This Portland Tribune story says 34 members of the Oregon Independent Party have been elected to non-partisan office, during the eight years the party has been in existence. The story focuses on Larry Morgan, a member of the party who is on the city council of Troutdale.
Ballot Access News
Edited By Richard Winger
So why can’t they get elected in partisan elections?
As a lifelong Oregonian, I believe the reason Independents have not been elected to partisan offices is due to the traditional two party influence.
First, the Undefended Party of Oregon has only recently gained major party status in the state. This means that they never had primary elections. The money spent and the campaigning during primary season gives the Dem and Repub candidates a 6-10 month head start with name recognition and press visibility.
Second, $$$…the big money comes from the political parties in the state and on the federal level if it is for a federal position. The pockets of the D’s and R’s are much deeper than the I’s.
Third, as of last fall, Oregon’s party affiliation breakdown looked like this:
Democrat: 37.9%
Republican: 29.9%
Unaffiliated: 24.3% (register but to not select a preferred party)
Independent: 4.9% (recently crossed 5% giving them major party status)
Other: 3% (This would be Pacific Green Party, Communist Party of Oregon, Socialist Party, Libertarian Party, etc.)
Hard to break into the big boys table when the registration is so overwhelmingly in favor of the major parties..
Sorry…should have read Independent Party not Undefended Party…subconscious slip maybe 🙂