Oregon Senate elections, 2008
Encyclopedia
Elections for the Oregon Legislative Assembly
took place in 2008. The Republican
and Democratic
primary elections were on May 20, 2008, and the general election was held on November 4, 2008. Fifteen of the Oregon State Senate
's thirty seats were up for election, as were all 60 seats of the Oregon House of Representatives
.
Nine of the 16 Senate seats up for election were previously held by Democrats. Four of these races had both Democratic and Republican candidates in the general election. The other seven seats were previously held by Republicans, and four of them were contested by both major parties. Democrats lost one seat (District 27 in the Bend
area) to the Republican Party, and went into 2009 with a majority of 18 seats to the Republicans' 12. In the Oregon House of Representatives, Democrats gained five seats.
In the general election, there were 39 races with both Democratic and Republican candidates; 24 were in districts previously represented by a Republican, 15 in districts previously represented by Democrats. Sixteen Democrats ran without a Republican opponent, and five Republicans ran without a Democratic opponent.
Eighteen incumbent House members and six incumbent Senators earned enough write-in votes in the opposing party's primary to earn a dual endorsement.
Every two years, half of the state senate seats come up for election. In 2008 there was also an election for District 17, resulting from Senator Brad Avakian
's appointment to Oregon Labor Commissioner. Thus, 16 seats were up for election.
Except where footnoted, candidates were unopposed in their party's primary.
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
took place in 2008. The Republican
Oregon Republican Party
The Oregon Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Oregon, headquartered in Lake Oswego. The first state party convention was held in Salem on April 21, 1859, and its first nominee for Congress, Portland attorney David Logan...
and Democratic
Democratic Party of Oregon
The Democratic Party of Oregon, based in Portland, is the official Oregon affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. It is recognized by the state of Oregon as a major political party, along with the Oregon Republican Party...
primary elections were on May 20, 2008, and the general election was held on November 4, 2008. Fifteen of the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
's thirty seats were up for election, as were all 60 seats of the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
.
Nine of the 16 Senate seats up for election were previously held by Democrats. Four of these races had both Democratic and Republican candidates in the general election. The other seven seats were previously held by Republicans, and four of them were contested by both major parties. Democrats lost one seat (District 27 in the Bend
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
area) to the Republican Party, and went into 2009 with a majority of 18 seats to the Republicans' 12. In the Oregon House of Representatives, Democrats gained five seats.
In the general election, there were 39 races with both Democratic and Republican candidates; 24 were in districts previously represented by a Republican, 15 in districts previously represented by Democrats. Sixteen Democrats ran without a Republican opponent, and five Republicans ran without a Democratic opponent.
Eighteen incumbent House members and six incumbent Senators earned enough write-in votes in the opposing party's primary to earn a dual endorsement.
General election Senate candidates
Brad Avakian
Bradley Paul "Brad" Avakian is the Commissioner of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. He was appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski on April 8, 2008 and subsequently elected statewide on November 4, 2008...
's appointment to Oregon Labor Commissioner. Thus, 16 seats were up for election.
Except where footnoted, candidates were unopposed in their party's primary.
