Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon’s third largest political party suffered a blow Tuesday when its highest-profile candidate called it quits.  John Frohnmayer of the Independent Party says he’s stepping out of the race for U.S. Senate.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman has more.

John Frohnmayer is a retired lawyer, best known for running the National Endowment for the Arts under the first President Bush.

Linda Williams chairs the Independent Party of Oregon. She says Frohnmayer’s decision is a disappointment for her party.

Linda Williams:  “We’re saddened that someone with his background and his substantive strengths couldn’t break through the two-party system barrier.”

The Independent Party is less than two years old.  A few months ago it surpassed the Libertarians to become the state’s third largest political party.

Oregon State University political analyst Bill Lunch says the party’s rapid rise may be an accident that has a lot to do with its name.  He says some voters probably signed up by mistake.

Bill Lunch:  “They may think they are registering as an independent generically, that is to say, not with a party.  But it certainly is a clever organizational or institutional ploy by the people who are the organizers of the party.”

Voters who are not affiliated with any party far outnumber members of so-called minor parties in Oregon.

Former Senate candidate John Frohnmayer says that may be why Independent Party candidates like him could have a hard time gaining traction.

John Frohnmayer:  “The problem that I have found is that independents are independent because they’re independent.  And so herding them is very difficult and you find all sorts of political views within the rubric ‘independent’”.

Voters who want a third option on the ballot in the Senate race may still be in luck.  The Constitution Party recently nominated a candidate, and the state’s other minor parties still have time to select a candidate for this fall’s election.

Whoever makes it to the ballot will face Democrat Jeff Merkley and Republican incumbent Sen. Gordon Smith.