It was unclear whether Republicans’ effort to end Democrats’ supermajority in the Oregon House was likely to succeed Tuesday with partial returns as of 9 p.m. showing several pivotal races too close to call.
Republicans pumped unprecedented money into House races in a bid to undermine that supermajority, which has allowed Democrats to set the legislative agenda and pass tax bills without Republican support for the past four years. Largely in response to Republican spending, Democrats funneled significant amounts of money into key candidates’ races to try to hold their ground. As of last week, more than $1 million each had been spent on six separate House races.
Statewide, campaign strategists predicted ahead of Tuesday’s results that Republicans would ride a wave of public discontent with the direction of the state under Democratic rule. Republicans, who currently hold 23 of the House’s 60 seats, need to gain at least two seats to end Democrats’ supermajority rule. Whether Republicans have succeeded will become clear in coming days, as complete results are tallied.
Here are the preliminary results in some key contests.
House District 39
Three-term Democratic House incumbent Janelle Bynum appears to have fended off a challenge from Republican newcomer Kori Haynes for House District 39 representing the greater Happy Valley area of Clackamas County.
In partial returns tallied as of 9 p.m. Tuesday, Bynum was leading Haynes 55% to 45%.
Bynum, Oregon’s only Black female state representative, faced clear challenges with a newly redrawn district that no longer included east Portland and parts of Gresham and instead covered a larger portion of unincorporated Clackamas County. About 60% of the new district’s voters were not previously represented by Bynum.
House District 49
First-term Democrat state Rep. Zach Hudson was locked in a close race with Republican challenger Randy Lauer for House District 49.
In partial returns tallied as of 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, Hudson had 51% of the votes and Lauer 49%.
Hudson, a high school and special education teacher, was out-fundraised by Lauer, the mayor of Troutdale and owner of a CrossFit gym in Gresham. The race was one of the top five most expensive House races in the state, with Hudson raising and spending $600,000 compared to Lauer’s $700,000.
The district that spans North Gresham, Fairview, Wood Village and Troutdale is heavily Democratic, with 33% of voters registering as Democrats and 20% registering Republican.
House District 40
Democrat Annessa Hartman has a very slim lead over Republican Adam Baker for an open seat representing Oregon City, Gladstone and the western part of the Clackamas area.
In partial returns tallied as of 9 p.m. Tuesday, Hartman was leading Baker 51% to 49% in the House District 40 race.
Both candidates were political newcomers seeking to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, who chose to run for state Senate.
House District 7
Longtime Rep. John Lively, D-Springfield was locked in a close race with Republican newcomer Alan Stout for the House District 7 seat covering Springfield.
In partial returns tallied as of 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, Lively had 51% of the vote and Stout 48%.
Lively had previously proven to be a survivor, winning election in 2020 even though the district was overwhelmingly Republican – 36% compared to 25% Democrat. But 2021 redistricting strikingly changed that equation: It’s now 23% Republican and 32% Democrat.
House District 22
Republican Tracy Cramer, who has never held public office, appears to have defeated Woodburn school board member Anthony Medina, the Democratic nominee, to win House District 22 covering Woodburn, Marion County and parts of Northeast Salem.
In partial returns tallied as of 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, Cramer was leading Medina 53% to 47%.
The pair were competing for the open seat vacated by Democrat Teresa Alonso Leon, who gave up a reelection attempt to launch what turned out to be an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Congress.
Total spending in the race exceeded $1.6 million with Medina raising $850,000 compared to $775,000 raised by Cramer.
