Dan Rayfield was sworn in as Oregon’s attorney general on the last day of 2024, the first of three newly elected statewide officials.
Rayfield thanked his supporters and reflected on the significance of being in a role that impacts millions of Oregonians and is selected by voters.
“The public trust and the weight of this responsibility can feel overwhelming at times, and at the same time, it is acting as a guiding light for me”, Rayfield said. “As attorney general I will always do my best to never lose sight of the trust and responsibility given to us by Oregonians.”
The oath of office was conducted by Senior U. S. District Judge Marco Hernandez, the same judge who an 18-year-old Rayfield stood in front of 27 years earlier on charges of reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.
“We live in an incredible state. It’s not perfect, but it’s incredible,” Rayfield said. “A place where your worst moments don’t have to define who you become in this world. A place where 27 years ago, a boy can stand in a courtroom as a defendant and with a ton of hard work, be standing here today in this room as Oregon’s attorney general.”
Gov. Tina Kotek made a surprise appearance and shared memories of working with Rayfield when he was a “baby freshman” in the legislature. Kotek said that while the future is uncertain due to vows President-elect Donald Trump has made, she believes the two of them will make a “formidable pair.”
The attorney general is Oregon’s chief law officer, representing the state in court and filing suits in behalf of the state. They also oversee the Department of Justice, which has more than 1,300 employees and an array of responsibilities, including overseeing the child support system and victim services.
Rayfield will finish out the last two business days of outgoing attorney general Ellen Rosenblum’s term on Thursday and Friday before beginning his official term on Jan 6. Rayfield said the timing made for an easy transition and made sense for him and Rosenblum.
Rosenblum spoke on the importance of the position, which she said some may view as a “mundane, wonky, lawyer job.” She urged Rayfield to connect with community groups and help people understand the significance of the role.
Rosenblum announced in September 2023 she would not seek reelection. She joined several successful lawsuits against Trump policies during his first term as president and recently released a toolkit with information on Oregon’s sanctuary immigrant protections.
Treasurer-elect Elizabeth Steiner and current Treasurer and Secretary of State-elect Tobias Read will be sworn in and begin their terms on Jan. 6.
Outgoing Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum speaks with Dan Rayfield before he was sworn in Tuesday evening as the state’s18th attorney general in a ceremony in Portland.
Rayfield vows to defend against federal overreach
Rayfield has begun working on campaign promises to protect Oregon from potential federal overreach through the creation of a Federal Oversight and Accountability Cabinet. The advisory group brings together community leaders focused on immigration, abortion and other areas Trump has vowed to target.
The state has taken steps to safeguard against potential disruptions, including refreshing its stock of an abortion pill under Kotek. Rosenblum co-led a lawsuit against restrictions on the drug.
Other focuses of Rayfield’s campaign were addressing homelessness and substance abuse, environmental issues and gun violence.
Gov. Tina Kotek hugs outgoing Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum on Tuesday in Portland.
What did Dan Rayfield do before becoming attorney general?
Rayfield served as the speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives beginning in 2022. He stepped down in March at the end of the 2024 Legislature to focus on the campaign for attorney general.
He had represented Corvallis since 2015 and was co-chair of the Joint Ways & Means Committee from 2019 to 2022. Rayfield is a graduate of the Willamette School of Law and was a partner and trial attorney at Nelson MacNeil Rayfield, which is being dissolved.
In a pre-election interview with the Statesman Journal, Rayfield said he was excited about the opportunity to continue his work from the legislature with a new set of tools.
Rayfield defeated Republican Will Lathrop with 54% of the vote. The two diverged most prominently on how partisan and politically experienced the position should be, with Rayfield arguing that the attorney general should stand up for a state’s values.
Anastasia Mason covers state government for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at acmason@statesmanjournal.com or 971-208-5615.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Former state lawmaker Dan Rayfield sworn in as Oregon attorney general
