Former Morrow County Commissioner Jim Doherty, recalled from his office by voters in fall 2022, announced a campaign to unseat fellow Republican Greg Smith in the 2026 election for House District 57. Doherty previously ran for Senate District 29 in 2024, losing to Wallowa County Commissioner Todd Nash. The following campaign announcement was posted on Doherty’s campaign Facebook page:
I’m announcing my candidacy for Oregon House District 57 because Eastern Oregon deserves a representative who knows what it means to depend on this land, someone whose livelihood and family are rooted in the same fields, pastures, and communities as everyone else out here.
Many of you know me as a rancher, a small business owner, and someone who shows up when there’s work to be done. As Morrow County Commissioner, I fought to declare a groundwater emergency because our families shouldn’t have to live with contaminated wells and unanswered questions. Clean, safe water is not optional, and I intend to keep pushing until the state treats it that way.
My campaign is built around a simple platform:
• Clean water and real solutions for our groundwater crisis
• Clean, honest government that works for the people, not for itself
• Strong support for our farms, ranches, property rights, and rural communities
• Better schools, safer communities, and a future our kids don’t have to leave to find opportunity
Eastern Oregon has been overlooked for too long. We deserve a voice in Salem that understands us and will stand up when it counts. I’m running because I believe we can do better, and I’m ready to get to work.
If you’d like to read more about what I’m fighting for, visit: www.dohertyfororegon.com
I’m asking for your support because it’s time House District 57 had someone in Salem who will fight as hard for this place as the people who call it home.
Doherty’s 2024 Senate campaign faced controversy, including a hit-and-run incident reported by the Blue Mountain Eagle newspaper and the ostensible support of an anti-abortion PAC launched by his campaign consultant for the express purpose of implying the support of Oregon’s pro-life movement. The so-called “Oregon Pro-Life Caucus” committee has one director and has raised no money nor made any expenditures since its launch in 2020. Following his defeat, Doherty campaigned on behalf of far-left nonaffiliated candidate Tania Wildbill, a former Democrat, even speaking at an unsuccessful assembly of voters in Pendleton meant to launch Wildbill’s progressive campaign.
According to campaign finance disclosures, Doherty’s campaign committee is over $78,00 in debt from his 2024 Senate race and his current electoral endeavor. Doherty loaned his campaign committee $83,200, and his ranching operation, O’Doherty Cattle Co., provided a $4,000 loan. Doherty has received over $9,100 in loan repayments back from his PAC since the May 2024 primary ended, but he has only received $100 in campaign donations this year, both from before he launched his House campaign. With meager donations and a January 1, 2025 beginning cash balance of $2,136.67, Doherty’s PAC did not appear to be on track to refund the remaining loan balance.
Petitioners who filed the successful recall of Doherty as a County Commissioner included the following statement in their recall petition:
Petitioners seek recall of Commissioner Jim Doherty for the reasons stated below.
Commissioner Doherty’s decisions are not in the best interest of Morrow County citizens.
He is not open and transparent in his actions as commissioner, making decisions in secret and outside of public purview and without the inclusion of the third County Commissioner. Commission meetings are not held in accordance with public open meeting law requirements. Doherty does not cooperate with other public and private agencies to the detriment of Morrow County citizens. His decisions regarding Morrow County employees has demoralized County employees and has been detrimental to a functional County government. Decisions are not made in the best interest of County taxpayers resulting in fiscal detriment to the County.
Doherty will be on the ballot in the Republican primary in May 2026 facing State Representative Greg Smith, the longest-serving incumbent state legislator and a member of the Oregon House Republican Caucus leadership team, serving on the Oregon Legislative Assembly’s Joint Committee on Ways & Means (the body that approves the State budget).
Campaign Finance Activity Data Export from Oregon Secretary of State
Editor’s Note
A previous version of this article noted that at the time of publication, Doherty’s campaign Facebook page was entitled “Jim Doherty for State Senate.” His campaign Facebook page has since been updated with the title “Jim Doherty for State Representative.” Doherty posted the following note on his campaign Facebook page:
I appreciate the scores of you whom have reached out and politely pointed out that the page suggests, “State Senate,” trust me when I tell you Mr. Zuckerberg (FB) and I are in a tussle! Stay tuned!! We shall see
(I won!)
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