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Dan Rayfield

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Dan Rayfield
Attorney General-elect of Oregon
Assuming office
January 2025
SucceedingEllen Rosenblum
68th Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office
February 1, 2022 – March 7, 2024
Preceded byTina Kotek
Succeeded byJulie Fahey
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 16th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 12, 2015
Preceded bySara Gelser Blouin
Personal details
Born (1979-03-01) March 1, 1979 (age 45)
Orange County, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAmanda
Children1
EducationWestern Oregon University (BA)
Willamette University (JD)
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Daniel Adam Rayfield (born March 1, 1979) is an American politician and attorney who served as the speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2022 to 2024. He represents the 16th district, which includes Corvallis and Adair Village.[1] In November 2024, he became Attorney General-elect of Oregon after defeating Republican Will Lathrup in the general election.[2]

Early life and education

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Rayfield was born in Orange County, California. His mother was an activist and small business owner that reveled in dragging her son to events promoting progressive causes throughout his youth. His father, a retired colonel in the Air Force Reserve Command and commercial insurance executive had more conservative views.[3][self-published source]

After moving to Oregon, he attended Tigard High School. Rayfield later graduated from Western Oregon University in 2003 and earned his Juris Doctor from Willamette University College of Law.[4]

Career

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While in law school Rayfield worked as a clerk with the Benton County District Attorney's Office, gaining trial experience prosecuting misdemeanors and DUIs.[4]

After law school, Rayfield began his legal career working for the Weatherford Thompson law firm in Albany, Oregon. His practice initially focused on general civil litigation.[4] In 2007, Rayfield served as a plaintiff's attorney in a high-profile case involving a police officer that wrongfully arrested several individuals under false DUII accusations.[5][6]

Following a successful resolution to the case, Rayfield worked to help pass HB 2318 during the 2009 legislative session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. HB 2318 allowed people who were falsely accused of driving under the influence to remove the false charge from their record.[7] The bill passed unanimously in the Oregon House and Senate and was signed into law by the governor on June 18, 2009.[8]

In May 2009 Rayfield joined the law firm of Nelson & MacNeil. His practice focused on representing individuals with claims against corporations, and insurance companies. In 2014, Rayfield became a partner with the law firm changing the firm’s name to Nelson MacNeil Rayfield Trial Attorneys PC.[4]

Oregon House of Representatives

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Rayfield was sworn in as a state representative from House District 16 on January 12, 2015.[9]

During the 2015 legislative session, Rayfield served on the House Committee on Rules, the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, as co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources, and as vice chairman of the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Government Effectiveness. During the session Rayfield acted as a key facilitator, successfully negotiating a bipartisan solution to shore-up a $30 million shortfall with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife budget.

Following the 2015 legislative session, Rayfield was elected by his colleagues to serve as House majority whip.[10] During the interim in 2015 Rayfield was also appointed Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety.[11]

In the 2016 legislative session, Rayfield sponsored several key bills that were eventually signed into law. In particular, he successfully shepherded legislation extending unemployment insurance benefits for up to an additional six months to locked-out workers, which immediately impacted 180 Steelworkers locked-out of the Allegheny Technologies plant in Albany, Oregon.[12]

Rayfield was named a "Rising Star" by the Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV) in its 2015 Environmental Scorecard. He was recognized by OLCV for his work as co-chair of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources, and specifically his efforts to forge compromise to address a $30 million budget shortfall for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.[13]

In 2015, Rayfield was also chosen by the Council of State Governments West (CSG West), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving state legislators of both parties in 13 Western states, as a participant in its training institute for lawmakers in their first four years of service.[14]

On February 1, 2022, Rayfield was sworn in as the Speaker of Oregon House of Representatives.[15] He stepped down as Speaker of the House following the conclusion of the 2024 legislative session to run for Attorney General.[16]

2024 Oregon Attorney General campaign

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Main article: 2024 Oregon Attorney General election

On October 11, 2023, Rayfield announced his campaign for Oregon Attorney General in the 2024 election.[17][18] He won the Democratic primary in the May 2024 primary election.[19] On November 5, 2024, Rayfield defeated Republican Will Lathrup in the general election.[2]

Personal life

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Rayfield lives in Corvallis with his wife Amanda and their son.

