The fact that Oregon voted twice for Obama is quite remarkable considering Oregon’s racist history. However, even though Obama won the state twice there is definitely an anti-Obama undercurrent here. There is also a fair amount of visible Trump support, which doesn’t surprise me. Oregon’s history is shaped by Black Exclusion Laws. Oregon was settled by anti-slavery farmers who left the states that bordered the Confederacy where they faced unfair competition from slave owning farmers. Although they were anti-slavery they opposed living with blacks.
On July 5th 1843, Oregon’s white population voted to prohibit slavery. One year later they amended the law to allow slave owners 3 years to remove their slaves from Oregon or free them. There was a catch. A free black man was required to leave the state after 2 years; a free black woman was given three years. Punishment was being subjected to a lashing.
On September 21, 1849 the Territorial legislature voted to enact another exclusion law. The law stated:
“it shall not be lawful for any Negro or mulatto to enter into, or reside” in Oregon, with exceptions made for those who were already in the territory”.
Apparently there was a fear that Blacks would inter-marry with Native Americans and create hostility toward the white race. This law was rescinded in 1854.
Delegates to Oregon’s Constitutional Convention submitted both an exclusion clause and an amendment to legalize slavery. The slavery clause was rejected but the exclusion law passed. Oregon was the only free state admitted to the Union with an exclusion clause in its constitution. The exclusion clause was part of the Bill of Rights of the Oregon Constitution, and prohibited blacks from being in the state, owning property and making contracts.
The law remained on the books until it was repealed by voters in 1926. Other racist language in the state constitution was not removed until 2002. A look at the results of that ballot measure in 2002 will give you some idea of the racist undercurrent in Oregon.
Compare the 2002 map with the 2012 electoral map for Oregon.
Information for this diary was taken from the Oregon encyclopedia
As you can see from both of these maps, Oregon is a “blue” state only because Portland and the I-5 corridor vote heavily Democratic. The southern and eastern parts of the state are heavily Republican. Fortunately for us, the Republican parts of the state are thinly populated. Although Obama won Oregon twice, I predict that Clinton’s margin will be smaller due to Trump’s race baiting.
Oregon 2012 Presidential Map
