Dennis Linthicum

Linthicum graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1978, and received his master's degree from Biola University in 2009.[1]

Linthicum, who is a supporter of the Tea Party movement, was elected to the Senate in 2016 to replace the retiring Doug Whitsett. The 28th district covers parts of south-central Oregon.

He was elected as a Klamath County Commissioner in 2008. In 2013, he was involved in a recall petition to remove all of the commissioners. The reason for the recall, according to the filed petition was,

"Commissioner Dennis Linthicum has failed to listen to constituents of Klamath County on issues vital to our economy and to the benefit of our citizens. Examples are; lack of support for the county trapper, the Meals on Wheels [program] for our senior citizens, funding for our Sheriff's Department, water issues for the Klamath Basin, etc."[2]

He unsuccessfully ran for the United States House of Representatives in 2014, losing in the Republican primary to incumbent Greg Walden.[3]

Linthicum and E. Werner Rescke, who also took office the same year as a State Representative, were the center of what was later called the "Whitsett Maneuver".[4] Several pieces of legislation were introduced to change the candidate filing deadlines for future elections, but none of them passed.

From June 20, 2019, all 11 Republican state senators for Oregon, including Linthicum, refused to show up for work at the Oregon State Capitol, instead going into hiding, some even fleeing the state. Their aim was to prevent a vote on a cap-and-trade proposal that would dramatically lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to combat climate change. The Senate holds 30 seats, but 1 is vacant due to a death. Without the Republican senators, the remaining 18 Democratic state senators could not reach a quorum of 20 to hold a vote.[5][6] Although several Republican state senators returned to the Senate chamber on June 29, 2019, leading to the cap-and-trade bill being sent back to committee, while other bills were passed, Linthicum was missing, and it was stated that he would not return for the month's legislative session.[7][8]

On December 11 2020, Linthicum and 11 other state Republican officials signed a letter requesting Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum join Texas and other states contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election in Texas v. Pennsylvania. Rosenblum announced she had filed in behalf of the defense, and against Texas, the day prior.[9]

Linthicum and his wife, Diane, have 2 children. They attend Bonanza Community Church.[1]

• Campaign website
• Legislative website