Dan Rayfield
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Dan Rayfield
| image = Dan Rayfield - Oregon Attorney.jpg
| office = 18th Attorney General of Oregon
| governor = Tina Kotek
| term_start = December 31, 2024
| term_end =
| predecessor = Ellen Rosenblum
| successor =
| office1 = 68th Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
| term_start1 = February 1, 2022
| term_end1 = March 7, 2024
| predecessor1 = Tina Kotek
| successor1 = Julie Fahey
| state_house2 = Oregon
| district2 = 16th
| term_start2 = January 12, 2015
| term_end2 = December 31, 2024
| predecessor2 = Sara Gelser Blouin
| successor2 = Sarah Finger McDonald
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|3|1}}
| birth_place = Orange County, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| education = Western Oregon University (BA)
Willamette University (JD)
| spouse = Amanda
| children = 1
| signature = Dan Rayfield Signature.gif
| website = {{URL|danrayfield.com|Official website}}
}}
Daniel Adam Rayfield (born March 1, 1979) is an American politician and attorney who is the 18th Attorney General of the State of Oregon since 2024 after his predecessor Ellen Rosenblum resigned a week before her term expired.{{Cite web |author=KATU Staff |date=2024-12-31 |title=Dan Rayfield sworn in as Oregon's 18th attorney general |url=https://katu.com/news/local/dan-rayfield-sworn-in-as-oregons-18th-attorney-general |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=KATU |language=en}} He was the former speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2022 to 2024. In the House, he represented the 16th district, which included Corvallis and Adair Village.{{cite web|url=http://www.danrayfield.com/news/rep-elect-dan-rayfield-selected-oregon-house-committees|publisher=Dan Rayfield for State Representative|title=Rep-Elect Dan Rayfield selected for Oregon House Committees|date=December 21, 2014|accessdate=February 3, 2014|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203104350/http://www.danrayfield.com/news/rep-elect-dan-rayfield-selected-oregon-house-committees|url-status=live}}
In November 2024, he became Attorney General-elect of Oregon after defeating Republican Will Lathrop in the general election.{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Conrad|date=November 6, 2024|title=Democrat Dan Rayfield on track to be Oregon’s next attorney general|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2024/11/05/attorney-general-oregon-rayfield-lathrop/|work=Oregon Public Broadcasting|access-date=November 8, 2024}}
Early life and education
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.danrayfield.com/meet-dan |title=Meet Dan |publisher=Dan Rayfield for State Representative |accessdate=February 3, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922035430/http://danrayfield.com/meet-dan |archivedate=September 22, 2014 }}{{Self-published source|date=February 2017}}
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.
Career
While in law school Rayfield worked as a clerk with the Benton County District Attorney's Office, gaining trial experience prosecuting misdemeanors and DUIs.
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.nelsonmacneil.com/personal-injury-lawyers/dan-rayfield/|publisher=Nelson MacNeil Rayfield Trial Attorneys|title=About Dan Rayfield|accessdate=February 3, 2014|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306191330/https://www.nelsonmacneil.com/personal-injury-lawyers/dan-rayfield/|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2007/11/police_officer_tough_on_drunke.html|agency=The Oregonian|publisher=Associated Press|title=Police officer tough on drunken drivers is suspended|date=November 2, 2007|accessdate=February 3, 2014|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203163321/http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2007/11/police_officer_tough_on_drunke.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://democratherald.com/news/local/the-rise-and-fall-of-officer-cox/article_628ee488-447c-535e-ada0-fb221b93a470.html|agency=Albany Democratic Herald|title=The rise and fall of Officer Cox|first=Bennett|last=Hall|date=December 16, 2007|accessdate=February 3, 2015|archive-date=August 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808235820/https://democratherald.com/news/local/the-rise-and-fall-of-officer-cox/article_628ee488-447c-535e-ada0-fb221b93a470.html|url-status=live}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/governor-gets-bill-to-erase-false-duii-s/article_cbe42f97-7a74-5215-a1dc-64138c941dca.html|title=Governor gets bill to erase false DUII's|website=Corvallis Gazette Times|date=May 22, 2009 |access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=August 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808235817/https://gazettetimes.com/news/local/governor-gets-bill-to-erase-false-duii-s/article_cbe42f97-7a74-5215-a1dc-64138c941dca.html|url-status=live}} The bill passed unanimously in the Oregon House and Senate and was signed into law by the governor on June 18, 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2009/HB2318/|title=HB 2318 :: Oregon Legislature Bill Tracker - Your Government - The Oregonian|website=gov.oregonlive.com|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=August 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821174002/http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2009/HB2318/|url-status=live}}
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.
