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Betsy Johnson: Difference between revisions
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Johnson announced she would run as an unaffiliated candidate in the 2022 gubernatorial race, but would officially leave the Democratic Party in the spring of 2022.<ref>[https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2021/10/betsy-johnson-a-moderate-democratic-state-senator-is-running-for-governor-as-a-member-of-no-party.html ''Oregon Live'', "Betsy Johnson, a moderate Democratic state senator, is running for governor as a member of no party," October 14, 2021]</ref> | Johnson announced she would run as an unaffiliated candidate in the 2022 gubernatorial race, but would officially leave the Democratic Party in the spring of 2022.<ref>[https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2021/10/betsy-johnson-a-moderate-democratic-state-senator-is-running-for-governor-as-a-member-of-no-party.html ''Oregon Live'', "Betsy Johnson, a moderate Democratic state senator, is running for governor as a member of no party," October 14, 2021]</ref> | ||
Latest revision as of 06:02, 31 July 2025
Betsy Johnson (Democratic Party) was a member of the Oregon State Senate, representing District 16. She assumed office in 2007. She left office on December 15, 2021.
Johnson (independent) ran for election for Governor of Oregon. She lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Johnson announced she would run as an unaffiliated candidate in the 2022 gubernatorial race, but would officially leave the Democratic Party in the spring of 2022.[1]
Biography
Johnson earned her B.A. in history from Carleton College in 1973 and her J.D. from Lewis and Clark College in 1977. Her professional experience includes being a commercial pilot, serving as the former director of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, owning Transwestern Helicopters Incorporated from 1978 to 1993, and working as a manager for the Aeronautics Division of the Oregon Department of Transportation from 1993 to 1998.[2]
Johnson was Director of the Columbia County Health District in 1990. She served on the Board of Commissioners for the Port of Saint Helens, Oregon, from 1992 to 2000. She served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2001 to 2005.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Johnson was assigned to the following committees:
- Joint Information Management and Technology Committee
- Joint Legislative Audits Committee, Co-chair
- Joint Ways and Means Committee, Co-chair
2019-2020
Johnson was assigned to the following committees:
- Joint Legislative Audits Committee, Co-Chair
- Joint Ways and Means Committee, Co-Chair
- Joint Legislative Policy and Research Committee
- Joint Information Management and Technology Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Oregon committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Joint Legislative Policy and Research |
| • Joint Transportation and Economic Development |
| • Joint Ways and Means, Vice chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Johnson served on the following committees:
| Oregon committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Joint Ways and Means, Co-Vice Chair |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Johnson served on the following committees:
| Oregon committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Ways and Means |
2011-2012
| Oregon committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Joint Legislative Administration |
| • Joint Ways and Means |
2009-2010
| Oregon committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Emergency Board |
| • Fujian Sister State |
| • Legislative Administration |
| • Ways and Means |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
See also: Oregon gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Governor of Oregon
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Oregon on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tina Kotek (D / Working Families Party) | 47.0 | 917,074 |
 | Christine Drazan (R) | 43.5 | 850,347 | |
 | Betsy Johnson (Independent) | 8.6 | 168,431 | |
 | Donice Smith (Constitution Party) | 0.4 | 8,051 | |
 | R. Leon Noble (L)  | 0.4 | 6,867 | |
