Kate Brown recall, Governor of Oregon (2017)

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Governor of Oregon recall
KateBrown2015.jpg
Officeholders
Kate Brown
Recall status
Did not go to a vote
See also
Recall overview
Political recall efforts, 2017
Recalls in Oregon
Oregon recall laws
State executive recalls
Recall reports

An effort to recall Kate Brown, a member of the Democratic Party, from her elected position as Governor of Oregon was launched on July 10, 2017.[1] The recall effort did not go to the ballot because no signatures were submitted to the secretary of state's office before the October 9, 2017, deadline.[2]

Timeline

  • July 10, 2017: Paperwork filed for recall effort
  • October 9, 2017: Deadline to turn in 220,458 signatures

Background

The initiative to recall Brown was first approved for circulation by the Oregon Department of State on July 13, 2017. On the recall petition form, Chief Petitioner Arin Marcus outlined his reasons for calling for the recall as:

Placing the interests of non-citizens before Oregonians. Unconstitutional taxation. Unconstitutional overreach of authority. Failure to address human rights violations of foster children, parents. Misuse of campaign finances for travel. Mishandling of the investigation of the murder of Robert Lavoy Finicum. Peddling influence to serial child abuser Terrance Bean.[3]

—Chief Petitioner Arin Marcus[4]

A posting outlining the argument in favor of recall cited concerns over the governor's signature on four bills:[5]

  • S.B. 719 implemented a system of extreme risk protection orders. Following sworn testimony from a law enforcement officer or immediate family member that an individual poses a risk to others or themselves, a judge can order the surrender of all weapons owned by the individual for an indefinite period of time.[6] A veto referendum against the bill has been initiated.
  • H.B. 3391 implemented a requirement that all insurers cover the cost of contraceptives and made modifications to the state's healthcare regulations with the intention of expanding access to reproductive health services and to abortion services.[7]
  • H.B. 2017 was a transportation-related measure intended to raise money for infrastructure spending. It included increases in the state's gasoline tax, vehicle registration fees, payroll tax rates, and tax rates on the sale of new cars.[8]
  • H.B. 2355 amended the state's drug laws to shift possession of small amounts of drugs including cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine from a felony to a misdemeanor. It also included provisions intended to ensure that there is no disparity in the enforcement of drug laws along racial lines.[9]

Recall supporters

Arin Marcus filed recall paperwork against Brown on behalf of the "Recall Kate" committee, citing concerns over taxation, human rights, and allegations of improper usage of campaign funds. A request for statement from the Recall Kate campaign was not returned.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing recall in Oregon

Recall paperwork was filed against Gov. Brown on July 13, 2017. Supporters of the recall had until October 9, 2017, to turn in 220,458 signatures to move the recall forward.[10] Because no signatures were submitted to the secretary of state's office, the recall did not proceed.[2]

Election history

2016

Obama endorsement
Obama template image.jpg
During the 2016 election cycle Brown was one of the candidates endorsed by President Barack Obama

Full list of Obama's 2016 endorsements
See also: Oregon gubernatorial special election, 2016

Oregon held a special election for governor in 2016 to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of former Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) in February 2015. Brown, who succeeded from the secretary of state's office to the governorship after Kitzhaber stepped down, ran to retain the position for the two years left of Kitzhaber's term as both a Democratic and Working Families Party candidate.[11][12]

Five Democratic candidates unsuccessfully challenged Brown in the Democratic primary in May 2016.[13]

Incumbent Kate Brown defeated Bud Pierce, Cliff Thomason, James Foster, and Aaron Auer in the Oregon governor election.[14]

Oregon Governor, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic/Working Families Green check mark transparent.png Kate Brown Incumbent 50.70% 985,027
     Republican Bud Pierce 43.53% 845,609
     Independent Party of Oregon Cliff Thomason 2.44% 47,481
     Libertarian James Foster 2.33% 45,191
     Constitution Party Aaron Auer 1.00% 19,400
Total Votes 1,942,708
Source: Oregon Secretary of State

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for governor.

Democratic primary for governor, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Kate Brown Incumbent 83.96% 403,730
Julian Bell 7.04% 33,872
Dave Stauffer 2.83% 13,624
Steve Johnson 2.36% 11,366
Kevin M. Forsythe 1.79% 8,599
Chet Chance 0.95% 4,584
Write-in votes 1.06% 5,077
Total Votes 480,852
Source: http://oregonvotes.gov/results/2016P/1314035914.html

Endorsements

Campaign themes

Brown's campaign website pointed to her successes in her first year as governor, including increasing education funding, raising the minimum wage, and signed in a law that will eliminate coal power in Oregon. Brown promised to restore public confidence in the office, continue investing in public schools, and support small businesses.[16]

See also

External links

Footnotes