Cameron Smith, Head of Two State Agencies, to Run for Oregon Secretary of State

Cameron Smith, who has worked for Gov. Kate Brown, John Kitzhaber and Ted Kulongoski, is expected to announce today that he's running in an already crowded Democratic primary for Secretary of State.

Salem, Ore. (Oregon Department of Transportation)
By Rachel Monahan

The already crowded race for Oregon's next secretary of state is expected to receive one more entrant today.

Cameron Smith, who has headed two different state agencies under Gov. Kate Brown, is expected to resign today and announce he's running for secretary of state, a source close to the campaign tells WW.

Smith is currently director of the state's Department of Consumer and Business Affairs. He previously led the state's Department of Veterans' Affairs and served as a policy adviser to Gov. John Kitzhaber and, before that, to Gov. Ted Kulongoski. He is also a former Marine captain, who served three tours of duty in Iraq.

His entrance is something of a surprise, given the already crowded Democratic field, which includes Sen. Mark Hass, Rep. Jennifer Williamson and Jamie McLeod Skinner.

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.