SALEM, Ore. (AP) 鈥� The Oregon Supreme Court ruled Thursday that former New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof doesn't meet the state鈥檚 three-year residency requirement to run for governor, leaving the former candidate with a sizable war chest and no plans for the future.
The justices upheld a decision in January by Oregon election officials that the former journalist did not meet the qualifications, citing in particular that Kristof voted in New York in 2020.
鈥淭he choice of where to register (to vote) is a meaningful one, as it provides evidence of the political community to which a person feels the greatest attachment,鈥� the court said
Kristof, who moved to a farm near Yamhill, Oregon, with his parents when he was 12 and had kept and expanded the property as an adult, announced his candidacy last October. That same month, The New York Times announced he resigned after a decades-long career that saw him win two Pulitzer Prizes, including one with his wife, former correspondent Sheryl WuDunn.
He has raised $2.75 million in campaign donations and can hold onto it, to either give to other candidates or use himself in a future run for office. Kristof said he's not sure what he'll do with the money and have to figure that out.
鈥淪heryl and I are going to take a little bit of time and just relax, for the first time in a while, and think this through. But what exactly I do (next) ? I don鈥檛 know,鈥� Kristof said in an interview after the Supreme Court鈥檚 decision was announced.
He said he intends to remain engaged in issues he feels deeply about and has written about, including homelessness, mental health, drug treatment and efforts to create jobs and increase wages. He also has several acres of pinot noir and chardonnay grapes growing on his farm, with the first harvest coming this year.
Questions about Kristof鈥檚 residency had dogged him even before he announced his candidacy. According to Oregon law, candidates for governor must have been residents of this state for at least three years before elections.
But Kristof said his legal advisors indicated it wouldn't be a problem. His campaign also obtained an opinion by retired Oregon Supreme Court Justice William Riggs that Kristof has been a resident of Oregon since at least November 2019 鈥渁nd likely much longer.鈥� Three former Oregon secretaries of state sided with Kristof in a newspaper opinion article.
"We did not expect this outcome,鈥� Kristof said of the Supreme Court's ruling.
鈥淚 have a lot of respect for the Oregon Supreme Court," he said. "I think they're smart lawyers. I am disappointed by their decision, but smart people can disagree. I don鈥檛 question them in any way.鈥�
Oregon Elections Director Deborah Scroggin and Compliance Specialist Lydia Plukchi told Kristof in January they rejected his filing for governor because he didn鈥檛 meet the constitutional requirements to be a candidate.
Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan agreed, telling reporters back then that Kristof鈥檚 claim to have been an Oregon resident the past several years 鈥渏ust doesn鈥檛 pass the smell test.鈥�
As a foreign correspondent and columnist, Kristof lived overseas and in New York, but said he never relinquished his claim to be an Oregon resident.
If Kristof decides to run for office again, his residency shouldn't be an issue. He says he's in Oregon to stay.
鈥淭he farm will be my home until I draw my last breath and my ashes are scattered on the farm," he said.
He had been running for the Democratic nomination, with the party鈥檚 nominee to be chosen in the May 17 primary. His departure leaves former Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek and state Treasurer Tobias Read as the front-runners.
After the Supreme Court opinion was released, Kotek tweeted that Kristof's "voice will continue to be important as we tackle Oregon鈥檚 biggest issues. I look forward to working with him as a fellow Democrat.鈥�
Republicans seeking their party鈥檚 nomination include state Rep. Christine Drazan, former Republican nominee Bud Pierce and Sandy Mayor Stan Pulliam.
Former Democratic state Sen. Betsy Johnson is running as an independent.
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Andrew Selsky, The Associated Press