General election House candidates
Incumbents are shown in italics. Except where footnoted, candidates were unopposed in their party's primary.| District | Candidate (Party) |
|---|---|
| 31 | Brad Witt Brad Witt Bradley "Brad" Witt is a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives for District 31, representing most of Columbia and parts of Clatsop and Multnomah counties, since his appointment in January 2005.... (D) |
| 32 | Tim Bero (R) Deborah Boone Deborah Boone Deborah Boone is a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 32 since her appointment on August 4, 2004, to serve out the remaining term of Representative Elaine Hopson... (D) |
| 33 | James (Jim) Ellison (R) Mitch Greenlick Mitch Greenlick Merwyn R. "Mitch" Greenlick is a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He represents District 33 of the Oregon House of Representatives.-Early life and career:... (D) |
| 34 | Chris Harker Chris Harker Chris Harker is a Democratic serving his second term as a Representative for Oregon's House District 34.-Political career:On November 4, 2008, Chris Harker defeated Republican opponent Piotr Kuklinski and was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives with more than twice his opponent's votes... (D) Piotr Kuklinski (R) |
| 35 | Larry Galizio Larry Galizio Larry Galizio was a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 35 since 2004 to 2010. House District 35 includes parts of Tigard, Southwest Portland, King City, Metzger, and surrounding areas of unincorporated Washington County. Rep... (D) Tony Marino (R) |
| 36 | Mary Nolan Mary Nolan (Oregon politician) Mary Nolan is a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 36 since 2001. Nolan was in the first class of women admitted into Dartmouth College, from which she graduated magna cum laude in mathematics... (D) Steve Oppenheim (R) Jay A Ellefson (L Libertarian Party of Oregon The Libertarian Party of Oregon is a political party representing the national Libertarian Party in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is organized as a minor party for state election law, and recognized by the Oregon as a state-wide nominating party.... ) |
| 37 | Scott Bruun Scott Bruun Lorentz Scott Bruun is a Republican politician from the US state of Oregon. He served in the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 37, which encompasses some of the southern suburbs of Portland, Oregon, including part or all of the cities of Durham, Lake Oswego, Rivergrove,... (R) Michele Eberle (D) |
| 38 | Chris Garrett (D) Steve Griffith (R) |
| 39 | Toby Forsberg (D) Bill Kennemer Bill Kennemer Bill Kennemer is a clinical psychologist and Republican politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. He served ten years in the Oregon State Senate from 1987 to 1997, and served on the Clackamas County Commission from 1997 to 2008... (R) |
| 40 | Dave Hunt Dave Hunt (Oregon politician) Dave Hunt is an American politician in the state of Oregon. A Democrat, he is the State Representative for District 40 of the Oregon House of Representatives. He was elected House Majority Leader for the 2006–2008 session, succeeding Minority Leader Jeff Merkley, who was chosen as Speaker... (D) |
| 41 | Carolyn Tomei Carolyn Tomei Carolyn Tomei is a Democratic politician from the US state of Oregon. She serves in the Oregon House of Representatives for District 41, representing Milwaukie and parts of Southeast Portland, including Sellwood and Eastmoreland.... (D) Randy Uchytil (R) |
| 42 | Jules Kopel-Bailey Jules Kopel-Bailey Jules Kopel Bailey is a Oregon Democratic politician. In 2008, he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives for District 42, representing inner Southeast and Northeast Portland.-Early life and career:... (D) Chris Extine (G Pacific Green Party The Pacific Green Party of Oregon is a political party in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is a member of the Green Party of the United States.The party first gained widespread public attention during Ralph Nader's presidential campaign in 2000.... ) |
| 43 | Chip Shields Chip Shields Chip Shields is a Democratic member of the Oregon State Senate since appointment in September 2009. He previously represented District 43 in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2004 until appointment to replace Margaret Carter in Senate District 22.-External links:* - official government... (D) |
| 44 | Tina Kotek Tina Kotek Tina Kotek is an American politician from the state of Oregon. A Democrat, she serves as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives... (D) |
| 45 | Michael Dembrow Michael Dembrow Michael E. Dembrow is a Democratic politician from the US state of Oregon, currently representing District 45 in the Oregon House of Representatives. Dembrow, formerly an English instructor at Portland Community College, served on Governor Ted Kulongoski's State Board of Higher Education... (D) Jim Karlock (L Libertarian Party of Oregon The Libertarian Party of Oregon is a political party representing the national Libertarian Party in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is organized as a minor party for state election law, and recognized by the Oregon as a state-wide nominating party.... ) |
