SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Supreme Court ruled Thursday that 10 Republican state senators who staged a record walkout last year to block bills on abortion, transgender health care and gun rights cannot run for reelection. was lowered.
This decision supports the Secretary of State's decision to disqualify senators from voting under a voter-approved measure aimed at deterring such boycotts. Measure 113, passed by voters in 2022, amends the state constitution to bar members from re-election with 10 or more unexcused absences.
Last year's boycott lasted six weeks, the longest in state history, paralyzed the Legislature and stalled hundreds of bills.
Five members of Congress, Tim Knopp, Daniel Bonham, Suzanne Weber, Dennis Linthicum, and Lynn Findlay, filed a lawsuit over the Secretary of State's decision. They were among 10 Republican senators who were absent more than 10 times.
During oral arguments before the Oregon Supreme Court in December, senators and state attorneys battled over the grammar and syntax of language added to the state constitution after Measure 113 was approved by voters.
The proposed amendment states that members cannot run for “a post-election term after the end of their current term.” The senators argued that the amendment meant they could seek re-election, since senators' terms end in January and elections are held in November of the previous year. They argue that the fine will not take effect immediately, but after serving an additional term.
Both sides also took issue with slight differences in language between the actual ballots filled out by voters and the text of the bill included in voter pamphlets.
According to the ballot, a yes vote on the measure would disqualify any member who is absent without excuse for 10 or more sessions to serve a term “consecutive to the current term.” The text of the bill published in the pamphlet did not include the word “election.” The information in the pamphlet was eventually added to the state constitution.
The state argued that by voting “yes” in support of the measure, voters intended for legislators with so many absentees to be barred from running for office after their terms expire.
The senators' lawsuit was filed against Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin Varade, who said last August that the boycotting senators were not eligible to seek reelection. She directed her office's election division to implement administrative rules based on her own position.
All parties to the lawsuit had asked for clarity on the issue by March 2024, the filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this year's election.
The 2023 strike paralyzed Congress for weeks as Republicans pushed through sweeping legislation related to expanding access to abortion and transgender health care, and another on the manufacture and transfer of undetectable firearms known as ghost guns. It was finally brought to an end after forcing the Democratic Party to make concessions on the bill.
Oregon voters approved Measure 113 by a wide margin following Republican walkouts in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 legislative sessions.
