The political stage in Oregon turned on its head recently with an unprecedented decision by the state's Supreme Court. On Thursday, it was decreed that 10 GOP senators, who notoriously staged a walkout last year, are barred from participating in the succession race. Their political protest, which aimed to stall specific legislative actions involving abortion, transgender health care, and gun rights, has remarkably become a roadblock in their re-election bids.
Attempt to Throttle Lawmaking Sparks Backlash
In 2022, a measure was passed to prevent scenarios exactly like the walkout by the Republican senators. Sponsored by voters, Measure 113 amended the Oregon constitution to disallow re-election for any lawmaker with over ten unexcused absences. This was viewed as the stage for the dramatic six-week boycott by the GOP senators in 2023, which set a new record for the lengthiest boycott in the state's history. The standoff stagnated the legislative session, with hundreds of bills pending.
The Battle Over Measure 113
In the wake of the secretary of state's decision to disqualify them, five lawmakers, including Sens. Tim Knopp, Daniel Bonham, Suzanne Weber, Dennis Linthicum, and Lynn Findley, challenged the ruling in court. They formed part of the ten lawmakers who had clocked over ten unexcused absences during the protest.
The courtroom drama unfolded during the Oregon Supreme Court's oral arguments in December. Lawyers representing the senators and the state locked horns over the interpretation of the language inserted into the state constitution following the approval of Measure 113. The legislative amendment's phrasing states that a lawmaker could not run "for the term that comes after the election, once the member's current term has ended." The senators insisted this provision allowed them to run for an additional term since a senator's term culminates in January, while elections kick off in November.
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Conflicting Language in Measure 113
The debate escalated further in the interpretation of Measure 113. There were noted differences in the wording of the document filed by voters and the text included in the voters' pamphlet. The state maintained that by endorsing Measure 113, the electorate's intentions were clear. Legislators with high unexcused absence counts should stand down after completing their current terms.
Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade Finds Herself in the Hot Seat
The senators lodged the lawsuit against Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade, who had disqualified the boycotting senators from seeking re-election in the previous August. She also tasked her office's elections division with creating an administrative rule reflecting her decision.
Everyone was waiting for the resolution of the lawsuit before the all-important March 2024 filing deadline for candidates intending to run in the forthcoming election year.
Walkout Spurs GOP Senators' Downfall
The week-long walkout in 2023 remained prominent in most political narratives. The boycott brought the legislature to its knees, only wrapping up when the Republicans extracted concessions from the Democrats' firebrand bills. One aimed to broaden access to abortion and transgender health care, while the other dealt with the manufacture and transfer of untraceable firearms, popularly coined as ghost guns.
Wary of political disruptions, Oregon voters primarily supported Measure 113. Prior Republican walkouts in 2019, 2020, and 2021 probably influenced their vote.
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