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October 16. 2014 12:01AM Since You Asked: Oregon went for Lincoln in state's first election Abraham Lincoln captured the popular vote in Oregon in 1860. But it was hardly a landslide. I'm currently reading a book on the Civil War, while also paying attention to current electioneering that's going on around the country. Realizing that Oregon became a state in 1859, it made me wonder who Oregonians voted for in 1860? I'm hoping it was Lincoln. — Rob L., Medford Well, Rob, your hopes have become reality, because indeed it was Abraham Lincoln who captured the popular vote in Oregon in 1860. But it was hardly a landslide. According to The Oregon Blue Book (http://bluebook.state.or.us), Lincoln, a Republican, received 5,344 votes from the new state, edging out Democrat John Breckenridge, who captured the hearts and votes of 5,074 Oregonians. Stephen Douglas, a Douglas Democrat, got 4,131 votes from Oregon. Lincoln also prevailed in Oregon in 1964, defeating former Union General George McClellan by a tally of 9,888 to 8,457. But Oregon didn't always go with the winner in its early days. U.S. Grant, a Republican, was topped in this state in 1868 by a somewhat less famous fellow, Horatio Seymour, a Democrat. Seymour bested the war hero by 164 votes out of about 22,000 cast.  Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141016/NEWS/141019751 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->