Independent Party of Oregon

Ben Westlund

The Independent Party was formed by voter petition in 2006, after House Bill 2614, a law that made it more difficult for non-affiliated candidates to run for public office in Oregon, was enacted in 2005 by the Oregon State Legislature.[9][10] The same Legislature who passed this law also disallowed non-affiliated candidates from being labeled as "independent" on ballots, freeing up the name for use by the Independent Party. IPO co-chair Dan Meek was one of two people to publicly testify in the Oregon legislature against both bills. Meek and Party Secretary Sal Peralta also lobbied in favor of repealing HB 2614,[11] which was repealed at the end of the 2009 legislative session.[12] The party also cited the end of Ben Westlund's campaign for governor as being due to the legal barriers he faced as an independent candidate.[11][13]

The IPO is not to be confused with a previous Independent Party that existed in Oregon during the legislative election in 1874. The party was affiliated with the Granger movement and campaigned on an anti-monopoly platform, receiving support from progressives and the press. For a brief period, the party held a 23-seat plurality in the State House, and formed a coalition with the Democrats before later disbanding.[14]

Mistaken members controversy

In March, as the Independent Party began meeting the requirements of major party status, the Democratic Party of Oregon sponsored a survey of 400 IPO members questioning if they originally intended to register with the party. The results found 46% did not know they were affiliated with the party, with 24% believing they were registered as an unaffiliated voter. When asked if they were to register again, only 47% said they would remain IPO members.[38][39] The Oregon Democrat and Republican parties issued a joint press release on the poll, questioning about the party's status.

IPO officials rejected the poll, with party secretary Sal Peralta claiming the Democrats and Republicans feeling threatened by their growth. Co-chairman Dan Meek accused the DPO as "quite ready to attack and destroy any new party that seeks to compete with them", pointing to the poll as the most recent attack against the party, 4 years after a bill was introduced threatening them to disassemble. In response, the Independent Party released its own poll showing 11% of Oregon voters self-affiliate with the party, and 80% stating they would join or consider voting for candidates of the party. 5 months later, the Secretary of State announced the IPO had qualified as a major party in Oregon.[40][41]

Brian Boquist

The Independent Party of Oregon is one of the largest minor political parties in the United States. From its inception in January 2007 through September 2011, the party added more than 90,000 members, making it the third largest political party in Oregon. From January 2007 to December 2010, its members accounted for approximately 40 percent of the net growth in the Oregon electorate.

Growth of the IPO compared to the major political parties (Dem. - Blue) (Rep. - Red) (Ind. - Grey)

The IPO's membership growth compared to other minor parties in Oregon.

Party membership growth from January 2007 - January 2021 [44]

In August 2015, the IPO qualified under Oregon law as a major party with 109,300 members. As a major party, they were provided state-funding for primaries.[45][46] In 2019, the party returned to minor party status reportedly due to the automatic voter registration law increasing the unaffiliated voter count. This subsequently decreased the party's share of the voter population to below the 5% major party threshold.[47] Despite this, the party has continued to grow since it was qualified as a major party.[48]

As of January 2023, the Independent Party is one of only two third-parties in the U.S. to have an incumbent party member in a state legislature. Among city councilors, county commissioners, and mayors in the state, 6.5% as of 2020 are IPO members.[49] In August 2015, The Portland Tribune identified 34 non-partisan local office holders as IPO members.[50]

[51]

The Independent Party of Oregon describes their party as a platform for independent voters to have a voice in government as an informed, non-tribalistic voting block promoting a public-interest alternative.[52][53][54] The party does not adhere to an ideology, instead they support candidates of a variety of positions who support their values.[55] To assemble a platform, the Independent Party surveys their members on their priorities for the state, using public opinion information and academic research. In the party's 2020-21 platform introduction, they state:

"Our party’s growth is driven by a widespread belief that our government, and especially our legislative process, primarily serve the interests of self-interested, non-representative groups of special interests ...Our intent and hope is to serve as a source of gravity for policies that serve the public interest and as a counter to the polarization, cynicism and anger that are becoming resonant in our current political culture."[54]

According to its bylaws, the Independent Party of Oregon holds a number of initiatives. The party wants to increase voter participation and involvement. It advocates reform in specific areas of government, wanting to reduce the advantage of incumbency and the influence of campaign contributions on politicians and policy decisions. As of 2021, they have emphasized the environment, public health, the economy, and governmental reform as policy areas to address. The party hopes to achieve this through fiscally sound transparent decisions that create a taxation system that benefits all Oregonians.[56]

As prescribed by Oregon statutes governing minor political parties, the party comprises all registered voters designating their party affiliation as Independent. In accordance with party bylaws,[56] the party consists of members and supporting members. A five-person state council of officers, and at-large delegates elected by the party membership, is responsible for conducting the day-to-day affairs of the party. Candidates are nominated in caucuses, the members of which are supporting members of the party, elected by the party's full membership.

