2018 Oregon elections explained

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Oregon on November 6, 2018. Primary elections were held on May 15, 2018.

United States House of Representatives

See main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2018. All five of Oregon's seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for re-election in 2018. All five incumbents, four Democrats and one Republican, won re-election.[1]

Governor

See main article: 2018 Oregon gubernatorial election. Incumbent Democratic Governor Kate Brown was originally elevated to the role in February 2015 upon the resignation of her predecessor, Governor John Kitzhaber. Then serving as the Oregon Secretary of State, Brown was first in the line of succession to replace the Kitzhaber.[2] Brown won a special election the following year to serve the final two years of Kitzhaber's four-year term. Brown won re-election to her first full term in this election. Brown was challenged by Republican Knute Buehler, representative of Oregon's 54th House district, and several third-party candidates.[3] [4]

Commissioner of Labor

See main article: 2018 Oregon Commissioner of Labor election. Incumbent Brad Avakian elected not to seek re-election to the office of Oregon Commissioner of Labor.[5] A nonpartisan primary election was held alongside partisan primary elections on May 15, 2018. Three candidates appeared on the primary election ballot:[6]

Since the Commissioner of Labor is a nonpartisan role, a general election is only held if no one in the primary election secures 50% of the vote.[6] Hoyle avoided a runoff vote and was elected to the role by winning 52.28% of the vote in the primary election.[7]

Legislative

See main article: article and 2018 Oregon legislative election. Of the 30 seats in the Oregon State Senate, 17 were up for election (15 regular elections and 2 special elections). All 60 seats in the Oregon House of Representatives were up for election. As a result of the election, the Democratic Party expanded its advantage over the Republican Party and held a supermajority in both chambers. Democrats had an 18–12 majority in the Senate and 38–22 majority in the House of Representatives.[4] [8]

Ballot measures

There were five statewide Oregon ballot measures on the general election ballot. As a result of the election, one ballot measure passed while the other four failed.[4] [9] [10]

MeasureDescriptionVotes
YesNo
Measure 102Amends Constitution: Allows local bonds for financing affordable housing with nongovernmental entities. Requires voter approval, annual audits786,225 (43.10%)
Measure 103Amends Constitution: Prohibits taxes/fees based on transactions for "groceries" (defined) enacted or amended after September 2017791,687 (42.69%)
Measure 104Amends Constitution: Expands (beyond taxes) application of requirement that three-fifths legislative majority approve bills raising revenue631,211 (34.81%)
Measure 105Repeals law limiting use of state/local law enforcement resources to enforce federal immigration laws675,389 (36.54%)
Measure 106Amends Constitution: Prohibits spending "public funds" (defined) directly/indirectly for "abortion" (defined); exceptions; reduces abortion access658,793 (35.52%)

References

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Notes and References

  1. News: Incumbent Oregon House members re-elected. November 6, 2018. Corvallis Gazette-Times. July 9, 2019. November 7, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181107203637/https://www.gazettetimes.com/news/incumbent-oregon-house-members-re-elected/article_d9af6b1e-d904-50ef-855d-c3d86bb11b3e.html. live.
  2. News: Gov. John Kitzhaber Announces His Resignation. February 13, 2015. Nigel. Jaquiss. Willamette Week. July 12, 2019. May 14, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160514163840/http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-32833-gov_john_kitzhaber_announces_his_resignation.html. live.
  3. News: Democrat Kate Brown wins re-election as Oregon governor. November 7, 2018. Andrew. Selsky. AP News. July 9, 2019. February 26, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190226034854/https://www.apnews.com/5ce85bc2da154eec8acf4f2d79b5dfbc. live.
  4. Web site: November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes. Oregon Secretary of State. July 9, 2019. April 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210427160423/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873825. live.
  5. Web site: Brad Avakian, Oregon labor bureau chief, will not seek re-election. July 11, 2017. Gordon R.. Friedman. The Oregonian. October 1, 2019. October 2, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191002012916/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2017/07/brad_avakian_oregons_labor_bur.html. live.
  6. News: Oregon Voters Select Val Hoyle As New Labor Commissioner. May 14, 2018. Dirk. VanderHart. Conrad. Wilson. OPB. October 1, 2019. October 2, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191002012928/https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-primary-val-hoyle-lou-ogden-labor-commissioner-vote/. live.
  7. News: Oregon reaches milestone as new labor commissioner, Val Hoyle, sworn in. January 7, 2019. Andrew. Selsky. Statesman Journal. October 1, 2019. August 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230806084455/https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/07/oregon-reaches-milestone-commissioner-sworn-labor-val-hoyle/2510102002/. live.
  8. Web site: Oregon Democrats secure supermajorities in both chambers of Oregon Legislature. November 6, 2018. Connor. Radnovich. Statesman Journal. July 9, 2019. March 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230301091330/https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2018/11/06/oregon-democrats-secure-supermajority-oregon-legislature-senate-house-election-results/1916885002/. live.
  9. News: Oregon ballot measures at 30-year low. Here's why.. August 3, 2018. Hillary. Borrud. The Oregonian. July 12, 2019. March 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330193155/https://expo.oregonlive.com/news/erry-2018/08/6564e184eb471/oregon-ballot-measures-at-30ye.html. live.
  10. News: Oregon voters approve Measure 102 on affordable housing bonds, defeat other measures. November 6, 2018. KVAL. September 28, 2019. September 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190928183521/https://kval.com/news/local/oregon-voters-approve-measure-102-on-affordable-housing-bonds-defeat-other-measures. live.