2008 Oregon legislative election

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Elections for the 75th 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.

Contents

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. [1]

General election Senate candidates

Oregon Senate districts outside the Willamette Valley. Oregon State Senate Districts.png
Oregon Senate districts outside the Willamette Valley.
Portland area Senate districts. Portland or senate districts.png
Portland area Senate districts.
Willamette Valley Senate districts south of Portland area. Willamette valley senate districts.png
Willamette Valley Senate districts south of Portland area.

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.

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.

Except where footnoted, candidates were unopposed in their party's primary.

District [2] PartyIncumbentStatusPartyCandidateVotes %
1 Republican Jeff Kruse
of Roseburg 		Re-elected Republican Jeff Kruse38,36669.69
Democratic Eldon Rollins16,46129.90
write-ins 2290.42
2 Republican Jason Atkinson
of Central Point 		Re-elected Republican Jason Atkinson39,26568.81
Democratic Richard Koopmans17,57030.79
write-ins2240.39
5 Democratic Joanne Verger
of Coos Bay 		Re-elected Democratic Joanne Verger40,01296.77
write-ins1,3373.23
9 Republican Fred Girod
of Stayton 		Re-elected Republican Fred Girod [3] 31,20161.09
Democratic Bob McDonald [4] 19,75338.68
write-ins1160.23
12 Republican Gary George
of Newberg 		Retired Republican Brian Boquist 33,26460.62
Democratic Kevin Nortness21,48039.14
write-ins1300.24
14 Democratic Mark Hass
of Beaverton 		Re-elected Democratic Mark Hass35,84767.79
Republican Lisa Michaels16,85031.86
write-ins1860.35
17 Democratic Suzanne Bonamici
of Portland 		Re-elected Democratic Suzanne Bonamici44,47596.90
write-ins1,4233.10
18 Democratic Ginny Burdick
of Portland		Re-elected Democratic Ginny Burdick41,91669.96
Republican John Wight17,80929.72
write-ins1890.32
21 Democratic Kate Brown
of Milwaukie 		Retired [5] Democratic Diane Rosenbaum 49,14997.67
write-ins1,1722.33
22 Democratic Margaret Carter
of Portland		Re-elected Democratic Margaret Carter48,93998.15
write-ins9211.85
23 Democratic Avel Gordly
of Portland		Retired Democratic Jackie Dingfelder [6] 44,63197.68
write-ins1,0582.32
25 Democratic Laurie Monnes Anderson
of Gresham 		Re-elected Democratic L. M. Anderson27,01358.45
Republican Dave Kim [7] 19,03641.19
write-ins1670.18
27 Democratic Ben Westlund
of Bend 		Retired [8] Republican Chris Telfer [9] 42,06159.60
Democratic Maren Lundgren28,37940.21
write-ins1290.18
28 Republican Doug Whitsett
of Klamath Falls 		Re-elected Republican Doug Whitsett39,41697.65
write-ins9492.35
29 Republican David Nelson
of Pendleton 		Re-elected Republican David Nelson32,74798.13
write-ins6231.87
30 Republican Ted Ferrioli
of John Day 		Re-elected Republican Ted Ferrioli35,60697.91
write-ins7602.09

General election House candidates

Every two years, all of the state house seats come up for election. Democrats gained five seats from the previous session: two in open seats and three in defeating incumbent Republicans.

Except where footnoted, candidates were unopposed in their party's primary.