 | Paul Romero (Constitution Party of Oregon) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 2,113 | ||
| Total votes: 1,952,883 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Nathalie Paravicini (Pacific Green Party / Progressive Party)
- Tom Cox (L)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Oregon
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Oregon on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tina Kotek | 56.0 | 275,301 |
 | Tobias Read | 31.7 | 156,017 | |
 | Patrick Starnes | 2.1 | 10,524 | |
 | George Carrillo | 1.9 | 9,365 | |
 | Michael Trimble | 1.0 | 5,000 | |
 | John Sweeney | 0.9 | 4,193 | |
 | Julian Bell | 0.8 | 3,926 | |
 | Wilson Bright | 0.5 | 2,316 | |
 | Dave Stauffer | 0.5 | 2,302 | |
 | Ifeanyichukwu Diru | 0.4 | 1,780 | |
| Keisha Merchant | 0.4 | 1,755 | ||
| Genevieve Wilson | 0.3 | 1,588 | ||
 | Michael Cross | 0.3 | 1,342 | |
| David Beem | 0.3 | 1,308 | ||
 | Peter Hall | 0.2 | 982 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.8 | 13,746 | ||
| Total votes: 491,445 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Peter Winter (D)
- Casey Kulla (D)
- Nicholas Kristof (D)
- Dave Lavinsky (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Oregon
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Oregon on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Christine Drazan | 22.5 | 85,255 |
 | Bob Tiernan | 17.5 | 66,089 | |
 | Stan Pulliam | 10.9 | 41,123 | |
 | Bridget Barton | 10.8 | 40,886 | |
 | Bud Pierce | 8.7 | 32,965 | |
 | Marc Thielman | 7.9 | 30,076 | |
 | Kerry McQuisten | 7.6 | 28,727 | |
| Bill Sizemore | 3.5 | 13,261 | ||
 | Jessica Gomez | 2.6 | 9,970 | |
 | Tim McCloud | 1.2 | 4,400 | |
 | Nick Hess | 1.1 | 4,287 | |
 | Court Boice | 1.1 | 4,040 | |
 | Brandon Merritt | 1.0 | 3,615 | |
| Reed Christensen | 0.8 | 3,082 | ||
 | Amber Richardson | 0.5 | 1,924 | |
 | Raymond Baldwin | 0.1 | 459 | |
 | David Burch | 0.1 | 406 | |
| John Presco | 0.0 | 174 | ||
 | Stefan Strek | 0.0 | 171 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.0 | 7,407 | ||
| Total votes: 378,317 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Darin Harbick (R)
- John Fosdick III (R)
- Jim Huggins (R)
2018
- See also: Oregon State Senate elections, 2018
In addition to running as a Democratic Party candidate, Johnson cross-filed to also run as a Republican write-in candidate and as an independent write-in candidate in 2018.[3]
General election
General election for Oregon State Senate District 16
Incumbent Betsy Johnson defeated Ray Biggs in the general election for Oregon State Senate District 16 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Betsy Johnson (D) | 82.0 | 50,398 |
| Ray Biggs (Constitution Party) | 17.3 | 10,637 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 400 | ||
| Total votes: 61,435 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Oregon State Senate District 16
Incumbent Betsy Johnson advanced from the Democratic primary for Oregon State Senate District 16 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Betsy Johnson | 100.0 | 12,337 |
| Total votes: 12,337 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2014
- See also: Oregon State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Oregon State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 11, 2014. Incumbent Betsy Johnson was unopposed in the Democratic primary. She also ran as a write-in candidate on the Republican party ticket. Robert Ekstrom ran as a Constitution Party candidate and Perry Roll ran as a Libertarian candidate. Andrew Kaza also ran as an Independent and Working Families Party candidate. Johnson defeated Ekstrom, Roll and Kaza in the general election.[4][5][6]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Betsy Johnson Incumbent |
70% | 34,324 | |
| Independent | Andrew Kaza (Independent & Working Families) | 13.5% | 6,603 | |
| Constitution | Robert Ekstrom | 12.2% | 5,985 | |
| Libertarian | Perry Roll | 3.9% | 1,901 | |
| None | Miscellaneous | 0.4% | 193 | |
| Total Votes | 49,006 | |||
2010
- See also: Oregon State Senate elections, 2010
Johnson won re-election to the Oregon State Senate against Bob Horning (R).[7] Johnson was unopposed in the Democratic primary election on May 18, 2010.[8] The general election took place on November 2, 2010.
