Campaign costs continue to escalate in Oregon and that trend is likely to discourage potential candidates, especially community leaders who have a lot of "people" support, but limited access to campaign contributions," says new president of the League of Women Voters of Oregon, Beth Burczak.

Contributions in 2000 to Oregon legislative candidates increased by almost one-third over the 1998 contribution levels. Increases were especially dramatic in Oregon Senate races where fundraising increased by almost 50% in 2000 elections compared to 1998.
 

Total 1998 contributions to Oregon Senate candidates = $3,564,006	Total 2000 contributions to Oregon Senate candidates = $5,255,937	2000 up 47% over 1998
Total 1998 contributions to Oregon House candidates = $8,876,842	Total 2000 contributions to Oregon House candidates = $11,079,101	2000 up 25% over 1998

Republican candidates had a fundraising edge in 2000 campaigns having received 56.8% of all contributions. Democrats received 42.8% of contributions while independent and third party candidates received less than one percent of political donations.

Almost three-fourths of Oregon legislative Senate general election races involved an opponent who was drowned out by a much higher level of fundraising or an unopposed candidate. "Ultimately, our communities do not benefit when voters are offered so little real choice in elections, in spite of the increased money raised for campaigns," noted Beth Burczak.
 

Fundraising Competitiveness*	# of Senate Races	% of 15 Senate races
Unopposed	2	13%	73%
Drowned out	9	60%
Lopsided	1	7%
Struggled to keep up	1	7%
Equal opportunity	2	13%

Fundraising Competitiveness*	# of House Races	% of 60 House races
Unopposed	6	10%	60%
Drowned out	30	50%
Lopsided	5	8%
Struggled to keep up	7	12%
Equal opportunity	12	20%

*The most competitive, "equal opportunity" races were those where the contribution levels of opponents were within 75 to 100% of each other. The "struggle to keep up" level of competition pertains to races with contribution levels within 50 to 75% of each other. The "lopsided" label designates races where an opponent has only 25 to 50% of the resources of another candidate. The "drowned out" races involved candidates whose contributions are 0 to 25% of his or her rival.