Oregon Sen. Rod Monroe Spent More Than Three Hundred Bucks for Every Vote He Received Last Week. He Wasn’t Alone in Paying Big Money to Lose.

Big money doesn’t always win elections. Here’s what failed candidates spent per vote.

(Daniel Stindt)
By Rachel Monahan and Nigel Jaquiss

In the fight for his political life, state Sen. Rod Monroe (D-East Portland) spent big.

His opposition to rent control encouraged two opponents from his own party to challenge him in the primary but also won him the backing of real estate and landlord groups.

Monroe and his allies spent more than his competition and more per vote than any other high-profile candidate this election cycle. His campaign as well as independent political action committees dropped at least $245,000 on television and radio ads as well as more than $50,000 on paid canvassers.

Big money often wins elections, but Monroe lost May 15 to Rep. Shemia Fagan, who scored 62 percent of the vote. And he wasn't alone.

Two other big-spending candidates in high-profile races, Max Wall and Stuart Emmons, spent significantly more than their rivals per vote and also lost. Lou Ogden spent little and got few votes. Here's what the big spenders paid per vote last week.

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