2016 Oregon Secretary of State election

Last updated

2016 Oregon Secretary of State election
Flag of Oregon.svg
  2012 November 8, 2016 2020  
  Secretary Richardson and Ashish Puri (34450141971) (cropped).jpg Brad Avakian 2008 Color (cropped).jpg
Nominee Dennis Richardson Brad Avakian
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote892,669814,089
Percentage47.4%43.2%

Oregon Secretary of State election, 2016.svg
OR SOS 2016.svg
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

The 2016 OregonSecretary 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.

Contents

The incumbent in 2016, Jeanne Atkins. Her term expired on January 2, 2017. Jeanne Atkins cropped 2.jpg
The incumbent in 2016, Jeanne Atkins. Her term expired on January 2, 2017.

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 2025, this remains the last statewide election in Oregon won by a Republican.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results by county:

Brad Avakian
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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% 2016 Oregon Secretary of State election results map by county, Democratic primary.svg
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%
Democratic primary results [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Brad Avakian 204,135 38.88%
Democratic Val Hoyle 178,82934.06%
Democratic Richard Devlin 137,61226.21%
Write-in 4,4620.85%
Total votes511,627 100.0%

Republican primary

Candidates

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 results by county, 2016.svg
Republican primary results by county:
Dennis Richardson
  •   85–90%
      80–85%
      75–80%
      60–65%
Sid Leiken
  •   50–55%
Republican primary results [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dennis Richardson 269,790 77.95%
Republican Sid Leiken74,23721.45%
Write-in 2,0860.60%
Total votes346,113 100.0%

Independent Party primary

Nominee

Results

Independent Party primary results [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Independent Party Paul Damian Wells 17,124 64.94%
Write-in 9,24535.06%
Total votes26,369 100.0%

Other candidates

General election

Endorsements

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [a]
Margin
of error
Brad
Avakian (D)
Dennis
Richardson (R)
Paul
Wells (I)
Sharon
Durbin (L)
OtherUndecided
DHM Research [A] October 25–29, 2016504 (LV)± 4.4%27%32%3%3%7% [b] 28%
DHM Research October 6–13, 2016600 (LV)± 4.0%29%34%4%3%5% [c] 24%
iCitizen September 2–7, 2016610 (RV)± 4.0%29%26%4%2%3% [d] 36%
Clout Research (R) July 9–13, 2016701 (LV)± 3.7%34%43%10%12%

Results

2016 Oregon Secretary of State election [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Dennis Richardson 892,669 47.38% +4.18%
Democratic Brad Avakian 814,08943.21%–8.07%
Independent Party Paul Damian Wells64,9563.45%N/A
Pacific Green Alan Zundel47,5762.52%–0.11%
Libertarian Sharon Durbin46,9752.49%+1.05%
Constitution Michael Marsh15,2690.81%+0.29%
Write-in 2,6460.14%-0.01%
Total votes1,884,180 100.0%
Republican gain from Democratic

Notes

    • Key:
    • A – all adults
    • RV – registered voters
    • LV – likely voters
    • V – unclear
  1. Marsh (C), Zundel (PG) with 1%; "Somebody else/ May skip race" with 5%
  2. Marsh (C) with 3%; Zundel (PG) with 2%
  3. Zundel (PG) with 2%; Marsh (C) with 1%
  1. Poll sponsored by Fox 12

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "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. 1 2 3 "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. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. 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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "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. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016.
  24. "Our View: Richardson for secretary of state". Mail Tribune. October 25, 2016.
  25. "Official Results 2016 General Election November 8, 2016". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved November 27, 2016.