In the community, Rayfield has served numerous roles including commissioner on the Linn-Benton Housing Authority, member of the New Roots Housing Board, Past-President of the Linn-Benton Bar Association, past chair of the Linn and Benton Judicial Screening Committee, past president of the Majestic Theater Management Board, former Linn County Peer Court Judge, and former coach of the Oregon State University Mock Trial Team.[4]

Electoral history

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2010 Oregon State Senator, 8th district [20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Morse 26,466 55.0
Democratic Dan Rayfield 21,563 44.8
Write-in 123 0.3
Total votes 48,152 100%
2014 Oregon State Representative, 16th district [21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Rayfield 16,797 72.1
Republican Jacob D Vandever 6,379 27.4
Write-in 113 0.5
Total votes 23,289 100%
2016 Oregon State Representative, 16th district [22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Rayfield 17,921 58.1
Republican Judson McClure 6,474 21.0
Progressive Sami Al-AbdRabbuh 4,934 16.0
Libertarian Andrew Freborg 1,484 4.8
Write-in 58 0.2
Total votes 30,871 100%
2018 Oregon State Representative, 16th district [23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Rayfield 23,158 97.4
Write-in 609 2.6
Total votes 23,767 100%
2020 Oregon State Representative, 16th district [24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Rayfield 25,742 75.9
Republican Jason Hughes 8,099 23.9
Write-in 91 0.3
Total votes 33,932 100%
2022 Oregon State Representative, 16th district [25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Rayfield 22,483 75.2
Republican Keith Lembke 7,362 24.6
Write-in 65 0.2
Total votes 29,910 100%

References

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  1. ^ "Rep-Elect Dan Rayfield selected for Oregon House Committees". Dan Rayfield for State Representative. December 21, 2014. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Wilson, Conrad (November 6, 2024). "Democrat Dan Rayfield on track to be Oregon's next attorney general". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  3. ^ "Meet Dan". Dan Rayfield for State Representative. Archived from the original on September 22, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e "About Dan Rayfield". Nelson MacNeil Rayfield Trial Attorneys. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  5. ^ "Police officer tough on drunken drivers is suspended". Associated Press. The Oregonian. November 2, 2007. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  6. ^ Hall, Bennett (December 16, 2007). "The rise and fall of Officer Cox". Albany Democratic Herald. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  7. ^ "Governor gets bill to erase false DUII's". Corvallis Gazette Times. May 22, 2009. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  8. ^ "HB 2318 :: Oregon Legislature Bill Tracker - Your Government - The Oregonian". gov.oregonlive.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  9. ^ "Dan Rayfield Biography". Oregon State Legislature. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  10. ^ Gazette-Times, JAMES DAY Corvallis (July 16, 2015). "Rayfield takes over as majority whip". Corvallis Gazette Times. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  11. ^ Gazette-Times, JAMES DAY Corvallis (August 26, 2015). "New committee assignment for Rayfield". Corvallis Gazette Times. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  12. ^ Newspapers, BENNETT HALL and JENNIFER MOODY Mid-Valley (March 11, 2016). "Local lawmakers tally wins in Salem". Corvallis Gazette Times. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  13. ^ "Rep. Dan Rayfield | OLCV Environmental Scorecard". scorecard.olcv.org. Archived from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  14. ^ "News & Updates | Dan Rayfield for State Representative". www.danrayfield.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  15. ^ "Representative Dan Rayfield Home Page". www.oregonlegislature.gov. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  16. ^ VanderHart, Dirk (March 21, 2024). "Oregon House Democrats pick Rep. Ben Bowman as new majority leader". OPB. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  17. ^ Terry, Lynne (October 11, 2023). "Oregon House Speaker Dan Rayfield running for attorney general". oregonlive. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  18. ^ "Oregon House Speaker Dan Rayfield jumps into the attorney general race". opb. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  19. ^ VanderHart, Dirk (May 21, 2024). "Rayfield, Lathrop will face off in November election for Oregon attorney general". OPB. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  20. ^ "Official Results November 2, 2010". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  21. ^ "November 4, 2014, General Election, Official Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  22. ^ "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  23. ^ "November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  24. ^ "November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  25. ^ "November 8, 2022, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
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Oregon House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 16th district
2015–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
2022–2024 		Succeeded by
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