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Following the death of incumbent Governor James Withycombe in 1919, Olcott, then the Secretary of State, assumed the office under the state's line of succession. Although he held some [[nativist]] views against Japanese-Americans,<ref>[https://www.nga.org/governor/ben-olcott/ Gov. Ben Olcott]. ''National Governors Association''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref> Olcott stood strongly against the KKK and issued a proclamation in 1922 strongly condemning the Klan following three assaults that year.<ref name=proclamation>[https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/proclamation-against-the-ku-klux-klan-1922/ Proclamation Against the Ku Klux Klan, 1922]. ''The Oregon History Project''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref>

Following the death of incumbent Governor James Withycombe in 1919, Olcott, then the Secretary of State, assumed the office under the state's line of succession. Although he held some [[nativist]] views against Japanese-Americans,<ref>[https://www.nga.org/governor/ben-olcott/ Gov. Ben Olcott]. ''National Governors Association''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref> Olcott stood strongly against the KKK and issued a proclamation in 1922 strongly condemning the Klan following three assaults that year.<ref name=proclamation>[https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/proclamation-against-the-ku-klux-klan-1922/ Proclamation Against the Ku Klux Klan, 1922]. ''The Oregon History Project''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref>

As he ran for re-election in 1922 against KKK-backed [[liberal]] Democrat [[Walter M. Pierce]], Olcott opposed a ballot measure supported by the Klan which would force the state's children to attend [[public school]]s and shut down private schools (especially Catholic schools) from operating.<ref name=proclamation/> He was defeated in the general election by fifteen percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=263433 OR Governor Race - Nov 07, 1922]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref> The measure was also approved, though later deemed unconstitutional.<ref>[https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/from-wr-burner-to-governor-olcott-1923/ From W.R. Burner to Governor Olcott, 1923]. ''The Oregon History Project''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref>

As he ran for re-election in 1922 against KKK-backed [[liberal]] Democrat [[Walter M. Pierce]], Olcott opposed a ballot measure supported by the Klan which would force the state's children to attend [[public school]]s and shut down private schools (especially Catholic schools) from operating.<ref name=proclamation/> During the campaign, he received the support and endorsement of later Republican U.S. senator [[Charles McNary]].<ref>FascinatingPolitics (July 31, 2021). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2021/07/31/charles-mcnary-a-steady-captain-in-stormy-waters/ Charles McNary: A Steady Captain in Stormy Waters]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/mcnary_charles_1874_1944_/ Charles L. McNary (1874-1944)]. ''Oregon Encyclopedia''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref> However, Olcott was defeated in the general election by fifteen percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=263433 OR Governor Race - Nov 07, 1922]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref> The measure was also approved, though later deemed unconstitutional.<ref>[https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/from-wr-burner-to-governor-olcott-1923/ From W.R. Burner to Governor Olcott, 1923]. ''The Oregon History Project''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref>

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