The 2014 Oregon gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor of Oregon, concurrently with other elections in Oregon and across the United States.

Incumbent Democrat John Kitzhaber defeated Republican state legislator Dennis Richardson, winning his fourth overall, and second consecutive, four-year term as governor. The race was closer than expected due to recent revelations of potential ethical violations involving his fiancée, Cylvia Hayes. Most news outlets called the election in his favor by 9:00 p.m. on election night. Kitzhaber thanked his supporters for a successful race, while Richardson refused to concede due to the close tally. Four third party candidates also appeared on the ballot, with each winning less than 2% of the vote.

Kitzhaber and Richardson were nominated in the primary election on May 20, 2014. As of 2022, this is the last gubernatorial election in Oregon where Clatsop County supported the Republican candidate, the last one where Tillamook County supported the Democratic candidate, and the last time that a man was elected Governor of Oregon. If Kitzhaber had served his full term, he would have become the second longest-serving governor in U.S. history. However, he resigned on February 18, 2015.

Background

Physician and then-President of the Oregon State Senate John Kitzhaber was first elected governor in 1994 and was re-elected in 1998. Term limits prevented him from running in 2002. He considered running in 2006 but decided not to; incumbent Democrat Ted Kulongoski was re-elected. In September 2009, Kitzhaber announced that he would seek a third term as governor in 2010. In May 2010, he won the Democratic primary with 65% of the vote, defeating former secretary of state of Oregon Bill Bradbury.Kitzhaber, Dudley To Face Off For Governor - Your Vote News Story - KPTV Portland After a close general election campaign, Kitzhaber won the election with 49% to Republican nominee Chris Dudley's 48%.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared Ifeanyichukwu Chijioke Diru John Kitzhaber, incumbent governor

Results

Republican primary A Republican had not won a statewide race in Oregon since incumbent senator Gordon H. Smith was re-elected in 2002 and a Republican has not been elected governor since Victor G. Atiyeh was re-elected in 1982. At the annual Dorchester Conference for activists in March 2013, Oregon Republicans acknowledged the difficulties they faced. At the Conference, "the lack of activity was so pronounced that the conference's Saturday night satirical show ran a video that began with an announcer intoning, "Now we go live to the 2014 Republican governor's debate." The camera then panned over a debate stage with two empty chairs, the monotony broken only by a broom-wielding janitor." High-profile Republicans have all passed on the election and while attendees split on whether the party needed to change its policies, they agreed that the party needed to be a "big tent" again.

Candidates

Declared Tim Carr, businessman Gordon Challstrom, businessman Bruce Cuff, real estate broker Darren Karr, businessman and candidate for Governor in 2010 Mae Rafferty, timber merchant Dennis Richardson, state representative

Withdrew Jon Justesen, businessman and rancher

Declined Allen Alley, businessman, former chairman of the Oregon Republican Party, nominee for Oregon State Treasurer in 2008 and candidate for Governor in 2010 Chris Dudley, former NBA basketball player and nominee for Governor in 2010 Bruce Hanna, state representative Gordon H. Smith, former U.S. Senator Greg Walden, U.S. Representative and Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee

Results

Third parties

Candidates

Declared Aaron Auer (Constitution Party) Paul Grad (Libertarian Party) Chris Henry (Oregon Progressive Party) Jason Levin (Pacific Green Party)

Additionally, under Oregon's Electoral fusion law, Democratic nominee John Kitzhaber was nominated by the Working Families Party of Oregon, and Republican nominee Dennis Richardson was nominated by the Independent Party of Oregon.

General election Debates Complete video of debate, September 26, 2014 Complete video of debate, October 14, 2014 Complete video of debate, October 20, 2014

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKitzhaber (D) Dennis Other UndecidedElway ResearchElway Research October 26–27, 2014 403 ± 5% 45% 38% 2%Aaron Auer (C) 9%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 23–27, 2014 552 ± 4.3% 50% 40% 6% 5%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 1,421 ± 4% 48% 42% 1% 10%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 16–19, 2014 561 ± 4.2% 51% 38% 6% 6%DHM ResearchDHM Research October 2014 ? ± 4.3% 50% 29% 6% 15%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20–October 1, 2014 1,508 ± 3% 49% 42% 0% 8%SurveyUSASurveyUSA September 22–24, 2014 568 ± 4.2% 50% 38% 5% 8%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 2–3, 2014 750 ± 4% 48% 38% 4% 10%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18–September 2, 2014 1,541 ± 4% 48% 42% 1% 8%Moore Information^Moore Information^ August 5–9, 2014 500 ± 4% 45% 41% — 13%SurveyUSASurveyUSA August 1–5, 2014 564 ± 4.2% 48% 36% 7% 9%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 2,082 ± 2.6% 52% 42% 1% 5%On Message, Inc.^On Message, Inc.^ June 22–24, 2014 600 ± 4% 42% 38% — 16%SurveyUSASurveyUSA June 5–9, 2014 560 ± 4.2% 48% 35% 10% 7%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 22–27, 2014 956 ± 3.2% 49% 36% — 15%DHM Research May 2014 400 ± 4.9% 48% 36% — 16%Harper PollingHarper Polling April 1–2, 2014 670 ± 3.91% 46% 43% — 11% ^ Internal poll for Dennis Richardson campaign

