Oregon Treasurer race: Elizabeth Steiner leads against Brian Boquist

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Votes continue to pour in for Oregon’s next state treasurer, and Democrat Elizabeth Steiner leads the race against Republican Brian Boquist.

As of Wednesday night, current senator Elizabeth Steiner has 862,300 votes (49.24%) while current senator Brian Boquist has 773,339 votes (44.16%).

Oregon, Washington Election Results 2024

Steiner shared the following statement Tuesday night, though the winner of the election has yet to be projected by the Associated Press:

“Tonight, I’ve broken the glass ceiling as Oregon’s first woman State Treasurer. I could only do this with extraordinary help from so many people over the past fifteen months – family, friends, staff, consultants, and volunteers – this is a win shared by all those who believe in the idea that every Oregonian should have the tools they need to reach financial security.

…In a world where so many believe in either/or, I believe in both/and. We can find a path forward to grow our pension fund while simultaneously reducing its carbon footprint. We can protect our state lands for wildlife, water, and recreation while respecting the long heritage of our natural resources and agricultural industries. As your next State Treasurer I commit to bringing many perspectives together to find both/and solutions that will benefit people across our great state. Please join me as we work to make Oregonians the most financially secure, healthiest people in the nation.”

Steiner has since resigned from her seat in the Oregon Senate representing Portland in District 17, sharing the following statement Wednesday evening:

“I am so grateful for my time in the Oregon Senate and the opportunity to serve the people of this state in this capacity. As a legislator, my primary goal was to make Oregon the healthiest state in the nation, and I so appreciate the opportunity to work with so many incredible people in pursuit of that aspiration. It is not an easy job, but it is immensely rewarding. I will miss the camaraderie and debate with all of my colleagues. I am excited to take the lessons I learned at the Capitol to the Treasurer’s Office where I am committed to helping Oregonians achieve their financial goals.”

The Oregon Treasury is in charge of the state’s investments and debt programs while protecting public assets – making the Office of the Treasurer a major fixture in business and taxpayer money. 

This election comes after the Oregon State Treasury released a 2023 financial wellness scorecard showing that state residents were earning more and seeing an increase in net worth, but household debt was higher than it was in 2018 while financial knowledge decreased. 

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