Rep. Paul Holvey claims victory in recall election: Live updates

4:40 p.m. Wednesday: Expected result to 'kitchen sink' approach to recall election

Joshua Spivak, an expert on recall elections and a senior fellow at the University of California, Berkley, told the Register-Guard that while the size of the "blowout" of the recall election was interesting, he wasn't surprised Rep. Paul Holvey won.

"It felt like an interest group was launching the recall without the support of the rest of the labor groups," Spivak said. "This is a guy who's won office a lot, and it didn't sound like an issue that was inflaming the general public."

Spivak said nationally, elected officials only defeat recalls 34% of the time, 6% of the time they step down before the election and 60% of the they lose the race.

UFCW failed to find the type of broader issue that would have gotten people to vote against Holvey, he said, calling the union's recall strategy a "kitchen sink" approach.

Spivak said the union saw that its objection to Holvey's handling of HB 3183 wasn't inflaming people so it tried to dig up a long list of Holvey votes they objected to, a strategy he said rarely works for recalls.

Spivak said most recalls, especially the ones that succeed, target local politicians and focus on specific issues that a lot of voters care about.

He said recent recalls against Eugene city councilor Claire Syrett for voting to expand EMX service into River Road and Santa Clara and Eugene 4J School Board Member Laurel O'Rourke for delaying a meeting which kept the school board from congratulating the Sheldon Volleyball team for winning a state championship, follow the more typical pattern. Voters removed Syrett from office and O'Rourke stepped down before there was an election.

"Those are the type of issues that really get people going," Spivak said.

8:58 p.m. Tuesday: Holvey, UFCW release statements

Rep. Paul Holvey issued a statement saying the campaign to retain his legislative seat "sent a strong message that one deep-pocketed group who doesn’t get their way can’t abuse the recall system to deceive a community and intimidate elected officials."

"I hope that members of UFCW 555 hold UFCW’s leadership and individuals behind this recall accountable for wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars from their dues," said Holvey, a former labor organizer. "I, the Oregon Democrat caucuses, and every other union who opposed this recall will continue to share union values and fight for all workers including the hardworking rank and file members of UFCW 555."

The United Food and Commercial Workers local 555 labor union released a statement saying the union respects the outcome of the failed recall.

“The recall campaign gave Eugene voters an opportunity to evaluate Rep. Holvey’s record without the distraction of up-ticket races, and those voters affirmed that his values are those which should represent District 8 in Salem," the statement said.

8:40 p.m.: Holvey appears to retain seat in in recall election

Eugene-area state Rep. Paul Holvey, a Democrat who has been in the Oregon Legislature since 2004, appears to have retained his seat with a strong lead against a recall election initiated by the United Food and Commercial Workers local 555 labor union.

"I’m so grateful to my community for standing with me to soundly reject this recall effort," Holvey said in a prepared statement.

13,301 ballots have been counted with 90% voting 'no' in support of Holvey retaining his legislative seat. There are 43,030 registered voters in Legislative District 8, which covers central, eastern and southern Eugene as well as downtown, the University of Oregon and rural areas south of the city. The last special election in Lane County, held in May, had 32% voter turnout.

What the Holvey recall election was about

The UFCW led the recall election after Holvey opposed HB 3183 a priority bill for the UFCW that would have required businesses applying for cannabis licenses to promise to not prevent their employees from unionizing.

The UFCW said Holvey's stance was part of a pattern that showed he "abandoned the progressive values that he originally ran on." On Aug. 24, the union turned in enough signatures to hold the recall.

In a door-to-door campaign, Holvey argued against the UFCW's characterization of him. He said he opposed HB 3183 because it would have been irresponsible, risk a costly legal battle for the state and that he has a progressive record that has earned him endorsements from more than a dozen other unions.

What happens next

Holvey will retain his legislative seat through the end of his term ending in 2024, continuing to represent district 8 for the 2024 legislative from Feb 5. to March 10. If Holvey seeks re-election, he, along with all the other state representatives, will run in May primary elections, with the winners running in the general election in November.

Holvey retains his legislative seat through the end of his term ending in 2024, continuing to represent District 8 for the 2024 legislative scheduled to run from Feb. 5 to March 10.

If Holvey seeks re-election, he, along with other state representatives and candidates, will run in a May primary election, with the winners running in the general election in November.

A final tally is scheduled for Oct. 30.

Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached over email at atorres@registerguard.com or on Twitter @alanfryetorres

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Election results: Eugene-area Rep. Paul Holvey claims victory