A way-too-early look at the scramble for statewide offices
Tobias Read's historic run for Secretary of State marks the unofficial beginning of 2024 elected official "musical chairs"; PLUS: who is Brett Baker, the only current candidate for State Treasurer?
The scramble to fill three prominent statewide elected positions—Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Attorney General—in 2024 has officially begun. As a benefit to our paid subscribers, we offer this “way-too-early” analysis of who might run for what. Consider becoming a paid subscriber today.
Secretary of State
Secretary of State Tobias Read? Read, the Oregon State Treasurer, is hoping to be the first person to have held both statewide offices since the late Clay Myers (Myers went in the reverse order, from SOS to Treasury, serving as Secretary from 1967-77, and Treasurer from 1977-84). Read will make a formal announcement in September.
As of July 28, Read reports having about $38,000 in his PAC. A competitive, down-ballot statewide primary could cost north of $500,000—but the big question in these very early days of Summer 2023 (almost 16 months until the 2024 general election) is whether the race will truly be competitive.