Alan Olsen


Alan Randal Olsen is an American Republican politician who serves in the Oregon State Senate, representing Oregon's 20th Senate district in southeastern Clackamas County, including the cities of Barlow, Canby, Gladstone, Johnson City, Oregon City, and portions of Milwaukie. He defeated incumbent Democrat Martha Schrader in the 2010 election.

Early life and career

Olsen was born and grew up in McHenry, Illinois. He graduated from McHenry High School and attended Purdue University, where in 1975 he earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. From 1969 to 1971 Olsen served in the U.S. Army. He moved to Oregon in 1978 and has been the owner and operator of Custom Construction Services since 1987 specializing in the design and construction custom homes and commercial projects. Locally, Olsen is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and is a past President of the Oregon Bass Federation Nation.

Political career

Olsen was the candidate for Senate District 20. According to Willamette Week Senate District 20 was a battleground race between Republicans and Democrats. Democrats held a majority in both the state House and Senate.
The Republican Party of Oregon for the 2010 election cycle hosted the first online primary. On July 30 the primary results were released announcing Olsen as the nominated candidate for senate district 20 from the Republican Party of Oregon.
Olsen narrowly defeated incumbent Martha Schrader by 227 votes.
From June 20, 2019, all 11 Republican state senators for Oregon, including Olsen, 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.