Kitzhaber 1994 Opponents: Smith & Hickam

John Kitzhaber, the current Governor of Oregon, has just announced his intent to run for re-election for a historic fourth term as Oregon's Governor. If he wins nomination, he will be only the second person in Oregon history to have been nominated 4 times by a major state political party to run for governor (the first being Bob Straub). If he win in November of 2014 he'd be the first Governor in Oregon history to win 4 terms. The Humprhey School of Public Affairs noted that if Kitzhaber is elected and serves his full four years he will be the 2nd longest serving governor in United States history. Iowa Governor Terry Barnstad comes in at number one and Kitzhaber will manage to beat out Californian Jerry Brown.

Elmo Smith 1960 button

As Kitzhaber prepares to take on this feat we'll take a look at some of his campaign items from his last three campaigns, as well as the items of his various opponents over the years. In a well documented political move Kitzhaber met with sitting Governor Barbara Roberts to let her know that he intended to run against her. This event is documented in her 2011 autobiography Up The Capitol Steps gives her perspective on this event. Kitzhaber of course remembers differently and perhaps one day when he gets around to writing his autobiography we will hear his full thoughts on that meeting. The two governors have since put the meeting behind them and Roberts endorsed Kitzhaber in the 2010 general election.



The 1994 Republican nomination went to former Oregon Congressman Denny Smith. He beat out five others, including Craig Berkman a former Chariman of the Oregon Republican Party and candidate for Chairmanship of the Republican National Committee. Smith is the son of former Oregon Governor Elmo Smith, who ran unsuccessfully in 1960 against Maurine Nueberger. There is also a litho version of this pin.

The '94 Smith campaign is the first instance that I could find that a  child of an Oregon Governor sought the same job as their parent. Here is an example of a Denny Smith for Governor campaign button.

Kitzhaber and Smith were not alone on the November ballot in 1994. They also faced American Party nominee Ed Hickam and Libertarian nominee Danford P. Vander Ploeg.

This is an example of Ed Hickam campaign button and a great find for Oregon or Third Party collectors.

I have yet to see anything from the Ploeg campaign and am unaware if materials were made. Kitzhaber would counter the national trend of the Republican Revolution or Gingrich Revolution taking place in 1994 and win the governorship. Next time we'll take a look at 1998 opponents.