Out-of-state law firms boost campaign cash of 2 Democratic statewide candidates in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Out-of-state law firms have boosted the campaign cash of two Democratic candidates running for statewide offices in Oregon.

Law firms largely headquartered on the East Coast have given more than $170,000 to Dan Rayfield, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, and over $40,000 to Elizabeth Steiner, the Democratic nominee for treasurer, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

According to the news outlet, the firms specialize in class-action lawsuits that Oregon is in a unique position to file.

Similar donations have marked the races for the two statewide offices for roughly the past 15 years, according to OPB, as the Oregon Department of Justice and State Treasury can decide which law firms represent the state in such class-action suits.

Neither candidate responded to OPB’s request for comment. Both have previously signaled to the news outlet that they would accept money from out-of-state firms while also aiming to be transparent and avoid conflicts of interest.

The donations account for about 23% of the money raised this year by Rayfield, a state representative who previously served as Speaker in the Oregon House, and about 10% of the money raised by Steiner, a state senator who previously co-chaired the Legislature’s powerful budget-writing Ways and Means Committee.

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