The 2016 Oregon Secretary of State election was held on November 8, 2016, to elect the Oregon Secretary of State. Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins declined to seek election; she was appointed in March 2015 following Kate Brown's ascension to the governorship.
Republican Dennis Richardson defeated Democrat Brad Avakian to become the first Republican elected to statewide office in Oregon since 2002, and the first to hold this office since 1985. As of , this remains the last statewide election in Oregon won by a Republican.
Democratic primary
Candidates Brad Avakian, Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries, former state senator and state representative candidate for 2012 Oregon's 1st congressional district special election Richard Devlin, state senator and former state representative Val Hoyle, state representative
Results
Republican primary Candidates Sid Leiken, Lane County commissioner Dennis Richardson, former state representative
Results
Independent Party primary Nominee Paul Damian Wells, machinist and perennial candidate
Results
Other candidates Sharon Durbin (Libertarian), candidate for U.S. House District 2 in 2014 Michael P. Marsh (Constitution), perennial candidate Alan Zundel (Pacific Green), former political scientist and former professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
General election Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BradAvakian (D) DennisRichardson (R) PaulWells (I) SharonDurbin (L) Other UndecidedDHM ResearchOctober 25–29, 2016504 (LV)± 4.4%27%32%3%3%7%28%DHM ResearchOctober 6–13, 2016600 (LV)± 4.0%29%34%4%3%5%24%iCitizenSeptember 2–7, 2016610 (RV)± 4.0%29%26%4%2%3%36%Clout Research (R)July 9–13, 2016701 (LV)± 3.7%34%43%––10%12%
Results
Notes
References