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKitzhaber (D) AllenAlley (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling December 3–5, 2012 614 ± 4% 52% 37% — 12%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 686 ± 3.7% 46% 36% — 18%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKitzhaber (D) JasonAtkinson (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 686 ± 3.7% 45% 30% — 24%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKitzhaber (D) BruceHanna (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 3–5, 2012 614 ± 4% 52% 33% — 15%Public Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 686 ± 3.7% 46% 33% — 21%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKitzhaber (D) Gordon H.Smith (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 3–5, 2012 614 ± 4% 47% 42% — 11%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKitzhaber (D) BruceStarr (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 3–5, 2012 614 ± 4% 53% 31% — 16%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKitzhaber (D) GregWalden (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 3–5, 2012 614 ± 4% 49% 40% — 11%Public Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 686 ± 3.7% 42% 41% — 17%

Results

By county County John KitzhaberDemocratic Dennis RichardsonRepublican Various candidatesOther parties Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Baker 1,951 27.4% 4,842 68.0% 323 4.5% -2,891 -40.6% 7,116 Benton 21,694 58.5% 13,245 35.7% 2,160 5.8% 8,449 22.8% 37,009 Clackamas 70,071 45.2% 77,059 49.7% 7,867 5.1% -6,988 -4.5% 154,997 Clatsop 6,449 45.6% 6,550 46.3% 1,138 8.1% -101 -0.7% 19,835 Columbia 8,477 42.7% 9,887 49.8% 1,471 7.4% -1,410 -7.1% 19,835 Coos 10,120 42.3% 12,260 51.2% 1,546 6.5% -2,140 -8.9% 23,926 Crook 2,601 29.4% 5,753 64.9% 508 5.8% -3,152 -35.5% 8,862 Curry 3,946 40.7% 5,211 53.8% 535 5.5% -1,265 -13.1% 9,692 Deschutes 31,518 45.6% 34,104 49.4% 3,441 5.0% -2,586 -3.8% 69,063 Douglas 13,829 33.5% 24,553 59.5% 2,899 7.1% -10,724 -26.0% 41,281 Gilliam 284 32.3% 546 62.2% 48 5.5% -262 -29.9% 878 Grant 834 25.5% 2,294 70.2% 141 4.5% -1,460 -44.7% 3,269 Harney 724 24.5% 2,083 70.4% 151 5.0% -1,359 -45.9% 2,958 Hood River 4,875 58.8% 2,988 36.0% 426 5.1% 1,887 22.8% 8,289 Jackson 35,235 42.7% 43,498 52.7% 3,855 4.7% -8,263 -10.0% 82,588 Jefferson 2,333 34.2% 4,048 59.4% 432 6.3% -1,715 -25.2% 6,813 Josephine 12,032 35.4% 19,926 58.7% 2,002 5.9% -7,894 -24.3% 33,960 Klamath 6,416 28.1% 15,155 66.4% 1,265 5.6% -8,739 -38.3% 22,836 Lake 736 23.1% 2,310 72.4% 145 4.5% -1,574 -49.3% 3,191 Lane 82,132 57.1% 53,156 37.0% 8,535 5.9% 28,976 20.1% 143,823 Lincoln 10,469 54.1% 7,609 39.3% 1,289 6.7% 2,860 14.8% 19,367 Linn 14,890 34.5% 25,463 59.0% 2,831 6.6% -10,573 -24.5% 43,184 Malheur 1,904 25.2% 5,226 69.2% 418 5.5% -3,322 -44.0% 7,548 Marion 41,858 41.3% 53,377 52.7% 6,021 5.9% -11,519 -11.4% 101,256 Morrow 870 27.8% 2,065 65.9% 198 6.3% -1,195 -38.1% 3,133 Multnomah 202,617 69.9% 66,780 23.1% 20,273 7.0% 135,837 46.8% 289,670 Polk 12,375 41.4% 15,809 52.9% 1,686 5.7% -3,434 -11.5% 29,870 Sherman 252 28.3% 596 66.9% 43 4.8% -344 -38.6% 891 Tillamook 4,907 46.7% 4,895 46.6% 706 6.7% 12 0.1% 10,508 Umatilla 5,517 29.3% 12,337 65.5% 994 5.3% -6,820 -36.2% 18,848 Union 3,087 30.4% 6,526 64.3% 536 5.3% -3,439 -33.9% 10,149 Wallowa 1,008 27.9% 2,474 68.5% 129 3.6% -1,466 -40.6% 3,611 Wasco 3,959 43.3% 4,557 49.8% 629 6.9% -598 -6.5% 9,145 Washington 98,203 51.4% 81,484 42.7% 11,185 5.9% 16,719 8.7% 190,872 Wheeler 203 29.6% 440 64.2% 42 5.2% -237 -34.6% 685 Yamhill 14,854 40.8% 19,436 53.4% 2,077 5.7% -4,582 -12.6% 36,367Total733,23049.9%648,54244.1%87,9456.0%84,6885.8%1,469,717

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Tillamook (largest city: Tillamook)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Clatsop (largest city: Astoria)

See also 2014 United States elections United States Senate election in Oregon, 2014

References

External links Oregon gubernatorial election, 2014 at Ballotpedia

Official campaign websites (Archived) John Kitzhaber for Governor incumbent Tim Carr for Governor Gordon Challstrom for Governor Bruce Cuff for Governor Jason Levin for Governor Dennis Richardson for Governor