= Oregon House of Representatives =
Rayfield was sworn in as a state representative from House District 16 on January 12, 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/rayfield/Pages/biography.aspx|publisher=Oregon State Legislature|title=Dan Rayfield Biography|accessdate=February 3, 2014|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203181035/https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/rayfield/Pages/biography.aspx|url-status=live}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/rayfield-takes-over-as-majority-whip/article_269bebfb-cc16-5af1-82a8-3522d0af4586.html|title=Rayfield takes over as majority whip|last=Gazette-Times|first=JAMES DAY Corvallis|website=Corvallis Gazette Times|date=July 16, 2015 |access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=October 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031120546/http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/rayfield-takes-over-as-majority-whip/article_269bebfb-cc16-5af1-82a8-3522d0af4586.html|url-status=live}} During the interim in 2015 Rayfield was also appointed Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/new-committee-assignment-for-rayfield/article_0afb0e05-406b-53f8-aa7c-94963d476768.html|title=New committee assignment for Rayfield|last=Gazette-Times|first=JAMES DAY Corvallis|website=Corvallis Gazette Times|date=August 26, 2015 |access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=August 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827035322/http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/new-committee-assignment-for-rayfield/article_0afb0e05-406b-53f8-aa7c-94963d476768.html|url-status=live}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gazettetimes.com/philomathexpress/local/local-lawmakers-tally-wins-in-salem/article_06903041-1a34-50d9-b4a8-a443013a8b4c.html|title=Local lawmakers tally wins in Salem|last=Newspapers|first=BENNETT HALL and JENNIFER MOODY Mid-Valley|website=Corvallis Gazette Times|date=March 11, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=August 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808235828/https://gazettetimes.com/philomathexpress/local/local-lawmakers-tally-wins-in-salem/article_06903041-1a34-50d9-b4a8-a443013a8b4c.html|url-status=live}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://scorecard.olcv.org/2015/house/rayfield/|title=Rep. Dan Rayfield {{!}} OLCV Environmental Scorecard|website=scorecard.olcv.org|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=September 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924201236/http://scorecard.olcv.org/2015/house/rayfield/|url-status=live}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.danrayfield.com/news/rep-rayfield-chosen-legislative-academy.|title=News & Updates {{!}} Dan Rayfield for State Representative|website=www.danrayfield.com|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=January 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114120554/http://www.danrayfield.com/news/rep-rayfield-chosen-legislative-academy.|url-status=live}}
On February 1, 2022, Rayfield was sworn in as the Speaker of Oregon House of Representatives.{{Cite web|title=Representative Dan Rayfield Home Page|url=https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/rayfield|access-date=February 1, 2022|website=www.oregonlegislature.gov|archive-date=January 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126221155/https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/rayfield|url-status=live}} He stepped down as Speaker of the House following the conclusion of the 2024 legislative session to run for Attorney General.{{cite news|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2024/03/21/oregon-house-democrats-select-new-majority-leader-ben-bowman/|title=Oregon House Democrats pick Rep. Ben Bowman as new majority leader|last=VanderHart|first=Dirk|publisher=OPB|date=March 21, 2024|access-date=March 21, 2024}}
= 2024 Oregon Attorney General campaign =
{{main|2024 Oregon Attorney General election}}
On October 11, 2023, Rayfield announced his campaign for Oregon Attorney General in the 2024 election.{{Cite web |last=Terry |first=Lynne |date=October 11, 2023 |title=Oregon House Speaker Dan Rayfield running for attorney general |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2023/10/oregon-house-speaker-dan-rayfield-running-for-attorney-general.html |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=oregonlive |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Oregon House Speaker Dan Rayfield jumps into the attorney general race |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2023/10/11/oregon-house-speaker-dan-rayfield-attorney-general-race/ |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=opb |language=en}} He won the Democratic primary in the May 2024 primary election.{{Cite web |last=VanderHart |first=Dirk |date=2024-05-21 |title=Rayfield, Lathrop will face off in November election for Oregon attorney general |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2024/05/21/oregon-attorney-general-dan-rayfield-will-lathrop-politics/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=OPB |language=en}} On November 5, 2024, Rayfield defeated Republican Will Lathrup in the general election.
