State Rep. Brian Stout says he will not run for reelection in November

Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Embattled Republican Rep. Brian Stout, from Columbia City, who represents House District 31 in Salem, has decided against running for a second term. Real estate agent Darcey Edwards, the third filer for the seat, says she wants to fill his shoes.

Edwards, a Banks resident, announced her run for the seat — which covers most of Columbia County, as well as parts of Washington and Multnomah counties — on Feb. 9. Republicans Drew Layda of St. Helens and Aaron Hall of North Plains as well as Democrat Jordan Gutierrez of Portland have also filed to run, according to Secretary of State records.

Stout made the announcement to end his time in the House after two years on his Facebook page Feb. 6, a few days after the start of the short 35-day 2024 legislative session. In a news release from Edwards, she said Stout, as well as Sen. Suzanne Weber and and Oregon Right to Life PAC, have endorsed her campaign.

“I’m at a point in my life where I feel like I have something I can bring to the table to help my district,” Edwards told the Oregon Capital Chronicle, a news partner of Pamplin Media Group.

Stout faced criticism from top state leaders last year as he publicly faced allegations made by a former campaign volunteer of assault, stalking and threats while she worked on his campaign.

Stout was removed from legislative committees prior to the beginning of his first term because of a five-year restraining order request from a former campaign volunteer who alleged he had sexually assaulted her and threatened her life.

Oregon House Speaker Dan Rayfield, of Corvallis, called for Stout’s resignation last spring after a judge upheld the restraining order.

Stout remained mum publicly on the allegations and the restraining order than ensued.

He did not respond to Pamplin Media Group’s requests for comment on whether he would seek reelection amid news of Layda and Gutierrez opting to vie for the seat. Neither Stout nor Edwards immediately responded to a request for comment ahead of this story’s publication.

Stout told the Capital Chronicle last week, “It is with much thought, prayer and very careful consideration that my wife and I have made the decision to not file and run for re-election this coming year as your state representative.”

Stout’s wife is the campaign treasurer for Edwards, according to documents from Oregon Secretary of State.

Edwards also has an endorsement from former District 15 Republican Sen. Bruce Starr, who lost his seat to Democrat Chuck Riley in 2014.

Starr is running again this year to replace Sen. Brian Boquist of Dallas, who is barred from reelection due to participating in last year’s walkout, which lasted six weeks.

In the May Republican primary, Edwards will face off against Layda and Hall, as of Feb. 13. Layda ran against Stout in 2022 and testified during the restraining order hearings against Stout.

The filing period of the 2024 May election is through March 14.