Background
James Atkinson was born in Leominster, Massachusetts. He earned a high school diploma from North High School and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His career experience includes working in sales, as an entrepreneur, and as an inventor.[1]
- High school:
- North High School
In their own words
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
James Atkinson IV has a sales experience background and is currently an inventor. His latest invention is the Endless Cup, a water bottle that creates water from the environment, which be hopes will soon help Oregon’s water shortages. His goal is adaptively govern with homelessness, housing, climate change, education and other pertinent issues that affect Oregon.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
No New Taxes, End Issues with existing fundsEvery Oregonian is a leaderEnding Core Issues that exist in Oregon
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Housing Crisis, Education, Crime, Homelessness and Drug Use, Climate Change
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Honesty, A listener, Dedication
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
The Governor needs to lead by example and show blueprints on how we as Oregonians end issues plaguing our state. Once those issues start to fade, the Governor is responsible for the state to start to thrive and reach prosperity.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I would like to leave a legacy that showed that a definitive issue had ended. A significant portion of the core of my campaign focuses on whether an issue can cease to exist. My invention, the Endless Cup, aims to end the water shortages in Oregon and if that occurred, it could have a ripple effect on the other issues plaguing our state.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I believe I was around 4 when the earthquake at the World Series in California happened. It was shocking to me at the time that anything like that could happen on live TV.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
My first job was at McDonald's when I was 14 and I was there for 2 years. It was a great experience to learn about duties and responsibilities.
Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?
Line item veto and executive actions are the most important.
In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?
I would primarily use this power when a particular bill, i.e. an appropriations bill, is potentially negatively affected by a needless line. There shouldn't be unnecessary actions that deviate from the purpose of that particular bill.
Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?
I oppose changes to the state ballot process.
A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean to you?
It means that the Governor is responsible for the betterment of all Oregonians in all areas of their life, without government overreaching. The Governor needs to respect rural and urban needs equally, solve problems with existing resources, not higher taxes, and to end Oregon’s cycle of division with practical solutions that work.
Note: Atkinson submitted the above survey responses to [the profile publisher] on October 19, 2025.
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September 20 submission
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
My name is James Atkinson IV. I ran for the Mayoral Position of Portland in 2024. I am also an inventor and I have 20 years of sales experience.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
These questions will be answered in full later, but my first priority is the parts of Oregon that wish to become Greater Idaho, i.e. Eastern Oregon, Southern Oregon, etc. We need to hear what their problems are and fix them.Homelessness and Drug UseClimate Change and the Housing Crisis
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Ending Republican vs. Democratic strife. Republicans and Democrats want issues ended and I intend to do that.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Honesty
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
McDonald's for 2 years
James Atkinson did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
On the 2026 ballot
Links
Compiled from the candidate’s published profile as of September 30, 2026.
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