Jeff Merkley

The Independent Party became the first Oregon minor political party in more than 80 years to cross-nominate major party candidates for public office. Its candidates generally fared better than other minor party candidates in terms of votes garnered. Joel Haugen received 19% of the vote in a five-candidate race for the U.S. House of Representatives in the first congressional district. State legislative candidates Terry Rilling, Pete Belcastro, and Keith Wangle garnered 40%, 44%, and 30% of the vote respectively in their races for the Oregon House of Representatives.[61] Independent Party member Jim Torrey was defeated by incumbent mayor Kitty Piercy in Eugene's non-partisan mayoral election, 48.8% to 47.4%.[62]

John Kitzhaber

In July, 2010, the Independent Party of Oregon became the first Oregon political party to conduct a primary election at its own expense in more than 100 years; the first Oregon political party ever to conduct a binding primary election entirely over the internet; and the first Oregon minor political party to conduct a primary election.[64] More than 2,000 Independent Party members voted in the election, which involved 77 candidates, including 39 Democrats, 32 Republicans, a Libertarian and Green. Although being the largest nominating process held by a minor political party in Oregon, only 4% of its members voted in the primary. This low turnout was possibly the result of members having to receive a mailed passcode from the party to enter on the internet in order to participate.[34][65]

Winners of the IPO Primary election included Governor John Kitzhaber and 30 people who served in the Oregon legislature in 2011.[66] Independent Party member Jeff Caton, who ran in House District 48, won 43 percent of the vote. This was the closest a minor party candidate had come to winning federal or state office in Oregon since at least 1932.[67]

Dennis Richardson

More Republicans were cross-nominated by the party in this election year compared to the last. Despite previously endorsing Kitzhaper for governor in 2010, Republican Dennis Richardson instead won the primary with 62% of the vote. Voter turnout was lower in the primary, with only 1,140 of members participating.[69]

Cody Reynolds

The 2016 election was the first election where the IPO had a state-funded primary as a major party.[71] In total, 45,875 voters participated in the May primary, of which 20,660 were non-affiliated voters who had requested a ballot in their open primary. This was a higher voter turnout compared to the minor parties in the state, yet lower compared to the Democrat and Republican primaries.[72][73]

Chris Telfer, a certified public accountant, city council member, and former Republican state senator, was nominated by the party for state treasurer. Despite receiving endorsements from fellow state senators and The Oregonian editorial board, Telfer received 176,892 (9.42%) of the vote, losing to Tobias Read.[74][71] The Independent Party nominated Cliff Thomason as their candidate in the 2016 gubernatorial election. Netting 2.44% of the popular vote. The party did not nominate another 2016 presidential candidate after their endorsed candidate Bernie Sanders dropped out of the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

Patrick Starnes

In the 2018 Oregon Gubernatorial Election, the Independent Party nominated freelance cabinet-maker Patrick Starnes despite Democratic incumbent Kate Brown and Republican Knute Buehler making efforts to win the party's cross-nomination. Starnes was elected twice to the Douglas Education Service District, and once to the McKenzie School Board.[76] Co-Chair Rob Harris opposed the nomination, choosing to instead support Knute Buehler.[77] In late October, Starnes dropped out and endorsed Gov. Kate Brown for her re-election, this action was not backed by the party.[78] Despite having ended his campaign, Patrick Starnes received 2.86% of the popular vote in the November election.[79]

Marc Koller, a retired corporate executive and former president of a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned business, ran against Rep. Earl Blumenauer. Koller campaigned on a progressive platform, promoting medicare for all and free college tuition. In the general election as a nominee of the Independent and Pacific Green parties, he received 21,352 votes (over 5%).[80][81] In addition, investor and truck driver Mark Roberts was nominated as congressional candidate for District 2, running on a message of revitalizing the forest industry and raising wages.[82] Roberts received attention and condemnation from U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for sexual comments he made about First Lady Melania Trump on Twitter.[83] Despite the tweets he made during his campaign, he ended up receiving 4.2% of the vote.

The Independent Party nominated Joe Biden for 2020 United States Presidential election. However, Biden only had the Democratic Party nomination listed on the ballot.

• List of political parties in Oregon

• Independent Party of Oregon (official website)