| 46 | Ben Cannon Ben Cannon Ben Cannon is an American teacher and politician from Oregon. He was elected in 2006 to the Oregon House of Representatives, representing the state's 46th District, which covers portions of southeast and northeast Portland. He was unopposed for re-election in 2008... (D) |
| 47 | Jefferson Smith Jefferson Smith (Oregon politician) Jefferson Smith is an Oregon Democratic politician and the founder of the Bus Project. In 2008, he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 47 in east Portland. He is seeking election as Mayor of Portland in 2012.-Early life and career:Smith was born in Portland in... (D) |
| 48 | Mike Schaufler Mike Schaufler Mike Schaufler is a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 48 since 2002.-External links:* official government website* profile*Follow the Money - Mike Schaufler** campaign contributions... (D) |
| 49 | Nick Kahl Nick Kahl Nick Kahl is a Democratic politician from Oregon. In the 2008 Oregon legislative elections, he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 49 in east Multnomah County, including the cities of Fairview, Troutdale, Wood Village, Oregon, and a portion of Gresham... (D) John Nelsen (R) |
| 50 | John Lim John Lim John Lim is a Republican politician in the United States state of Oregon. He has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly and was the Oregon State Senate Majority Leader in 1995. He has unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate and for the Republican nomination for Governor of... (R) Greg Matthews (D) |
| 51 | Brent Barton Brent Barton Brent Barton is a Democratic politician from the US state of Oregon. He was elected in 2008 to the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 51, which encompasses parts of Clackamas County and Multnomah County, and includes all or part of the cities of Boring, Clackamas, Damascus,... (D) Linda Flores (R) |
| 52 | Matt Lindland Matt Lindland Matthew James Lindland is an American mixed martial artist, Olympic wrestler and politician. He won the Oregon Republican Party's nomination for the Oregon House of Representatives, District 52 seat on May 20, 2008.... (R) Suzanne Van Orman (D) |
| 53 | Conrad Ruel (D) Gene Whisnant Gene Whisnant Gene Whisnant is a Republican politician from the US state of Oregon. He serves in the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 53, which encompasses most of Deschutes County, including the cities of Redmond and Sisters.... (R) |
| 54 | Chuck Burley (R) Judy Stiegler (D) |
| 55 | George Gilman George Gilman (Oregon politician) George Gilman is a politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He is the state representative for District 55 of the Oregon House of Representatives, the second largest House district in Oregon... (R) |
| 56 | Bill Garrard Bill Garrard Bill Garrard is the Republican state representative for District 56 of the Oregon House of Representatives. His district represents the voters in southern Klamath County, including Klamath Falls.- Electoral history :- External links :* *... (R) |
| 57 | Jerry Sebestyen (D) Greg Smith Greg Smith (Oregon politician) Greg V. Smith is an American politician in the US state of Oregon. He is a member of the Oregon House of Representatives, serving District 57. He resides in Heppner with his wife Sherri and their five kids.- Educational background :... |
| 58 | Bob Jenson Bob Jenson Bob Jenson is a Republican politician from the US state of Oregon. He serves in the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 58, which encompasses portions of Umatilla County, including the cities of Hermiston, Pendleton, and Stanfield, as well as a small portion of Union County... (R) Ben Talley (D) |
| 59 | Mike Ahern (D) John E. Huffman (R) |
| 60 | Cliff Bentz Cliff Bentz Cliff Bentz is a Republican politician from the US state of Oregon. He serves in the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 60, which encompasses the counties of Malheur, Baker, and Harney, and part of Grant County, and which includes the cities of Baker City, Burns, and... (R) |
| District | Candidate (Party) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Richard (Rick) Goche (D Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... ) Wayne Krieger Wayne Krieger Wayne Krieger is a Republican politician, retired game warden, and tree farmer from Gold Beach on the southern coast of the U.S. state of Oregon. He served on the Oregon State Police Force from 1964 to 1991. He represents District 1 of the Oregon House of Representatives... (R Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... ) |
| 2 | Tim Freeman Tim Freeman Tim J. Freeman is a small business owner and Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. In 2008, he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 2, which encompasses portions of Douglas, Jackson, and Josephine counties, including the cities of Canyonville,... (R) Harry McDermott (D) |
| 3 | Ron Maurer Ron Maurer Ron Maurer is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He served in the Oregon House of Representatives until January 2011. He represented District 3, which encompasses most of Josephine County, including the cities of Grants Pass and Cave Junction... (R) Julie Rubenstein (D) |
