You will often see it happen at the local or county level, and the rules vary significantly depending on which party and which county you’re looking at.
1. State vs. Local “Neutrality”
Generally, the Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO) and the Oregon Republican Party (ORP) maintain a policy of neutrality during the primaries. Their goal is to let the voters decide who the strongest nominee is. They typically save their resources and official “seal of approval” for the winner of the primary to take into the general election.
2. County-Level Endorsements
The “common” part usually happens at the County Central Committee level. Since these are local activists who know the candidates personally:
Republicans: Some Republican County Central Committees in Oregon do issue endorsements or “recommendations” in contested primaries if they feel one candidate significantly better aligns with the party platform than another.
Democrats: Local Democratic committees are often more restricted by their bylaws regarding primary endorsements, but they may still provide “slates” or “recommendations” in non-partisan local races (like City Council or County Commission) where there isn’t a “Democratic” ballot line, but they want to signal who the “progressive” choice is.
3. The “Non-Partisan” Loophole
It is very common for parties to endorse in non-partisan races (Judges, Mayors, County Commissioners) during the primary. Even though these candidates don’t have an “R” or “D” next to their names on the ballot, the local parties will often “pick a horse” early on to ensure their preferred ideology wins the seat outright in May (in Oregon, if a non-partisan candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in the primary, they win the election then and there).
4. Why would they do it?
When a party does endorse in a primary, it’s usually for one of three reasons:
Incumbency: Protecting a sitting official against a “fringe” or “radical” primary challenger.
Platform Alignment: If one candidate is seen as a “placeholder” or not truly aligned with the party’s current values.
Electability: If the party leadership fears a certain candidate will win the primary but be “unelectable” in the general election against the opposing party.
While most state-level party organizations in Oregon stay neutral during a primary, several county-level committees have become increasingly active in endorsing candidates before the May vote.
The trend is most visible in counties where local races (like County Commission) have been moved to a non-partisan format, making the May primary “the new November” because a candidate can win the seat outright with over 50% of the vote.
Some examples of counties that do endorse for the primaries and Josephine County is one of them:
1. Deschutes County
Deschutes is currently one of the most prominent examples of early endorsing.
Democrats: The Deschutes Democrats held a high-stakes endorsement vote in early 2026 for County Commission seats. Because these races are now non-partisan, the party officially endorsed specific candidates (like Amy Sabbadini and Rick Russell) over other Democrats to ensure a unified front in the May primary.
Republicans: The Deschutes Republicans also utilize an endorsement process where precinct representatives express support to an executive committee, which then makes the final decision on which candidate to back.
2. Lane County
The Democratic Party of Lane County (DPLC) is very structured about this.
They hold official “Endorsement Meetings” (most recently in March 2025 and Feb 2022) specifically to pick favorites before the primary.
Their bylaws allow them to endorse “one Democrat, multiple Democrats, or no candidates” in a race. They even provide a “Voters’ Guide” specifically for the primary to tell members who the party-sanctioned candidates are.
3. Marion County
The Marion County Democrats actively issue “Early Endorsements” for the May election. For the 2026 cycle, they have already endorsed a slate of candidates for Congressional, State Senate, and House districts well before the primary.
4. Douglas County
The Douglas County Republican Central Committee has a history of being more assertive in its local primaries. They have used guest columns and local platforms to signal which candidates best align with the “America First” platform, effectively steering Republican voters toward specific primary choices.
5. Multnomah County
In Portland and the surrounding area, the Multnomah County Democrats frequently endorse in non-partisan primary races (like District Attorney or City Council). While they are often more cautious about endorsing one Democrat over another in a partisan state legislative primary, they are very active in “slating” candidates for local non-partisan seats to influence the May outcome.
Why is this happening more often?
The 50% Rule: In non-partisan races, the “primary” is often the only election that matters. If the party doesn’t endorse early, their voters might split between three similar candidates, allowing an opposing candidate to slip through.
Vetting: Parties argue that by endorsing early, they “vet” candidates so voters know who is most loyal to the party platform.
Resources: Official endorsement often opens the door to party funding, mailing lists, and volunteer “walk lists” that are crucial for winning in May.
