Oregon Public Broadcasting

More than 30 minor party candidates will be on the November ballot this year, according to the Secretary of State's office. That's fewer than the past two presidential elections, and may be an indicate more satisfaction with the two major parties. Ethan Lindsey explains.

Tuesday was the filing deadline for minor party candidates in the state - various Democrats and Republicans already qualified for the ballot following the May primary.

If getting the most names on the ballot is any indication, the Constitution Party is the biggest of the smaller parties.

Oregonians will be able to vote for ten different Constitution party candidates, including for President and Senate.

The Independent Party of Oregon, one of the state's newest political organizations, put 9 candidates up - although three are major party candidates that the Independent Party cross-nominated.

Sean Bates fixes arcade games at Pietro's Pizza, and is running as an Independent to succeed retiring Congresswoman Darlene Hooley.

Sean Bates: “To be dead honest with you, like most of America, I am just sick and tired of being sick and tired with a broken government that doesn't care anymore.”

Michael Marsh is a maintenance worker at McDonald's, and running for state Treasurer on the Constitution party ticket. He says the Democrats and the Republicans are both part of a broken system.

Jim Moore, a professor of political science at Pacific University in Forest Grove, says many minor party candidates feel politically marginalized.

But according to last night's numbers, just 35 candidates have filed for minor party status. In 2004, the most recent presidential election, the number was  65. And in 2000 it was in the mid-40s.

Jim Moore: “What is says is that the new voters that have come in, and the people who are looking to politics for solutions have basically all registered as Democrats this year. New parties, minor parties are having a harder time finding candidates, because ther excitement isn't there - the excitement is with the Democrats.”

The pro-union Working Families Party nominated Ashlee Albies to run for Attorney General.

She says she knows she's not going to win - law professor John Kroger is nominated as both the Democrat and Republican in the race.

Ashlee Albies: “He'll make a great attorney general. I don't think that's an endorsement. There are still some issues the Working Families party can actually bring to the table that have been largely ignored in this election.”

The Working Families Party was certified as a minor party in 2006, and the party must receive 1 percent of the statewide vote to maintain its official party status.