Walter Huss Explained

Walter Huss
Office:Chair of the Oregon Republican Party
Term Start:August, 1978[1]
Term End:May, 1979[2]
Predecessor:Steve Young[3]
Successor:Robert Voy[4]
Party:Republican
Spouse:Rosalie Huss

Walter L. Huss (1918 2006) was a fundamentalist minister, anti-communist activist,[5] and newspaper publisher[6] who served as chairman of the Oregon Republican Party between August 1978 and May 1979. Huss ran multiple times for statewide office in Oregon as a Republican, but never won a primary.

Career

1964 congressional campaign

Huss was a candidate for congress in 1964, running in the republican primary to represent Oregon's 3rd congressional district. He ultimately finished second behind Lyle Dean, with 21,087 votes to Dean's 27,325. Dean went on to lose the general election to incumbent congresswoman Edith Green.[7] [8]

1966 senatorial campaign

See main article: article.

In 1966 Huss ran in the Republican primary for Oregon's Class 2 senate seat. He finished second behind Mark Hatfield, who went on to win the general election. Hatfield was an opponent of the Vietnam War, which Huss supported.[9]

Chair of Oregon Republican Party

On August 5th, 1978 at a GOP organizational meeting in Bend, Oregon, Huss defeated incumbent Oregon party chair Steve Young in a delegate vote by a margin of 51 to 44. His candidacy for chair was supported by conservative activists.[5] Less than 8 months later (on March 16, 1978), Huss announced his intention to resign effective April 30th of that year, under pressure from fellow conservatives who felt he had been insufficiently focused on his job as chair. Huss ultimately stayed on as chair past April to finish overseeing a financial audit started under his leadership, leaving the job in May.[10]

During Huss's tenure as chair, he repeatedly clashed with moderates in the party. At one point, moderate Republicans including secretary of state Norma Paulus and state treasurer Clay Myers organized a rival organization, the Council of Elected Republicans, to raise funds without going through the state party.[1] Huss also came under fire for saying he preferred candidates who were Christians. Accused of antisemitism for these comments by the likes of Republican gubernatorial nominee Victor Atiyeh, Huss denied any ill intent, saying in part that "one of my best friends is a Jew Jesus Christ."

1980 senatorial campaign

See main article: article.

Instead of running for office in 1980, Huss campaigned for his wife, Rosalie, who ran in the Republican primary against incumbent senator Bob Packwood.[11] Packwood won both the primary and the general.

1982 gubernatorial campaign

See main article: article.

In 1982 Huss ran against incumbent governor Victor Atiyeh in the Republican gubernatorial primary.[12] Atiyeh won both the primary and the general elections.

Notes and References

  1. News: Turner. Wallace . OREGON G.O.P. SPLIT OVER PARTY LEADER . 9 April 2024 . The New York Times . February 19, 1979.
  2. News: $30,000 fine paid by ex-GOP head . 3 May 2024 . The Bulletin . UPI . Jan 7, 1987.
  3. News: Fundamentalist Minister Resigns As Chairman of Oregon's G.O.P. . 9 April 2024 . The New York Times . March 18, 1979.
  4. News: Walworth . Clark . New GOP unity possible through work, Voy says . 3 May 2024 . The Bulletin . Jan 7, 1987.
  5. Web site: Schultz . William . The Rise and Fall of "No Special Rights" . Oregon Historical Society . 9 April 2024 . 2021 . In 1978, for example, conservative activists succeeded in electing Walter Huss as chairman of the state GOP. Huss had previously been the leader of the Freedom Center, a Portland-based organization so stridently anti-communist that it clashed with the John Birch Society..
  6. News: Cannon. Lou . Fundamentalist Cleric Altering Oregon's GOP . 9 April 2024 . The Washington Post . October 5, 1978.
  7. News: Abell . Ron . Republican Opponent Charges Hatfield Has 'Popcorn Strategy' . 3 May 2024 . Eugene Register-Guard . Mar 8, 1966.
  8. Web site: Appling . Howell . Howell Appling Jr. . Official Abstract of Votes, Primary Election 1964 . Office of the Oregon Secretary of State . 3 May 2024 . 39 (p. 44 of pdf) . July 15, 1964.
  9. News: Oregon: one war foe loses, another wins . The Miami News . May 25, 1966 . April 10, 2024.
  10. News: Decision by Huss to delay departure draws criticism . 3 May 2024 . Eugene Register-Guard . AP . Apr 18, 1979.
  11. News: Mrs. Huss to run . AP. . December 28, 1979 . April 10, 2024.
  12. News: OREGON'S GOVERNOR LEADING 6 IN POLLS. 9 April 2024 . The New York Times . May 18, 1982.