Oregon’s extended boycott disqualifies GOP and independent senators from reelection.

Three Oregon Senators Disqualified from Reelection Under New Constitutional Amendment

Background

On Monday, Oregon Senate Republicans Dennis Linthicum and Daniel Bonham, along with former Republican turned independent Brian Boquist, were disqualified from reelection under a new constitutional amendment aimed at stopping walkouts from the chamber. The senators reached the 10-day boycotting limit as they attempted to stall and block voting on bills pushing access to abortion, gun control, and gender-related health care in Oregon’s legislative sessions.

The Constitutional Amendment

The constitutional amendment, which was approved overwhelmingly in a ballot measure last November, disqualifies lawmakers with 10 unexcused absences from reelection in the next term. The Oregon Constitution states that missing 10 or more floor sessions “shall be deemed disorderly behavior and shall disqualify the member from holding office as a senator or representative for the term following the election after the member’s current term is completed.”

Reaction

Senate President Rob Wagner, a Democrat, said from the Senate podium, “The majority of Senate Republicans continue to walk off the job that the voters elected them to do, in which our Constitution compels them to attend.”

Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek’s office responded to the walkouts saying that many important bills are at stake. “Oregonians are demanding that elected leaders deliver results on homelessness, behavioral health, education, and other major issues right now,” Kotek spokesperson Elisabeth Shepard said in a statement.

Senate Republican Minority Leader Tim Knopp said in a statement on the GOP’s walkout strategy that he had told Democratic leaders that the Republicans would end their boycott “to pass substantially bipartisan budgets and bills that are lawful and constitutional.”

Knopp said all 12 Republican senators took part in the boycott on Monday “in solidarity” with the three senators facing disqualification. He blasted Democrats for pursuing an “extreme” agenda. “Let it be abundantly clear: this is just the beginning of the fight,” Knopp said in a statement.

Conclusion

The disqualification of the three senators is a significant development in Oregon’s legislative sessions. It remains to be seen how this will impact the voting on bills pushing access to abortion, gun control, and gender-related health care.