2012 Oregon Commissioner of Labor election explained

See also: 2012 Oregon elections.

Type:presidential
Country:Oregon
Commissioner of Labor and Industries
Election Name:2012 Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries election
Previous Year:2008
Previous Election:2008 Oregon Commissioner of Labor election
Ongoing:no
Next Year:2014
Next Election:2014 Oregon Commissioner of Labor election
Election Date:November 6, 2012
Nominee1:Brad Avakian
Party1:Nonpartisan politician
Popular Vote1:681,987
Percentage1:52.5%
Nominee2:Bruce Starr
Party2:Nonpartisan politician
Popular Vote2:606,735
Percentage2:46.7%
Before Election:Brad Avakian
After Election:Brad Avakian

The 2012 Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries election was held on November 6, 2012, in order to elect the Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries. The election was held on a nonpartisan basis.

Incumbent Commissioner Brad Avakian was re-elected, defeating State Senator Bruce Starr.

Candidates

While the position of Labor Commissioner is nonpartisan, Avakian is a Democrat and Starr is a Republican.

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
class=small Sample
size
Margin of
error
Brad
Avakian (D)
Bruce
Starr (R)
Undecided
The OregonianOctober 25–28, 2012405± 5% align=center26%20% align=center53%
DHM ResearchOctober 18–20, 2012500± 2.6%–4.4% align=center22%19% align=center60%
Public Policy PollingJune 21–24, 2012686± 3.7%21% align=center23% align=center56%

Campaign

Starr announced he would challenge incumbent Avakian in December 2011.[1] Avakian officially announced his re-election campaign in February 2012.[2]

While the Labor Commissioner is normally elected during the statewide primary election in May, with a runoff between the two highest-placing candidates in November if no candidate receives 50% of the vote, no primary election was held with Avakian and Starr instead facing off in the November general election. According to Secretary of State Kate Brown, "an obscure state law that applies only in 2012 require[d] that the labor commissioner be chosen in November." Starr challenged the change in date in court, which was subsequently rejected.[3]

Results

Results by congressional districts

Despite losing the state, Starr won 3 of 5 congressional districts, including two that elected Democrats.[4]

DistrictAvakianStarrRepresentative
54%46%Suzanne Bonamici
42%58%Greg Walden
67%33%
49%51%Peter DeFazio
49%51%Kurt Schrader

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Avakian Responds to Starr's Challenge for Labor Post: Updated. Jaquiss. Nigel. Willamette Week. December 14, 2011. July 1, 2024.
  2. News: Avakian to seek re-election as labor commissioner. The Columbian. February 1, 2012. July 1, 2024.
  3. News: Ore. judge rejects challenge of election date. The Columbian. March 20, 2012. July 1, 2024.
  4. Web site: Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts. Daily Kos. 11 August 2020.