Oregon: State Representative recall makes the ballot for October 3

The recall election of State Representative Paul Holvey (D) has made the ballot and is scheduled for October 3, after petitioners handed in a second batch of signatures following the invalidation of huge number of signatures.

In July, 6600 signatures were handed, with petitioners needing 4598 to get on the ballot and petitioners have more than a month (August 21) to add to the total. Only 2610 were validated. Petitioners then handed in another 3939 signature, of which 2445 were validated (they needed 1988). In total 8629 signatures were handed in and 5055 were validated, a 58.5% validation rate (though it is possible there were duplicates between the first and second group).

The Holvey recall is not a partisan fight, rather it is being launch by one of the most powerful unions in the state, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555. Holvey is the Chair of the House Committee on Business and Labor.

The recall is over Holvey's failure to support a bill blocking cannabis employers from interfering with employee efforts to unionize. Holvey believed that it was preempted by federal law. Holvey was a former union representative and he notes that the state's largest union and others are backing Holvey in fighting the recall effort.