Bend, Ore. — Oregon is one step closer to changing how it fills U.S. Senate vacancies, as Senate Bill 952 awaits Governor Tina Kotek’s signature following passage in the state House on Tuesday.
The legislation, which passed the House by a 31-24 vote, would authorize the governor to appoint a temporary U.S. senator from the same political party as the departing senator in the event of an unexpected vacancy. The appointment would last until the term expires or a successor is elected in a special election held within 150 days.
Currently, Oregon is one of only four states that leave U.S. Senate seats vacant until special elections are held, a situation proponents say risks leaving the state without full representation in the Senate for extended periods.
“This is not a partisan issue,” said Rep. Hai Pham (D-Hillsboro), who introduced the bill on the House floor. “It’s about making sure our state isn’t left on the sidelines when the stakes are high.”
The bill had previously passed the Oregon Senate in April along party lines, 16-13, with one Democrat voting against it.
Republican lawmakers expressed strong opposition to the measure, arguing that appointing a senator who has not faced voters undermines democratic accountability.
“If this bill is passed and a senate vacancy arises, the governor can choose someone who has never run for office, never answered to the public, and never stood before voters to earn their trust,” said Rep. Dwayne Yunker (R-Grants Pass). “What kind of accountability does that bring? The answer is none.”
House Minority Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby), the 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee, echoed these concerns. “It is grueling, it is humbling, it is demanding and it is appropriate that it be so,” she said of the electoral process.
Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, Oregon’s current U.S. senators, both Democrats, have voiced support for the legislation. In letters to the state Senate Rules Committee, they stressed the importance of avoiding prolonged vacancies.
Wyden, 76, who plans to seek re-election in 2028, wrote that under the current system, Oregonians “would have only half a voice in the U.S. Senate if our state lacked a senator because of death or injury for a prolonged period.” Merkley, 68, who has not yet announced his re-election plans, noted that waiting for a special election could leave critical legislative work undone.
Most states allow their governors to fill Senate vacancies temporarily, with the appointee serving until the next general election. Of the 13 states requiring special elections to fill vacancies, nine allow gubernatorial appointments in the interim. Oregon’s move would bring it in line with the majority of states.
If Governor Kotek signs Senate Bill 952 into law, it will mark a significant shift in how Oregon handles sudden Senate vacancies and ensure the state maintains continuous representation in the U.S. Senate.