District [10] PartyIncumbentStatusPartyCandidateVotes %
1 Republican Wayne Krieger
of Gold Beach 		Re-elected Republican Wayne Krieger'17,590
Democratic Richard (Rick) Goche11,357
write-ins
2 Republican Susan Morgan
of Myrtle Creek 		Retired Republican Tim Freeman [11] 16,780
Democratic Harry McDermott9,143
write-ins
3 Republican Ron Maurer
of Grants Pass 		Re-elected Republican Ron Maurer16,982
Democratic Julie Rubenstein10,674
write-ins
4 Republican Dennis Richardson
of Central Point 		Re-elected Republican Dennis Richardson19,641
Independent Party Keith Wangle8,053
write-ins
5 Democratic Peter Buckley
of Ashland 		Re-elected Democratic Peter Buckley18,452
Independent Party Pete Belcasto11,653
write-ins
6 Republican Sal Esquivel
of Medford 		Re-elected Republican Sal Esquivel14,622
Democratic Lynn Howe12,638
write-ins
7 Republican Bruce Hanna
of Roseburg 		Re-elected Republican Bruce Hanna17,614
Democratic Donald Nordin [12] 9,954
write-ins
8 Democratic Paul Holvey
of Eugene 		Re-elected Democratic Paul Holvey23,366
write-ins
9 Democratic Arnie Roblan
of Coos Bay 		Re-elected Democratic Arnie Roblan15,444
Republican Al Pearn11,365
write-ins
10 Democratic Jean Cowan
of Newport 		Re-elected Democratic Jean Cowan19,829
write-ins
11 Democratic Phil Barnhart
of Eugene 		Re-elected Democratic Phil Barnhart22,260
write-ins
12 Democratic Terry Beyer
of Springfield 		Re-elected Democratic Terry Beyer14,800
Republican Sean MP VanGordon7,554
write-ins
13 Democratic Nancy Nathanson
of Eugene 		Re-elected Democratic Nancy Nathanson22,899
write-ins
14 Democratic Chris Edwards
of Eugene 		Re-elected Democratic Chris Edwards20,552
write-ins
15 Republican Andy Olson
of Albany 		Re-elected Republican Andy Olson18,808
Democratic Dick Olsen10,971
write-ins
16 Democratic Sara Gelser
of Corvallis 		Re-elected Democratic Sara Gelser
write-ins
17 Republican Sherrie Sprenger
of Scio 		Re-elected Republican Sherrie Sprenger [13]
Democratic Dan Thackaberry
write-ins
18 Republican Vic Gilliam
of Silverton 		Re-elected Republican Vic Gilliam
Democratic Jim Gilbert
write-ins
19 Republican Kevin Cameron
of Salem 		Re-elected Republican Kevin Cameron
Democratic Hanten (HD) Day
write-ins
20 Republican Vicki Berger
of Salem 		Re-elected Republican Vicki Berger
Democratic Richard Riggs
write-ins
21 Democratic Brian Clem
of Salem 		Re-elected Democratic Brian Clem
write-ins
22 Democratic Betty Komp
of Woodburn 		Re-elected Democratic Betty Komp
Republican Tom M. Chereck, Jr.
write-ins
23 Republican Brian Boquist
of Dallas 		Retired [14] Republican Jim Thompson [15]
Democratic Jason Brown [16]
write-ins
24 Republican Donna G. Nelson
of McMinnville 		Retired Republican Jim Weidner [17]
Democratic Bernt (Al) Hansen
write-ins
25 Republican Kim Thatcher
of Keizer 		Re-elected Republican Kim Thatcher
write-ins
26 Republican Matt Wingard
of Wilsonville 		Re-elected Republican Matt Wingard
Democratic Jessica Adamson
Libertarian Marc Delphine
write-ins
27 Democratic Tobias Read
of Beaverton 		Re-elected Democratic Tobias Read
Republican Michael F. DeVietro
write-ins
28 Democratic Jeff Barker
of Aloha 		Re-elected Democratic Jeff Barker
write-ins
29 Democratic Chuck Riley
of Hillsboro 		Re-elected Democratic Chuck Riley
Independent Party Terry L. Rilling
write-ins
30 Democratic David Edwards
of Hillsboro 		Re-elected Democratic David Edwards
Republican Andy Duyck
Constitution Ken Cunningham
write-ins
31 Democratic Brad Witt
of Clatskanie 		Re-elected Democratic Brad Witt
write-ins
32 Democratic Deborah Boone
of Cannon Beach 		Re-elected Democratic Deborah Boone
Republican Tim Bero
write-ins
33 Democratic Mitch Greenlick
of Portland 		Re-elected Democratic Mitch Greenlick
Republican James (Jim) Ellison
write-ins
34 Democratic Chris Harker
of Beaverton 		Re-elected Democratic Chris Harker
Republican Piotr Kuklinski
write-ins
35 Democratic Larry Galizio
of Tigard 		Re-elected Democratic Larry Galizio
Republican Tony Marino
write-ins
36 Democratic Mary Nolan
of Portland 		Re-elected Democratic Mary Nolan
Republican Steve Oppenheim
Libertarian Jay A. Ellefson
write-ins
37 Republican Scott Bruun
of West Linn 		Re-elected Republican Scott Bruun
Democratic Michele Eberle
write-ins
38 Democratic Greg Macpherson
of Lake Oswego 		Retired [18] Democratic Chris Garrett [19]
Republican Steve Griffith
write-ins
39 Republican Wayne Scott
of Oregon City 		Retired Republican Bill Kennemer
Democratic Toby Forsberg
write-ins
40 Democratic Dave Hunt
of Gladstone 		Re-elected Democratic Dave Hunt
write-ins
41 Democratic Carolyn Tomei
of Milwaukie 		Re-elected Democratic Carolyn Tomei
Republican Randy Uchytil
write-ins
42 Democratic Diane Rosenbaum
of Portland 		Retired [20] Democratic Jules Kopel-Bailey [21]
Pacific Green Chris Extine
write-ins
43 Democratic Chip Shields
of Portland 		Re-elected Democratic Chip Shields
write-ins
44 Democratic Tina Kotek
of Portland 		Re-elected Democratic Tina Kotek
write-ins
45 Democratic Michael Dembrow
of Portland 		Re-elected Democratic Michael Dembrow [22]
Libertarian Jim Karlock
write-ins
46 Democratic Ben Cannon
of Portland 		Re-elected Democratic Ben Cannon
write-ins
47 Democratic Jeff Merkley
of Portland 		Retired [23] Democratic Jefferson Smith
write-ins
48 Democratic Mike Schaufler
of Happy Valley 		Re-elected Democratic Mike Schaufler
write-ins
49 Republican Karen Minnis
of Wood Village 		Retired Democratic Nick Kahl [24]
Republican John Nelsen
write-ins
50 Republican John Lim
of Gresham 		Lost re-election Democratic Greg Matthews
Republican John Lim
write-ins
51 Republican Linda Flores
of Clackamas 		Lost re-election Democratic Brent Barton
Republican Linda Flores
write-ins
52 Republican Patti Smith
of Corbett 		Retired Democratic Suzanne VanOrman [25]
Republican Matt Lindland [26]
write-ins
53 Republican Gene Whisnant
of Sunriver 		Re-elected Republican Gene Whisnant
Democratic Conrad Ruel
write-ins
54 Republican Chuck Burley
of Bend 		Lost re-election Democratic Judy Stiegler
Republican Chuck Burley
write-ins
55 Republican George Gilman
of Bend 		Re-elected Republican George Gilman
write-ins
56 Republican Bill Garrard
of Klamath Falls 		Re-elected Republican Bill Garrard
write-ins
57 Republican Greg Smith
of Heppner 		Re-elected Republican Greg Smith
Democratic Jerome (Jerry) Sebestyen
write-ins
58 Republican Bob Jenson
of Pendleton 		Re-elected Republican Bob Jenson
Democratic Ben Talley [27]
write-ins
59 Republican John Huffman
of The Dalles 		Re-elected Republican John Huffman
Democratic Mike Ahern
write-ins
60 Republican Cliff Bentz
of Ontario 		Re-elected Republican Cliff Bentz [28]
write-ins