| 4 | Dennis Richardson Dennis Richardson (politician) Dennis Richardson is an American Republican politician from Central Point, Oregon who is serving in his third term in the Oregon House of Representatives... (R) Keith Wangle (IPO Independent Party of Oregon The Independent Party of Oregon is a political party in the U.S. state of Oregon. The IPO is Oregon's third-largest political party and the largest minor party of the state, with 68,516 registrants since its inception in January 2007 making up 3.37% of Oregon's registered voters... ) |
| 5 | Peter Buckley Peter Buckley (Oregon politician) Peter J. Buckley is a Democratic politician from the U.S. State of Oregon. He represents District 5, consisting of Ashland, Phoenix, Talent, Jacksonville, Ruch and Applegate, in the Oregon House of Representatives... (D) Pete Belcastro (IPO Independent Party of Oregon The Independent Party of Oregon is a political party in the U.S. state of Oregon. The IPO is Oregon's third-largest political party and the largest minor party of the state, with 68,516 registrants since its inception in January 2007 making up 3.37% of Oregon's registered voters... ) |
| 6 | Sal Esquivel Sal Esquivel Sal Esquivel is a Republican politician from the US state of Oregon. He serves in the Oregon House of Representatives for District 6, representing Medford.-Early life and career:... (R) Lynn Howe (D) |
| 7 | Bruce Hanna Bruce Hanna Bruce Hanna is a Republican politician from Roseburg in the US state of Oregon. He serves in the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 7, which spans Lane and Douglas counties... (R) Donald Nordin (D) |
| 8 | Paul Holvey Paul Holvey Paul R. Holvey is a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 8 since his appointment in January 2004.-External links:* official government website* profile... (D) |
| 9 | Al Pearn (R) Arnie Roblan Arnie Roblan Arnold L. "Arnie" Roblan is a former educator and a Democratic politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. He has served in the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 9, which spans the southern Oregon Coast, since 2005... (D) |
| 10 | Jean Cowan (D) |
| 11 | Phil Barnhart Phil Barnhart Phil Barnhart is a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 11 since 2003 and District 40 from 2001 to 2003.-External links:* official government website* profile*Follow the Money - Phil Barnhart... (D) |
| 12 | Elizabeth Terry Beyer Terry Beyer Elizabeth Terry Beyer is a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. She serves in the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 12 in the city of Springfield.-Early life and career:... (D) Sean MP VanGordon (R) |
| 13 | Nancy Nathanson Nancy Nathanson Nancy Nathanson is a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing the 13th district. Nathanson attended Northwestern University, and later the University of Oregon where she received a Bachelor of Science in urban geography.-Eugene City Council:In 1992, Nathanson was... (D) |
| 14 | Chris Edwards Chris Edwards (Oregon politician) Chris Edwards is an American politician from Oregon and a member of the Democratic party.He was appointed to the Oregon State Senate in August 2009 to represent District 7, replacing Vicki Walker, who resigned to become chair of the state parole board... (D) |
| 15 | Dick Olsen (D) Andy Olson Andy Olson Andy Olson is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He serves in the Oregon House of Representatives for District 15, representing parts of Linn and Benton counties, including the city of Albany... (R) |
| 16 | Sara Gelser Sara Gelser Sara Gelser is an American politician from Oregon. She has represented Corvallis and Philomath since 2005. Prior to her service in the legislature, Representative Gelser served on the Corvallis School Board and worked for the Oregon Department of Human Services... (D) |
| 17 | Sherrie Sprenger Sherrie Sprenger Sherrie Sprenger is a business owner and Republican politician from the US state of Oregon. A native of Linn County, she serves in the Oregon House of Representatives for the 17th District, which covers the eastern part of that county and part of Marion County... (R) Dan Thackaberry (D) |
| 18 | Jim Gilbert (D) Vic Gilliam Vic Gilliam Victor S. "Vic" Gilliam is an American politician and part-time actor from the state of Oregon. A Republican, he has served in the Oregon House of Representatives from the 18th District since he was appointed in January 2007. A native of Ohio, he has lived in Silverton, Oregon since 1998.-Early... (R) |
| 19 | Kevin Cameron Kevin Cameron (Oregon politician) Kevin Cameron is a Republican politician from Salem in the U.S. state of Oregon. He has represented District 19 in the Oregon House of Representatives since February 2005.Cameron was born in the late 1950s and grew up in southern California... (R) Hanten (HD) Day (D) |
| 20 | Vicki Berger Vicki Berger Vicki Berger is an American businessperson and politician in the state of Oregon. A native Oregonian, she is a Salem civic leader and a Republican member of the Oregon House of Representatives. Her father came up with the idea for the Oregon Bottle Bill.-Early life:Born Vicki Chambers in 1949, she... (R) Richard Riggs (D) |
| 21 | Brian Clem Brian Clem Brian L. Clem is a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 21 . He was first elected in 2006... (D) |