Personal life
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.
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2010 Oregon State Senator, 8th district{{cite web
| title = Official Results November 2, 2010
| url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873642
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = August 31, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230831080329/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873642
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Frank Morse
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 26,466
| percentage = 55.0}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dan Rayfield
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 21,563
| percentage = 44.8}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 123
| percentage = 0.3}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 48,152
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2014 Oregon State Representative, 16th district{{cite web
| title = November 4, 2014, General Election, Official Abstract of Votes
| url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873735
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = April 6, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230406223359/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873735
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dan Rayfield
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 16,797
| percentage = 72.1}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jacob D Vandever
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 6,379
| percentage = 27.4}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 113
| percentage = 0.5}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 23,289
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2016 Oregon State Representative, 16th district{{cite web
| title = November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes
| url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873777
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = January 19, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230119071743/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873777
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dan Rayfield
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 17,921
| percentage = 58.1}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Judson McClure
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 6,474
| percentage = 21.0}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Sami Al-AbdRabbuh
| party = Oregon Progressive Party
| votes = 4,934
| percentage = 16.0}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Andrew Freborg
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 1,484
| percentage = 4.8}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 58
| percentage = 0.2}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 30,871
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2018 Oregon State Representative, 16th district{{cite web
| title = November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes
| url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873825
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = April 6, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230406153942/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873825
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dan Rayfield
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 23,158
| percentage = 97.4}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 609
| percentage = 2.6}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 23,767
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2020 Oregon State Representative, 16th district{{cite web
| title = November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes
| url = https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2020.pdf
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = November 12, 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221112205917/https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2020.pdf
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dan Rayfield
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 25,742
| percentage = 75.9}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jason Hughes
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 8,099
| percentage = 23.9}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 91
| percentage = 0.3}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 33,932
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2022 Oregon State Representative, 16th district{{cite web
| title = November 8, 2022, General Election Abstract of Votes
| url = https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2022.pdf
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = June 12, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230612205817/https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2022.pdf
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dan Rayfield
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 22,483
| percentage = 75.2}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Keith Lembke
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 7,362
| percentage = 24.6}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 65
| percentage = 0.2}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 29,910
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2024 Oregon Attorney General election{{cite web
| title = November 5, 2024, General Election Abstract of Votes
| url = https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2024-results.pdf
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = December 12, 2024
| archive-date = December 12, 2024
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241212212240/https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2024-results.pdf
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dan Rayfield
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 1,156,489
| percentage = 54.4}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Will Lathrop
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 967,964
| percentage = 45.5}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 2,612
| percentage = 0.1}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 2,127,065
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://danrayfield.com Dan Rayfield for Attorney General] campaign website
- [https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/rayfield Representative Dan Rayfield] legislative website
{{CongLinks|votesmart=117366}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Tina Kotek}}
{{s-ttl|title=Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives|years=2022–2024}}
{{s-aft|after=Julie Fahey}}
|-
{{s-legal}}
{{s-bef|before=Ellen Rosenblum}}
{{s-ttl|title=Attorney General of Oregon|years=2024–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Current Oregon statewide political officials}}
{{U.S. State Attorneys General}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rayfield, Dan}}
Category:21st-century members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Category:Democratic Party members of the Oregon House of Representatives
Category:Oregon attorneys general
Category:Politicians from Corvallis, Oregon
Category:Politicians from Orange County, California
Category:Politicians from Tigard, Oregon
Category:Speakers of the Oregon House of Representatives