Citations and primary election notes

  1. ↑ Sinks, James (June 23, 2008). "On east side, 6 from GOP earn Democrats' nod". The Bend Bulletin.
  2. ↑ "November 4, 2008, General Election Abstracts of Votes: State Senate". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  3. ↑ Defeated Sarah Arcune and Herman Joseph Baurer in the Republican primary.
  4. ↑ Defeated Steven Frank in the Democratic primary.
  5. ↑ Ran for Oregon Secretary of State
  6. ↑ Defeated Sean Cruz in the Democratic primary.
  7. ↑ Successful write-in candidate; see Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division Official Results.
  8. ↑ Ran for Oregon State Treasurer
  9. ↑ Defeated John Robbins in the Republican primary
  10. ↑ "November 4, 2008, General Election Abstracts of Votes: State Representative". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  11. ↑ Defeated Jim Fox in the Republican primary.
  12. ↑ Defeated G. Nick McKibbin in the Democratic primary.
  13. ↑ Defeated Bruce Cuff, Marc Lucca, and Cliff Wooten in the Republican primary.
  14. ↑ Ran successfully for the Oregon Senate
  15. ↑ Defeated Craig Pope in the Republican primary.
  16. ↑ Defeated Wesley West in the Democratic primary.
  17. ↑ Defeated Jim Bunn and Edward (Ed) Glad in the Republican primary.
  18. ↑ Ran unsuccessfully for Oregon Attorney General
  19. ↑ Defeated Linda Brown in the Democratic primary.
  20. ↑ Ran successfully for the Oregon Senate.
  21. ↑ Defeated Regan Felice Gray, Gordon Hillesland, and Teddy Keizer in the Democratic primary.
  22. ↑ Defeated Cyreena Boston and Jon Coney in the Democratic primary.
  23. ↑ Ran successfully for United States Senate
  24. ↑ Defeated Barbara Kyle in the Democratic primary.
  25. ↑ Defeated Steve Richkind in the Democratic primary.
  26. ↑ Defeated Phyllis Thiemann in the Republican primary.
  27. ↑ Defeated Barbara Ann Wright in the Democratic primary.
  28. ↑ Defeated Tim K. Smith in the Republican primary.

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