Oregon Ranks Second Nationwide for Early Legislative Departures

When researchers from the Center for Tech and Civic Life teamed up with the Institute for Responsive Government, they set out to count how often state lawmakers across all 50 states walked away before their terms were up. The window they examined? 2020 through 2025.

What they found was a mixed bag of numbers and stories. Arizona led the pack with roughly a third of its legislators (33 %) exiting early. Hot on its heels was Oregon, where about 30 % of lawmakers left the bench before the clock ran out.

Why are these seats opening up? The study points to a handful of common culprits. The biggest single reason—about 15 % of all early departures nationwide—was legislators moving into nonelected government jobs. In Oregon, that played out when Republican Sen. Daniel Bonham of The Dalles stepped down in late 2025 after the Trump administration tapped him for a role at the U.S. Department of Labor. His vacated seat was filled by GOP gubernatorial hopeful Sen. Christine Drazan, who dropped out of the Oregon House to take the post.

Death was the second most frequent cause, accounting for 12 % of the vacancies. Oregon saw three such tragedies: Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D‑Portland) in 2020, Sen. Aaron Woods (D‑Wilsonville) and Rep. Hòa Nguyễn (D‑Portland) both in 2025. Their successors—Maxine Dexter, Courtney Neron‑Misslin, and labor advocate Lamar Wise—were appointed by county commissioners, preserving party balance while shaking up the roster.

Other exits came from nonprofit gigs (nearly 10 % of the total) and, more rarely, personal caregiving responsibilities (just 5 %). Safety concerns were almost negligible, at a hair‑thin 0.3 %.

One surprising side‑effect of these sudden openings is the boost they give to women and people of color. Barbara Smith Warner, a senior adviser at the Institute for Responsive Government and former Oregon Rep. (2014‑2022), notes that the appointment process has become a “shortcut” for under‑represented groups. She points to the rise of Oregon’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) caucus as a direct outcome of these appointments.

“When you get that foot in the door, it’s a lot easier to win a full term later,” Warner said. “A lot of the policies we see now wouldn’t have been introduced without those voices in the chamber.”

That sentiment is echoed by Sarah Berlin, director of civic information for the Center for Technology and Civic Life. She warns that even interim appointments can leave districts without stable representation for weeks, months, or even years.

But the numbers also reveal a silver lining: women are actually filling more seats than they’re losing. Across the country, female legislators are net‑gainers, a trend that Oregon mirrors.

Behind the statistics lies a harder truth about the job itself. Oregon’s legislative salaries have long been a sticking point. When Warner left the House in early 2023, she was making just $22,000 a year. The figure has since risen to $44,000, with the House speaker and Senate president earning $89,000. Add a $178 per‑day per‑diem when the legislature is in session, and the picture still looks modest compared with the hours required.

Many lawmakers describe their role as “part‑time on paper, full‑time in reality.” Sessions can demand 80‑plus hours a week, plus travel to Salem—once a month in even‑year sessions, every day for six months in odd‑year sessions. For single parents, healthcare workers, or anyone without a supportive spouse, the financial strain can be crushing.

That’s why several Oregon legislators opted out of re‑election bids in recent years. In 2022, Rep. Karin Power (D‑Milwaukie), Rep. Rachel Prusak (D‑Tualatin) and Rep. Anna Williams (D‑Hood River) all stepped aside, citing the impossibility of supporting their families on the modest paycheck. And just before the end of 2025, Rep. Annessa Hartman (D‑Gladstone) announced she wouldn’t run again, choosing to focus on raising her kids.

All told, Oregon’s high rate of early legislative departures tells a story of turnover, opportunity, and persistent challenges. It opens doors for a more diverse Capitol, yet it also highlights the need for better compensation and support if we want to keep experienced voices around for the long haul.