January 10, 2008

(Salem, OR) – Even though Oregonians have more than four months to go before making their voices heard in the presidential primary races, Secretary of State Bill Bradbury today announced the names of the candidates he expects will be on the Oregon ballot.

Oregon law provides two methods for presidential candidates to qualify to be included on the primary election ballot. Candidates can submit a nominating petition, including at least 1,000 signatures on their behalf from each congressional district in Oregon, or the Secretary of State can determine that the candidate is “generally advocated or is recognized in national news media.”

The following is a preliminary list of candidates Secretary Bradbury believes will meet the second requirement and expects to list on the May 20 primary election ballots. Considering how much time and how many other state primaries will pass between now and May 20, it’s likely this list will shrink before the final certification is made. As candidates drop out or suspend their campaigns, Bradbury will remove them from the list.
 

Republican Party Rudy Giuliani Mike Huckabee Duncan Hunter John McCain Ron Paul Mitt Romney Fred D. Thompson

Democratic Party Hillary Clinton John Edwards Mike Gravel Dennis Kucinich Barack Obama

“Unfortunately, the frontloading and leapfrogging of the primary schedule this year means that, once again, Oregon will be left in the lurch, with little say in who becomes each party’s nominee,” says Bradbury.

Secretary Bradbury has joined the National Association of Secretaries of State in their proposal to create a series of rotating regional primaries that would lend some order and predictability to the chaotic primary schedule.