2008 Oregon elections
On November 4, 2008, the U.S. state of Oregon held statewide general elections for three statewide offices, both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, and twelve state Initiatives and referendums in [the United States|ballot measure]s. The primary elections were held on May 20, 2008. Both elections also included national races for President of the US, United States Senate election in [Oregon, 2008|US Senator], and United States [House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2008|US House Representatives]. Numerous local jurisdictions — cities, counties, and regional government entities — held elections for various local offices and ballot measures on these days as well.
Candidates for statewide offices
won the election for Secretary of State. She defeated Rick Metsger, Vicki Walker, and Paul Damian Wells in the Democratic primary, 2008|Democratic primary]. She then won the general election, in which she faced Republican Party|Republican] Rick Dancer and Pacific Green Party nominee Seth Alan Woolley.Democrat Ben Westlund won the race for Treasurer. He and Republican Allen Alley were each unopposed in their respective primaries. Constitution Party nominee Michael Marsh was also on the November ballot.
Democrat John Kroger was elected Attorney General. He won the Democratic nomination over Greg Macpherson. Kroger also won the Republican nomination since no Republican filed and the most write-in votes—2,885—were for him. Three minor party candidates were also on the November ballot: J Ashlee Albies, Walter F. Brown, and James E. Leuenberger.
Brad Avakian, who was appointed Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries in spring 2008, defeated two opponents in his campaign to retain that seat: Pavel Goberman and Mark Welyczko. The position is non-partisan.
Oregon Supreme Court Associate Justice Martha Walters won reelection, with no opponent. Oregon Court of Appeals judge Timothy Sercombe did as well.
State legislature
The Democratic Party of Oregon gained five seats in the Oregon House of Representatives, while the Oregon Republican Party gained one seat in the state Senate, the one Democrat Ben Westlund vacated to run for state treasurer. Going into the 2009 legislative session, Democrats will have a 36-member majority in the 60-seat House, and an 18-member majority in the 30-seat Senate. These three-fifths majorities give Democrats exactly the number of votes in each house needed to pass any bills that raise revenue, due to the supermajority requirement in Article IV §25 of Oregon's constitution.Of the 60 races for the House, 39 had both Democratic and Republican candidates; 24 of those were in districts previously represented by Republicans, 15 in districts previously represented by Democrats. Sixteen Democrats had no Republican opponent, and five Republicans had no Democratic opponent.
Sixteen of the Senate's 30 seats were up for election. Fifteen are typically slated for general election, but Brad Avakian's seat was opened up when he was appointed state labor commissioner. Nine of the districts were previously held by Democrats, of which four races were contested; seven were currently held by Republicans, of which four were contested.
Ballot measures
Oregonian voters decided on 15 statewide ballot measures in 2008, Measures 51 through 65.May
In the May primary election, all three statewide ballot measures, 51, 52, and 53, passed. Measures 51 and 52 amended the Oregon Constitution with regard to crime victims' rights; Measure 53 also amended the state Constitution to modify the limits on property forfeited in criminal cases. All three were legislative referrals.Measures 51 and 52 passed by wide margins, but Measure 53 was extremely close and required a hand recount; it eventually passed with a final official count of 50.03% to 49.97%.
Measure 51
''Amends constitution: Enables crime victims to enforce existing constitutional rights in prosecutions, delinquency proceedings; authorizes implementing legislation.''Measure 52
''Amends constitution: Enables crime victims to enforce existing constitutional rights in prosecutions, delinquency proceedings; authorizes implementing legislation.''Measure 53
''Amends constitution: Modifies provisions governing civil forfeitures related to crimes; permits use of proceeds by law enforcement.''November
In November 2008, voters considered eight initiatives, 58 through 65, and four legislative referrals, 54 through 57.Measures 54, 55, 56, and 62 were amendments to the Oregon Constitution.
The four referrals all passed, and the initiatives all failed.
Detailed information on these measures and official results are available from the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division.