Abstract:
In Part I, I provide
a history of political parties in Oregon, describing their importance
from before statehood to the present. This section explains how the
role of political parties has changed over time and why party reform
has come to look so appealing. In Part II, I examine three reform
proposals that have been discussed in Oregon over the past several
years: a nonpartisan legislature, the top-two primary, and fusion
voting. I conclude by discussing other factors underlying Oregon’s
political problems and some alternative solutions.