Atkins won't run in 2016. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!

Kari Chisholm

Folks, the race for Secretary of State in 2016 is now wide open. Jeanne Atkins, who was named to the post on Friday by Governor Kate Brown, has announced that she will not seek a full term.

Jeanne Atkins, a veteran Democratic aide and women's rights advocate appointed by Gov. Kate Brown to be Oregon's new secretary of state, said Friday that she won't run in 2016 for a full four-year term in the office. ...

Atkins, who retired from a top staff job for U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., in January, said it was clear from the beginning of her discussions with the governor's office about the job that she didn't intend to seek election to the office.

"My willingness to be considered was that it would be until a new secretary of state is elected by the people of Oregon" in 2016, Atkins said in a telephone interview.

According to the O's Jeff Mapes, people that "have expressed interest" in running in 2016 include the House Majority Leader, Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Eugene); the Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland); and Sen. Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin).

Other Democratic names dropped by the Great Mentioner include Rep. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), Rep. Brian Clem (D-Salem), Rep. Lew Frederick (D-Portland), former Speaker Dave Hunt, and Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian (who briefly ran for Secretary of State in 2008, before being appointed to BOLI).

Who else should consider running for Secretary of State?

By Kari Chisholm March 07, 2015