[05] Let's Talk Politics

OR State Capitol, Salem

State Governor
Theodore R. Kulongoski (D)
Elected in 2002 & reelected 2006
Term expires: January 2011

Senators (Congress)
Gordon Smith (R)
Ron Wyden (D)

House of Representatives (Congress):
Earl Blumenauer (D)
Peter DeFazio (D)
Darlene Hooley (D)
Greg Walden (R)
David Wu (D)

Electoral votes: 7

State Legislature
House: 60 seats
Senate: 30 seats


OR Capitol's House Chamber

Oregon has three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial.

The Executive branch is composed of six statewide elected officials that administer and manage state agencies. The officials are the Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Labor and Industries, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Governor is responsible for submitting a budget to the Legislature covering all state agencies every two years.

The Legislature's main functions are to finance state government, enact laws and provide an area for discussion of public issues. It reviews and revises the proposed budget and passes tax laws to provide revenue. The laws enacted by the Legislature establish state policies that, along with the adopted budget, direct all state agency activity.

The Judicial branch's function is to interpret the actions of the Legislature and state agencies as they relate to the Oregon Constitution. They also deliberate on civil, criminal and governance issues.

Voting Time...
Total Voter Registration, Nov. 2004: 2,141,249
Democratic 829,197 (38.72%)
Republican 761,717 (35.57%)
Non Affiliated 477,682 (22.31%)
Others 72,653 (3.39%)

Oregon has lead a vote-by-mail process. It experimented vote-by-mail in 1981 and became permanent in 1987. It was the first state to hold a Federal primary totally by mail in 1995. In 2000, Oregon was the first state to conduct a presidential election by mail with 80% of the registered voters participating.

36 counties
5 largest counties: Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Lane, Marion.

240 incorp. cities.
5 largest cities: Portland, Eugene, Salem, Gresham, Beaverton.

Counties of OR

Oregon's main political parties are the Democratic and Republican parties. Its minor state parties include the Constitution, Libertarian, and Pacific Green parties.

There are slightly more Democrats registered in OR as of 2000. In the Presidential election of 2004, OR's electoral vote went to Democrat candidate John Kerry.

Below is a breakdown of voter registration (by major political party lines) from 1910 to 2000.

Below is a breakdown of Democat and Republican registered voters by county.

Sources
U.S. Census Bureau
Oregon Secretary of State
Oregon
Welcome to Oregon