On April 3, Bev Clarno (R) took the official oath of office to become Oregon’s secretary of state. Gov. Kate Brown (D) appointed Clarno as the secretary of state on March 29, 2019. Clarno was appointed to replace Dennis Richardson (R), who died while in office on February 26, 2019.

 

In a statement on February 27, 2019, Gov. Kate Brown (D) said she would appoint a successor from the Republican Party–as the Oregon Constitution requires–who would commit not to run for election in 2020. Clarno will serve for the remainder of Richardson’s term, which expires in 2021. Clarno indicated that she would not run for election in 2020.

 

Clarno is a former Republican member of the Oregon House of Representatives (1989-1997) and the Oregon State Senate (2001-2003). She served as speaker of the House from 1995 to 1997 and as Senate Republican leader in the 2003 legislative session. Clarno was a hog farmer, cattle rancher, and real estate broker and appraiser before her election to the Oregon House of Representatives

 

The Secretary of State of Oregon is an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of the Oregon state government and is first in line of succession to the governor.

 

The secretary of state is a state-level position in 47 of the 50 states. The position does not exist in Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah. There are currently 25 Republican secretaries of state, 21 Democratic secretaries of state, and one independent.