Eleven incumbent legislators are in contested primaries in Oregon this year—a decade high

By

Briana Ryan

Welcome to the Monday, May 20, Brew. 

By: Briana Ryan

Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

  1. Oregon voters to decide primaries for congressional and state offices
  2. Update on 2024 ballot measure certifications: 14 new certified measures and 12 pending signature verification
  3. Twelve candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District

Oregon voters to decide primaries for congressional and state offices

Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, and Oregon are holding statewide primaries tomorrow (May 21). In previous editions of The Brew, we reported on what will be on the ballot in Georgia, Idaho, and Kentucky. Today, we’re looking at Oregon.

U.S. House

Thirty candidates, including 17 Democrats and 13 Republicans, are running for Oregon’s six U.S. House districts. That’s the fewest number of candidates running in Oregon’s U.S. House primaries since 19 ran in 2016. There are currently four Democrats and two Republicans in Oregon’s congressional delegation.

  • The 3rd Congressional District is the only open district. Incumbent Earl Blumenauer (D-3rd) is retiring from public office.
  • Ten candidates—seven Democrats and three Republicans—are running for the open 3rd Congressional District, the most candidates running for a seat in Oregon this year.
  • Nine primaries—five Democratic and four Republican—are contested this year. 
  • Three incumbents—two Democrats and one Republican—are in contested primaries this year, the fewest since 2014, when two incumbents were in contested primaries.

State executive offices

Three state executive offices are up for election this year. All three offices are open and currently held by Democrats.

State legislature

All 60 seats in the state House and 15 of the 30 seats in the state Senate are up for election this year. Oregon has had a Democratic trifecta since 2013. Democrats currently have a 35-25 majority in the House and a 17-12 majority in the Senate with one Independent Party of Oregon member.

  • Fourteen seats—seven in the state House and seven in the state Senate—are open this year. Six Democrats, seven Republicans, and one Independent Party of Oregon member currently hold those seats. 
  • Five incumbents were ineligible to run for re-election because of Measure 113, which makes legislators ineligible to seek re-election if they have 10 or more unexcused absences. The five incumbents participated in a six-week walkout in 2023.
  • Twenty-seven state legislative primaries—22 in the state House and five in the state Senate—are contested this year. Twelve of those primaries are Democratic, and 15 are Republican.
  • Eleven incumbents—10 in the state House and one in the state Senate—are in contested primaries. Five of those incumbents are Democrats, and six are Republicans. That’s the most incumbents in contested primaries in a decade.

State judicial offices

The ballot will also include primaries for three seats on the Oregon Supreme Court and four seats on the Oregon Intermediate Court of Appeals.

Keep reading

Update on 2024 ballot measure certifications: 14 new certified measures and 12 pending signature verification 

So far this year, 106 statewide ballot measures have been certified in 35 states. An average of 100 measures were certified at this point in even-numbered years between 2010 and 2022. An overall average of 157 measures were certified during this ten-year period. If current trends hold, we project 165 measures will be certified this year.

Here’s an update on the ballot measure activity during the past two weeks.

Fourteen ballot measures were certified in Alabama, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Missouri, South Carolina, and South Dakota:

One measure was removed from the ballot due to a court order in New York. The ruling has been appealed.

Signatures have been submitted and are pending verification for 12 initiatives: four in California, one in Colorado, one in Idaho, four in Missouri, and two in South Dakota.

In Massachusetts, enough signatures were verified for six indirect ballot initiatives for them to appear before the Legislature:

With indirect initiatives, Massachusetts lawmakers have the option of enacting the measures without them going before voters. The deadline for the Legislature to act was May 1. Because lawmakers did not pass any of the initiatives before them, campaigns have until July 3 to gather an additional 12,429 signatures.

The most recent signature deadline for citizen initiatives was May 7 in South Dakota. Proponents filed signatures for four initiatives. Two have been certified for the ballot, and two are awaiting signature verification.

The next signature deadline is May 29 in Michigan, for indirect initiated state statutes. There are four potential initiated statutes in Michigan. Additionally, the campaign for one initiative that was submitted in 2022 and rejected by the Board of State Canvassers is appealing the order.

The following chart shows the number of ballot measures certified each week of an even-numbered year.

Keep reading 

Twelve candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District

Throughout the year, we’ll bring you coverage of the most compelling elections — the battlegrounds we expect to have a meaningful effect on the balance of power in governments or to be particularly competitive. You can catch our previous coverage of other battleground races here.

Today, we’re looking at the June 18th Democratic primary for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. Twelve candidates are running in the primary. Four lead in endorsements, fundraising, and local media attention: Jennifer Boysko (D), Eileen Filler-Corn (D), Dan Helmer (D), and Suhas Subramanyam (D).

Incumbent Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D) is not running for re-election for health reasons, leaving the district open. According to Politico, the open district attracted “strong interest from a number of Democrats…whoever takes on the seat eventually will be following a political heavyweight in the state.”

Here’s a bit about the candidates:

  • Boysko is a state senator and former community organizer who is running on her record. Boysko says her priorities are “economic policies that work for everyone and lift people up,” increasing restrictions on firearms, and limiting restrictions on abortion.
  • Filler-Corn is a former state legislator who served as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. Filler-Corn says she is running because “chaos in Washington and the extremism of MAGA Republicans is weakening America, both at home and across the world.”
  • Helmer is a member of the House of Delegates and a U.S. Army veteran. Helmer says he is running because “the House of Representatives, and democracy itself, is on the line.” Helmer says he is “the only Virginia Democrat who has consistently eviscerated Republicans at the ballot box.”
  • Subramanyam is a state senator and attorney. Subramanyam says his record as a legislator includes expanding access to information on prescription drug prices, adding limits on increases to utility fees, maintaining access to abortion, and limiting access to firearms. Wexton endorsed Subramanyam on May 13, 2024.

Below is a summary of campaign finance as of March 31, 2024:

As of April 4, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated the general election Solid/Safe Democratic, while Inside Elections with Nathan Gonzales rated it Likely Democratic.

Also running in the primary are Marion Devoe (D), Krystle Kaul (D), Mark Leighton (D), Michelle Maldonado (D), Travis Nembhard (D), Adrian Pokharel (D), Atif Qarni (D), and David Reid (D).

Keep reading