The government of Oregon is being captured by big money. So
far over $75 million has been raised for the 2022 campaigns
for Governor ($68 million by the top 3 candidates), beating
the previous record of $40 million. Over $48 million has been
contributed for seats in the Oregon Legislature, beating the
previous record of $35 million. No doubt the final totals for
2022 will be higher.
The average person has no realistic chance to earn a seat in
the Oregon Legislature. The campaigns of the top 10 Oregon
Senate candidates now have spent an average of $1.3 million
each. A Senate win typically requires about 30,000 votes, so
the candidates are spending over $40 per vote. The campaigns
of the top 10 Oregon House candidates now have spent an
average of $745,000 each. A House win typically requires
about 15,000 votes, so the candidates are spending about $50
per vote.
One man alone has contributed $5.25 million to candidates for
Oregon Governor this year.
Oregon is one of 5 states with no limits on campaign
contributions. The result is that Oregon campaigns are among
the most expensive in the United States, making candidates
dependent on and beholden to their huge donors.
It is crucial that candidates for public office take a stand
for campaign contribution limits and disclosure requirements.
Honest Elections Oregon distributed to all candidates for
Governor and the Oregon Legislature. Of the candidates
running in the general election, 87 responded and 104 did not, despite numerous
emails and phone calls to every campaign.
27 earn
A’s - 23 earn B’s - 4 earn C’s - 9 earn D’s - 104 earn F’s
Voters should respect the candidates who responded and
who earned high marks. They should shun candidates who
refused to respond or indicated no support for campaign
finance reform.
Here again are the links to see the grades of those who
responded and the identities of those who did not: https://bit.ly/orcandsurvey and
https://bit.ly/candsilent.
Honest Elections Oregon concluded:
-
Measure 107
(2020) amended the Oregon Constitution to explicitly
allow limits on campaign contributions and requirements
that political ads name their largest funders. Despite
78% of Oregon voters approving Measure 107 (2020), many
candidates remain unwilling to publicly announce where
they stand. 87 candidates completed the survey in this
first year, while 104 did not. [The results table omits
candidates who responded but were eliminated in the
primary election.]
-
Candidates
for the Oregon Legislature who earned A+ were Jeff
Golden of Ashland, Ashley Pelton of Cottage Grove, Walt
Trandum of Sandy, and John Lively of Springfield.
Points were assigned
for answers consistent with Honest Elections Oregon
priorities, including capping campaign contributions and
clearer disclosure rules, including a requirement that
political ads name their 4 largest actual funders (not just
nice-sounding names of committees). Grades range from A+ for
the best answers to D for the worst.
We urge voters to read the ratings and vote accordingly.
Dan Meek
Volunteer, Honest Elections Oregon
honest-elections.com
