 2003 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative As ...
was up for re-election. Not only was he successful in that bid, but Democrats were elected to a slim majority in the House. All four of Oregon's Democratic United States House representatives were re-elected.
2008 elections
In the 2008 elections, Democrats gained a three-fifths majority in the state house and maintained the same majority in the senate despite losing a seat to the Republicans. This majority in both chambers of the
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the Ho ...
is needed to pass bills that raise revenue, as required by
Article IV §25 of the
state constitution. Democrats maintained control of all state partisan executive offices. They held all four of Oregon's five federal congressional seats, including a retiring Democrat's seat, and unseated Oregon's Republican senator, the only one from the West Coast and the only Republican occupying an office representing the whole of Oregon.
2010 elections
In 2010 the Democrats kept the Governorship in a close election decided by the slimmest of margins. Former 2-term governor
John Kitzhaber
John Albert Kitzhaber (born March 5, 1947) is an American former politician who served as the 35th governor of Oregon from 1995 to 2003, and as the 37th governor of Oregon from 2011 until his resignation in 2015. A member of the Democratic Party ...
defeated Republican
Chris Dudley
Christen Guilford Dudley (born February 22, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player and politician. He played 886 games across 16 seasons in the NBA for the Cleveland Cavaliers, New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, New ...
by a mere 14,910 votes. US Senator
Ron Wyden
Ronald Lee Wyden (; born May 3, 1949) is an American politician and retired educator serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from Oregon, a seat he has held since 1996 United Stat ...
kept his senate seat, handily beating Jim Huffman 57% to 39%. The Democratic Party of Oregon also kept all four of their previously held congressional seats in the
U.S House of RepresentativesMSNBC
/ref>
Election results
Presidential
Gubernatorial
See also
* List of political parties in Oregon
This is a list of political parties in the U.S. state of Oregon.
Statewide parties
The following is a list of political parties officially recognized by the Oregon State Elections Division as statewide parties as of March 2023 (alphabetical, by t ...
Footnotes
Further reading
* Robert E. Burton, ''Democrats of Oregon: the Pattern of the Minority Politics, 1900-1956.'' Eugene, OR: University of Oregon Press, 1970.
External links
Democratic Party of Oregon
{{DEFAULTSORT:Democratic Party Of Oregon
Political parties in Oregon
Oregon Democratic Party
The Democratic Party of Oregon is the Oregon affiliate of the Democratic Party. The State Central Committee, made up of two delegates elected from each of Oregon's 36 counties and one additional delegate for every 15,000 registered Democrats, is ...
1851 establishments in Oregon Territory
Political parties established in 1851