Oregon State Senator Lee Beyer (D-Springfield) has introduced SB 785, which moves the primary for all office, in presidential years, from May to March. Oregon is one of the few states that never moves its primary date. It has been in May since 1916. Thanks to Josh Putnam for this news. If the bill passed, it would have no effect on petition deadlines for independent candidates or petitions to create a new party.
Back in the “bad old days” when parties printed ballots, anyone could run for office on any party’s ticket up until the day that the party decided to print its own ballots.