| 22 | Tom M. Chereck, Jr. (R) Betty Komp Betty Komp Betty E. Komp is a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 22 since 2004.-External links:* official government website* profile*Follow the Money - Betty E Komp** campaign contributions... (D) |
| 23 | Jason Brown (D) Jim Thompson (R) |
| 24 | Bernt (Al) Hansen (D) Jim Weidner (R) |
| 25 | Kim Thatcher Kim Thatcher Kim Thatcher is a member of the Oregon House of Representatives. She is a member of the Republican party representing Keizer from the 25th district.-Biography:Thatcher was born in Pocatello, Idaho in 1964 and attended Portland State University... (R) |
| 26 | Jessica Adamson (D) Matt Wingard Matt Wingard Matt Wingard is an American politician in the state of Oregon. He won the Republican nomination to represent District 26 in the Oregon House of Representatives in May 2008.- Early life :... (R) Marc Delphine (L Libertarian Party of Oregon The Libertarian Party of Oregon is a political party representing the national Libertarian Party in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is organized as a minor party for state election law, and recognized by the Oregon as a state-wide nominating party.... ) |
| 27 | Russell McAlmond (R) Tobias Read Tobias Read Tobias Read is a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 27 since 2006.-External links:* Official government website* profile*Follow the Money - Tobias Read** campaign contributions... (D) |
| 28 | Jeff Barker Jeff Barker (Oregon politician) Jeff Barker is a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 28 since 2003.-External links:* official government website* profile*Follow the Money - Jeff Barker** campaign contributions... (D) Greg Steiert (R) |
| 29 | Chuck Riley Chuck Riley (Oregon politician) Chuck Riley is an American politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Illinois, he is former consultant and former Democratic legislator in the Oregon House of Representatives. He served three terms representing District 29 which includes Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Cornelius in western... (D) Terry L Rilling (IPO Independent Party of Oregon The Independent Party of Oregon is a political party in the U.S. state of Oregon. The IPO is Oregon's third-largest political party and the largest minor party of the state, with 68,516 registrants since its inception in January 2007 making up 3.37% of Oregon's registered voters... ) |
| 30 | David Edwards David Edwards (Oregon politician) David Edwards is a former Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 30 from 2006-2010. A graduate of the University of Southern California's film school, he turned to film-making after leaving the legislature, directing a film he also wrote.-External links:*... (D) Andy Meyer (R) Ken Cunningham (C Constitution Party of Oregon The Constitution Party of Oregon is a political party organized as a minor party pursuant to state election law, and recognized by the State of Oregon as a state-wide nominating party.... ) |
See also
- Oregon Democratic primary, 2008Oregon Democratic primary, 2008The 2008 Oregon Democratic primary was a mail-only primary in the U.S. state of Oregon. Ballots were mailed to registered Democratic voters between May 2 and May 6, 2008. To be counted, all ballots had to have been received by county elections offices by 8:00 p.m. PDT on May 20, 2008...
- Oregon Republican primary, 2008Oregon Republican primary, 2008The 2008 Oregon Republican primary was a mail only primary in the U.S. state of Oregon. Ballots were mailed to registered Republican voters between May 2 and May 6, 2008. To be counted, all ballots must have been received by county elections offices by 8:00 p.m. PDT on May 20, 2008...
- United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2008United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2008The United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2008 were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who will represent the state of Oregon in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential and senatorial elections...
- United States Senate election in Oregon, 2008United States Senate election in Oregon, 2008The 2008 United States Senate election in Oregon was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Gordon Smith decided to seek re-election. Smith was the only Republican Senator from the west coast and the only Republican holding statewide office in Oregon...
- Seventy-fourth Oregon Legislative Assembly (2007–2008)
- Seventy-fifth Oregon Legislative AssemblySeventy-fifth Oregon Legislative AssemblyThe seventy-fifth Oregon Legislative Assembly convened beginning on , for its biennial regular session. All of the 60 seats in the House of Representatives and half of the 30 seats in the State Senate were up for election in 2008; the general election for those seats took place on .Democrats took...
(2009–2010)
Source
- ORESTAR, the online elections system of the Oregon Secretary of StateOregon Secretary of StateThe Secretary of State of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is first in line of succession to the Governor. The duties of office are: auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, and administrator of public...
's Elections Division