Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, speaks on the Senate floor at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
A disappointed but resigned Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp said Thursday he’s not looking to appeal an Oregon Supreme Court ruling that blocks him and nine other Republican senators from running for reelection.
Knopp, R-Bend, spoke to reporters for half an hour Thursday afternoon following the court’s ruling . The court unanimously upheld Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade’s decision to reject campaign filings from Knopp and other senators who racked up dozens of unexcused absences during a 42-day quorum-denying walkout last year over bills on abortion, guns and transgender health care. A constitutional amendment approved overwhelmingly by voters in 2022 bars lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences from serving a subsequent term.
Oregon Supreme Court bars Republican senators who participated in walkout from reelection