SALEM, Ore. — A Republican state senator who is suing the Oregon Secretary of State after being barred from running for reelection in 2024 announced Wednesday that he does not plan to run for the office next year. Sen. Lynn Findley (R-Vale) is one of five GOP senators behind a lawsuit expected to go before the Oregon Supreme Court next month.
In a statement to constituents, Findley said that he intends to serve out the remainder of his current term. He was first elected to the legislature in 2018, beginning in the state House of Representatives. He was appointed to the Senate in January 2020 and elected to the seat in November of that year.
“It has been an absolute honor to represent the constituents in District 30 over the last several years, and I am humbled to have had the opportunity to do so,” said Sen. Findley. “Interacting with, listening to and helping constituents solve problems has been the best part of this job. I am proud of the work we have done to amplify the voices of constituents, shed light the issues we face in eastern and rural Oregon, and tackle some of our biggest challenges together.”
Findley's office did not mention the lawsuit or his disqualification from reelection in his statement, talking primarily about his legislative record.
Oregon Senate Republicans boycotted the chamber during this year's legislative session, an increasingly common tactic for the minority party in recent years, all but grinding business to a halt during the record six-week walkout. But new this year was the addition of Measure 113, an amendment to the state constitution approved by voters last November meant to penalize lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences by forbidding them from running for reelection in the following term.
During the walkout, Republicans signaled that they intended to challenge the legality of Measure 113, pouncing on ambiguities in the measure's language that were not present in the explanatory statement provided to voters. However, Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade determined that the measure should be interpreted as it was intended.
Ten senators ultimately received 10 or more unexcused absences and were barred from reelection in 2024. Five of them sued Griffin-Valade, Findley among them. Sens. Tim Knopp, Dennis Linthicum and Art Robinson also filed for reelection in spite of the secretary of state's decision. Those filings no longer appear on the secretary of state's website.
As of Wednesday evening, former Republican state representative and current circuit court judge Mike McLane had filed to run for Findley's seat in 2024. OPB reported that Findley has endorsed McLane's campaign, which was announced shortly after Findley's own statement on Wednesday.
But Findley isn't the only one with a hand-picked successor. Dennis Linthicum's wife Diane has filed to run for his 28th District seat, while Art Robinson's son Noah has filed to run in the 2nd District. All but McLane already face other Republican candidates.
After filing their lawsuit at the Oregon Court of Appeals, attorneys for the five GOP senators and those from the state representing Griffin-Valade argued that the case should be decided before the Oregon Supreme Court. Arguments in the case are expected to begin in December.
Measure 113 is now the subject of a separate federal lawsuit filed by Linthicum and fellow Republican Sen. Cedric Hayden, as well as independent Sen. Brian Boquist. They argue that Griffin-Valade and Senate President Rob Wagner, a Democrat, violated their constitutional rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
This is a developing story and may be updated with more details as they emerge.
