Republican senators who walked out of Oregon Legislature can’t seek reelection, state Supreme Court rules

Ten state senators who participated in a Republican-led walkout during last year’s legislative session will be barred from reelection as soon as this year, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled Thursday morning.

In a unanimous decision, the court rejected an argument from five Republican lawmakers who contended in court filings that the plain language of Measure 113 should allow them to serve one more term, despite their decision to boycott more than 10 legislative floor sessions last year. The court ruled that voters understood the measure to mean that boycotting lawmakers would be immediately barred from seeking reelection.

“Reading the text of the amendment in light of the ballot title and the voters’ pamphlet, voters would have understood the disqualification to apply to the term of office immediately following the term in which a legislator accrued 10 or more unexcused absences,” the court stated in its decision. “Thus, for the reasons that follow, we conclude that voters intended that result and reject petitioners’ challenge to the (Secretary of State’s) rules.”