Donald Trump campaign declines to submit statement for Oregon voters' pamphlet

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A statement from former President Donald Trump will not appear in the Oregon voters' pamphlet after the Trump campaign declined to submit one ahead of May's primary election, according to the Oregon Secretary of State's office.

The Trump campaign did not provide the Secretary of State's office with a reason why they did not submit a statement, officials said.

The Republican frontrunner will still appear on the Oregon ballot and in the list of Republican candidates in the voters' pamphlet. However, an asterisk will be next to his name in the pamphlet to show he did not submit a statement, officials said.

The Secretary of State’s Elections Division publishes the voters’ pamphlet for each primary, general, and state special election and sends one copy to every household in the state.

To submit a statement for the Oregon voters' pamphlet, presidential candidates must pay $3,500, according to Oregon’s State Voters’ Pamphlet Manual.

The Secretary of State’s office explained this is not the first time a presidential candidate has not submitted a statement for Oregon’s voters' pamphlet.

Since 2012, it’s happened three times as presidential hopefuls John Kasich, Tulsi Gabbard, and Rand Paul declined to provide statements, officials said.

On March 13, Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade released a list of presidential candidates that will appear on the primary ballot.

The list includes Democratic candidates Joe Biden, and Marianne Williamson and Republican candidate Donald Trump.

The preliminary list of presidential candidates included Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips, who has since suspended his presidential bid in early March.

Both parties will hold closed primaries in 2024 -- meaning an Oregon voter must be registered with that party by April 30 to vote in the primary election.

Oregon's primary election will be held May 21, followed by the general election Nov. 5.