| Oregon State Senate, District 16 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Betsy Johnson (D)
|
27,182 | |||
| Bob Horning (R) | 22,657 | |||
2006
- See also: Oregon State Senate elections, 2006
On November 7, 2006, Johnson was elected to District 16 in the Oregon State Senate, defeating Don Fell (R) and Robert Simmering (C).[9][10] Johnson raised $153,615 for her campaign, while Fell raised $10,038 and Simmering did not raise any money.[11]
| Oregon State Senate, District 16 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Betsy Johnson (D)
|
30,645 | |||
| Don Fell (R) | 16,040 | |||
| Robert Simmering (C) | 1,429 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Betsy Johnson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Johnson's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Betsy Johnson won’t give up on Oregon without a fight. Betsy Johnson is running for governor as an independent leader loyal only to the people of Oregon. She believes only the people – not our broken political system – can rescue our state. Born in Bend, but raised in Redmond, Betsy developed her deep connection to Oregon’s land and people through her family. Her parents gave their property at the headwaters of the Metolius to the United States Forest Service. As Betsy says, her parents loved the land so much, they gave it away to protect it. Her father Sam served in the Oregon House, and her mother Becky served on the State Board of Higher Education and many other community organizations. Betsy graduated from Oregon Episcopal School in 1969 and earned her undergraduate degree from Carleton College. Betsy worked for the Multnomah courts while earning a law degree attending night classes at Lewis & Clark College. Betsy’s father taught both of his daughters to fly airplanes, fueling their lifelong passion. Betsy’s sister became an aerobatic pilot, flying competitions all over the world. Betsy herself represented the United States in the world helicopter championships in Vitebsk, USSR in 1978. She founded her own aviation business that flew helicopters, including many of the flights over Mount St. Helens after the 1980 eruption. Her company also performed mountain rescue missions and worked on movie projects, including flying Benji the dog into the wilderness to be filmed in heroic action. Betsy was asked to manage the Aeronautics Division of the State Department of Transportation. In 1999, as Director of Legislative Affairs for the Oregon Pilots Association, she helped pass legislation creating the Oregon Department of Aviation. Betsy served in the Oregon House and Senate for more than 20 years, retiring as Chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee last year to run for governor. She has a well-earned reputation as a fierce advocate for her constituents, a fearless crusader for fiscal accountability, and as a no-nonsense maverick willing to buck convention to find bipartisan solutions. She’s always been known as an independent minded, pro-jobs leader proudly serving the working people of the northwest coast. Betsy has described herself as “an equal opportunity pisser-offer.” In her 2018 re-election, Betsy not only earned the Democratic Party nomination, but also the Republican and Independent Party nominations through write-in votes. She finished with 82% percent of the support from voters in her district. In addition to serving in the legislature, Betsy has served on the boards of numerous local, regional, and national organizations, including the Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) Foundation, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) Foundation, and the High Desert Museum in Bend. She is currently on the Board of Visitors of Northwestern School of Law and serves as President of the Samuel S. Johnson Foundation, named for her late father. Betsy and her husband John Helm have been married 35 years and have worked side by side in both business and public service. They live in Scappoose. While Betsy has given up her party affiliation, her bedrock values have not changed. She deeply believes in taking the best ideas from both parties to forge common sense solutions for everyone. [12] |
” |
| —Betsy Johnson's campaign website (2022)[13] | ||
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Oregon scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021
In 2021, the Oregon State Legislature was in session from January 21 to June 26.
- Legislators are scored on bills related to animal issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes related to the environment.
- Legislators are scored on their stances related to taxes, economic development, housing, environmental regulations, and business.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2020, the Oregon State Legislature was in session from February 3 to March 5. Special sessions were convened from June 24 to June 26 and on August 10.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Oregon State Legislature was in session from January 22 through June 30.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the 79th Oregon State Legislature, second session, was in session from February 5 through March 3. There was also a one-day special session on May 21, 2018.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the 79th Oregon State Legislature, first session, was in session from February 1 through July 7. There was also an organizational session January 9.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 78th Oregon State Legislature, second session, was in session from February 1 through March 3.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 78th Oregon State Legislature, first session, was in session from February 2 through July 6.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 77th Oregon State Legislature, second session, was in session from February 3 to March 10.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 77th Oregon State Legislature, first session, was in session from February 4 to July 9.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the 76th Oregon State Legislature, second session, was in session from February 1 to March 6.
|
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the 76th Oregon State Legislature, first session, was in session from February 1 to June 30.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Johnson has a husband, John Helm.[2]
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Oregon Live, "Betsy Johnson, a moderate Democratic state senator, is running for governor as a member of no party," October 14, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Project Vote Smart, "Biography of Sen. Johnson," accessed May 23, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search Results: 2018 General Election," accessed October 30, 2018
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Official Results - May 20, 2014 Primary Election," accessed July 8, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing," accessed March 15, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Official general election results for 2014," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2010 General Election Results," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2010 Oregon Primary Election Results," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2006 Oregon Primary Election Results," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2006 Oregon General Election Results," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Oregon Senate spending, 2006," accessed May 23, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Betsy Johnson's campaign website, "Meet Betsy," accessed August 29, 2022
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Oregon State Senate District 16 2007-2021 |
Succeeded by Rachel Armitage (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Oregon House of Representatives 2001-2005 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Board of Commissioners Port of Saint Helens Oregon 1992-2000 |
Succeeded by - |
 |
State of Oregon Salem (capital) |
|---|---|
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