Democrat Rayfield, Republican Lathrop advance in Attorney General primaries

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – For the first time in more than a decade, the race to become Oregon’s next Attorney General is open to Democrat Dan Rayfield and Republican Will Lathrop after the current AG Ellen Rosenblum announced she would not be running for reelection.

As of 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, former Speaker of the Oregon House Dan Rayfield has won the Democratic primary with 215,155 votes (76.45%) while human rights attorney Will Lathrop took the Republican nomination with 135,317 votes (64.24%).

Click here to view up-to-date Oregon 2024 Primary Election results

Rayfield issued the following statement Tuesday night:

I’m incredibly grateful and honored by the support of so many Oregonians today.  This election has been a great opportunity to talk with people in communities across the state about our shared values and the most important priorities for the next Attorney General. I want to thank Shaina Maxey Pomerantz for the respectful campaign and the opportunity to debate important issues along the way. As we move to the general election, I will continue to offer a clear vision of keeping Oregonians safe, strengthening our justice system to make it more accountable and fair, standing up for consumers, seniors and children, and protecting our rights from national threats, including on reproductive health and abortion rights. I look forward to continuing to discuss my proven track record and vision for the Attorney General’s office and hope to earn your vote in November.

Candidate Profiles

Democrat Dan Rayfield

A Democrat from Corvallis and lawyer by trade, Rayfield graduated from Western Oregon University and holds a law degree from Willamette University. He stepped down as Speaker of the Oregon House to enter the AG race.

In an interview with KOIN 6 News, Rayfield shared the role he hopes to play in the mitigation of the ongoing fentanyl crisis, how his experience as a trial lawyer prepares him for the role, and his plan to curb the statewide increase in gun violence.

Republican Will Lathrop

A Newberg resident, native of Wallowa County, and Willamette University law school graduate, Lathrop was a deputy district attorney in Marion and Yamhill counties for ten years before he stepped away in 2014. Then, he worked for the International Justice Mission, a non-profit human rights organization for about eight years.

While interviewing with KOIN 6, Lathrop discussed the role of AG in the ongoing fentanyl crisis. He also disclosed whether he would keep the office’s civil rights unit intact and whether he would continue on Rosenblum’s path of environmental or anti-trust lawsuits against big companies like Monsanto, Apple, and Google.

KOIN 6 News is Your Local Election Headquarters. Stay with us as we bring you up-to-date campaign coverage through November’s General Election.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.