Overview and Live Results: Oregon State House Recall Election

According to NCSL, 19 states plus the District of Columbia permit the recall of state legislators. Their research shows that there have been 39 such actual recall elections in U.S. History, with the recall successful about 55% of the time. The last such recall election was in 2018, when California State Sen. Josh Newman (D) was removed from office.^{1 1}Newman successfully won the seat back in the 2020 election. He has since advocated for a constitutional amendment to modify the recall process in that state.

Tuesday will bring the 40th such recall election. It will be the 4th to take place in Oregon. The most recent there was in 1988.

Oregon State House District 8

Democrats hold a 35-25 edge in the Oregon State House. Members serve two-year terms; the next regular elections are in 2024. 

District 8 includes parts of Eugene and Springfield, as well as more rural areas to the south. Incumbent Democrat Paul Holvey was first elected in 2004, and was most recently reelected by an 85% to 15% margin in 2022.

Holvey has been a strong political ally to labor unions. However, he has run into opposition from United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, most notably due to his perceived lack of support for a measure that would have allowed cannabis workers to organize. 

Local 555 was able to collect enough signatures to force the recall election.

If Holvey is successfully recalled, Lane County Commissioners will choose his replacement, working off a list of three to five names to be provided by the Democratic party in the district. 

Oregon elections are conducted by mail. Ballots, which had been sent to voters in the district, are due back via dropbox by 11:00 PM Eastern Time. If returned by mail, they must be postmarked no later than today.

Results below - if YES wins, Holvey is recalled.

Upcoming Elections

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