2016 Oregon Secretary of State election

2016 Oregon Secretary of State election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →
 
Nominee Dennis Richardson Brad Avakian
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 903,623 834,529
Percentage 47.1% 43.5%
Richardson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Avakian:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%
     No data
Secretary of State before election

Jeanne Atkins
Democratic

Elected Secretary of State

Dennis Richardson
Republican

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The 2016 Oregon Secretary of State election was held on November 8, 2016, to elect the Oregon Secretary of State. Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins declined to seek election; she was appointed in March 2015 following Kate Brown's ascension to the governorship.

Republican Dennis Richardson defeated Democrat Brad Avakian to become the first Republican elected to statewide office in Oregon since 2002, and the first to hold this office since 1985. As of 2024, this remains the last statewide election in Oregon won by a Republican.

Candidates

Democratic primary

Results

Democratic primary results by county:
Brad Avakian
  •   45–50%
      40–45%
      35–40%
      30–35%
Val Hoyle
  •   55–60%
      35–40%
      30–35%
Devlin–Hoyle tie
  •   30–35%
Richard Devlin
  •   35–40%
      30–35%
Oregon Secretary of State Democratic primary, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brad Avakian 199,214 38.94
Democratic Val Hoyle 173,915 33.99
Democratic Richard Devlin 134,388 26.27
Democratic Write-ins 4,110 0.80
Total votes 511,627 100

[6]

Republican primary

Results

Republican primary results by county:
Dennis Richardson
  •   85–90%
      80–85%
      75–80%
      60–65%
Sid Leiken
  •   50–55%
Oregon Secretary of State Republican primary, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dennis Richardson 260,622 77.89
Republican Sid Leiken 71,992 21.51
Republican Write-ins 2,006 0.60
Total votes 334,620 100

[6]

Independent Party primary

  • Paul Damian Wells, machinist and perennial candidate

Results

Oregon Secretary of State Independent primary, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Party Paul Damian Wells 16,458 65.89
Independent Party Write-ins 8,519 34.11
Total votes 24,977 100

[6]

Other candidates

  • Sharon Durbin, candidate for U.S. House District 2 in 2014 (Libertarian)
  • Michael P. Marsh, perennial candidate (Constitution)
  • Alan Zundel, former political scientist and former professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Pacific Green)[11][12]

Endorsements

Dennis Richardson

Polling

Poll source Date(s)

administered

Sample

size

Margin oferror Brad

Avakian (D)

Dennis

Richardson (R)

Paul Damian

Wells (I)

Other Undecided
DHM Research[25] October 25–29, 2016 504 ± 4.4% 27% 32% 3% 5%[26] 28%
DHM Research[27] October 6–13, 2016 600 ± 4% 29% 34% 4% 8%[28] 24%
iCitizen[29] September 2–7, 2016 610 ± 4.0% 29% 26% 4% 5%[30] 36%
Clout Research[31] July 9–13, 2016 701 ± 3.71% 36% 41% — — 12%

Results

Oregon Secretary of State election, November 8, 2016[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dennis Richardson 903,623 47.06%
Democratic Brad Avakian 834,529 43.47%
Independent Party Paul Wells 66,210 3.45%
Pacific Green Alan Zundel 48,946 2.55%
Libertarian Sharon Durbin 47,675 2.48%
Constitution Michael Marsh 15,372 0.80%
Write-ins 3,594 0.19%
Total votes 1,919,949 100%

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Candidate Filing Search Results – Secretary of State". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  2. ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (October 6, 2015). "Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian Makes It Official: He's Running for Secretary of State". Willamette Week. Portland, Oregon. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Secretary of State candidates due at Dems brunch". Hillsboro Tribune. Hillsboro, Oregon. February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  4. ^ Times news staff (September 2, 2015). "Tualatin state senator Richard Devlin to run for secretary of state". Tigard-Tualatin Times. Tigard, Oregon. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  5. ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (October 15, 2015). "Strong Fundraising Buoys Val Hoyle as She Officially Enters Secretary of State Race". Willamette Week. Portland, Oregon. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "Official Results - May 17, 2016, Primary Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. State of Oregon. May 26, 2016.
  7. ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (June 29, 2015). "GOP Candidate For Governor Sid Leiken Lowers Sights, Will Run for Secretary of State". Willamette Week. Portland, Oregon. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  8. ^ Friedman, Gordon (October 29, 2015). "Dennis Richardson announces Secretary of State bid". Statesman Journal. Salem, Oregon. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  9. ^ Anderson, Taylor W. (October 19, 2015). "Dennis Richardson changes tune, mulls run for secretary of state". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  10. ^ Cooper, Jonathan J. (October 29, 2015). "Dennis Richardson announce run for Oregon secretary of state". The Washington Times. Washington, D.C. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  11. ^ "Alan Zundel for Oregon Secretary of State". Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  12. ^ "2016 PACIFIC GREEN PARTY CANDIDATES". Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Two Longtime Democratic Lawmakers Endorse Dennis Richardson, GOP Candidate for Secretary of State". wweek.com. September 30, 2016.
  14. ^ "Today, I'm incredibly honored to have received the endorsement of Representative Phil Lang, former Democratic..." Twitter. October 4, 2016.
  15. ^ "Richardson earns our vote for secretary of state". Statesman Journal. October 2, 2016.
  16. ^ "Dennis Richardson for Oregon secretary of state: Editorial Endorsement 2016". The Oregonian. October 2, 2016.
  17. ^ "Richardson earns nod for Secretary of state". News-Register. September 23, 2016.
  18. ^ "Secretary of state: Richardson". The Register-Guard. October 9, 2016.
  19. ^ "Our view: Richardson for Secretary of State". East Oregonian. October 11, 2016.
  20. ^ "WW's Fall 2016 Endorsements: State of Oregon". Willamette Week. October 12, 2016.
  21. ^ "Endorsement: Richardson is best suited for secretary of state". The Daily Astorian. October 14, 2016.
  22. ^ "Editorial: Dennis Richardson for Secretary of State". The Bulletin. October 14, 2016.
  23. ^ "Our Endorsement: Richardson's skills, track record shine". Portland Tribune. October 20, 2016.
  24. ^ "Our View: Richardson for secretary of state". Mail Tribune. October 25, 2016.
  25. ^ "FOX 12-DHM Poll: Clinton leads Trump in Oregon; Measure 97 trends toward defeat". FOX 12 KPTV.com. November 1, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  26. ^ 3% for Durbin, 1% for Zundel, 1% for Marsh.
  27. ^ dhm Research (October 13, 2016). "Oregon Public Broadcasting October State Survey" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  28. ^ 3% for Durbin, 2% for Zundel, 3% for Marsh.
  29. ^ icitizen (September 13, 2016). "Oregon Poll Results - September 2016". Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  30. ^ 2% for Durbin, 2% for Zundel, 1% for Marsh.
  31. ^ Clout Research (July 27, 2016). "Or Governor Race in Dead Heat; Measure 97 Losing Ground". Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  32. ^ "Official Results 2016 General Election November 8, 2016". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved November 27, 2016.