Hundreds line up to run for statewide offices

Pamplin Media Group, Mar 9, 2010, Updated Mar 9, 2010

Multnomah County’s Ted Wheeler was among the three Democrats and one Republican who filed Tuesday to run in the May primary for the state treasurer’s position.

They were among 310 people who filed for positions across the state, including governor, the U.S. Senate and all 60 state House seats.

Other candidates to fill the vacant post left vacant by Sunday’s death of Treasurer Ben Westlund include former Treasurer Jim Hill of Salem, state Sen. Rick Metsger of Welches and state Sen. Chris Telfer of Bend.

All of the candidates from the two major parties filed for positions by 5 p.m. Tuesday. Minor parties have until Aug. 24 to put candidates on the November general election ballot.

The secretary of state’s Elections Division accepted filings for one U.S. Senate seat, five U.S. House seats, governor, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, 15 Oregon Senate seats, 60 Oregon House seats, two Supreme Court seats, three seats on the Oregon Court of Appeals, 12 district attorney positions, and numerous county judgeships.

The race for governor showed 13 candidates, four Democrats and nine Republicans. Ten candidates filed to run for U.S. Senate, seven Republicans and three Democrats.

Partisan primaries will be held in 15 legislative districts, 10 involving Republicans and five involving Democrats. In five Oregon Senate districts and two Oregon House districts, candidates had no opposition in either the primary or general election.

Click here for information about candidates who filed for the May primary election.