The world watched as the United States elected Donald Trump to his second term in office on November 5th. Despite speculation that the vote counting would extend into the weekend, Americans knew their president at around midnight PST. You can tune into the Times or Politico to read more about how this happened, why the polls did not show this result, and why Democratic candidates performed better than Harris. What is harder to find information on is the results for Oregon. Oregon had 2 congressional seats with national attention and some ballot measures which garnered controversy and millions of dollars of ad spend. 

Oregon’s 1st congressional district went to incumbent Suzanne Bonamici almost immediately after polls closed. This seat was a safe hold for the Democrats. District 2 (Southern and Eastern Oregon) saw incumbent Republican Cliff Bentz cruise to victory as well. In District 3 (Most of Multnomah County and Portland) State Representative Maxine Dexter won by large margins as she ran to fill retiring congressman Earl Blumeneaur’s seat. Corvallis’ District, District 4, which extends to most of the coast and southern Willamette Valley, was a seat targeted by the Republican Congressional Committee. Republican Colonel Monique DeSpain challenged incumbent democrat Val Hoyle. DeSpain attempted to paint herself as an independent voice for Oregonians and attacked Hoyle’s Maruijana ties. Hoyle won with 51.6% to DeSpain’s 44.2%. District 5 was one of the 16 closest seats determined by Cook Political Report. Democrats revisited this seat in 2022 and it was supposed to be lean liberal by party registration. However, it was a surprise that year when Happy Valley mayor Lori Chavez DeRemer won against a progressive challenger. This cycle, State Representative Janelle Bynum challenged DeRemer, bringing up bitter memories for the Congresswoman who lost to Bynum twice in the state house. Millions of dollars were poured into this race and it attracted visitors like Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Ultimately, Janelle Bynum was projected as the winner two days after the election. She earned 47.8% of the vote to Chavez DeRemer’s 45%. This is a flip for the Democrats and assists them in the fight for a majority in the House of Representatives. The last congressional race is District 6 which includes Polk, Yamhill, and Washington Counties. Andrea Salinas is the democratic incumbent and she faced a rematch from republican businessman Mike Erickson. This seat was ranked lean democrat by Cook Political Report and was one of the closest 40 seats up for election. Salinas pulled through with 53.1% to Erickson’s 46.8%. Now, Oregon has 5 Democratic congresswomen and one Republican congressman.

Oregon’s statewide seats were supposed to be easy wins for the Democrats but were alarmingly close this year. Every statewide democratic candidate underperformed Kamala Harris’ Oregon margin. The Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Attorney General offices were up for election. There were no incumbents. Current Treasurer Tobias Read faced off against State Senator (barred for reelection) Dennis Linithucm for Secretary of State. The Secretary of State serves as Lieutenant Governor, organizes elections, and audits agencies. Tobias Read won by a healthy margin of 54.5% to Linthicum’s 42.1%. The Green Party earned 3.4% of the vote. 

State Senator Elizabeth Steiner won the democratic nomination for Treasurer and faced Brian Boquist. Brian Boquist was the Oregon State Senator who was barred from reeelction due to absences and when he was called to return to the capitol he stated, “Bring heavily armed bachelors.” Boquist was banned from capitol grounds as a sitting senator for threatening to kill police. The Treasurer oversees the state’s investments, actualization of legislation, and retirement funds. Steiner won with 49.5% of the vote to Boquist’s 43.4% and the Working Family Party’s 7%. Steiner significantly underperformed  Harris’ and Read’s numbers but likely due to the Working Family Party’s decision not to endorse her and run their own candidate. 

What was expected to be the closest was the Attorney General race. Corvallis Representative and Oregon House Speaker Dan Rayfield sought the seat. He was opposed by District Attorney Will Lathrop who many called the most competent republican candidate in Oregon in ages. Despite this, Rayfield cruised to a victory with 54.3% of the vote to Lathrop’s 45.6%.

Oregon had 5 ballot measures to vote for. Measure 115 which would allow the legislature to impeach statewide elected officials, passed by comfortable margins. Measure 116 which would establish an independent commission to raise the wages of elected officials failed 47.3% to 52.7%. This was a surprise and was seen as a bipartisan initiative. Legislators are currently paid under 35,000 a year. The ranked-choice measure, Measure 117, failed by 17 points. This means Oregon will not implement ranked choice voting for federal offices. The highly controversial Measure 118 which would raise tax on corporations making over 25 million a year failed by 55 points. This was a progressive-led measure and had opposition from every chamber of commerce in Oregon. Measure 119 which would allow extending union laws to Cannabis workers passed with 56.5% of the vote. 

Oregon’s State Legislature has three seats uncalled with the current balance sitting at 35 Democrats and 22 Republicans. Democrats held onto all swing seats but did not manage to flip and Republicans held toss-up districts. Every State Senate race has been called with Democrats holding their most competitive seat while flipping District 27 (Bend, Redmond). House District 16 (Corvallis, Adair Village) sent Sarah Finger McDonald to the legislature. She cruised to victory with no Republican challenger. 

Benton County sent Gabe Shepherd to the county commission. Shepherd ran unopposed after a fierce primary. Incumbent commissioner Nacy Wyse also defeated her longtime Republican challenger Keith Lembke and will join Shepherd and Malone to hold a 3 seat democrat majority on the commission. One key issue the county commissioners will grapple with is the expansion of Coffin Butte Landfill which must be approved by the commission. 

City Council results can be found at results.oregonvotes.gov.

Democrats cruised to victory in Oregon and are expected to join California in “Trump-proofing” our state by “protecting reproductive rights, liberties, and essential services”. With Trump’s plan to cut the Department of Education and the possibility of withholding aid in Oregon’s wildfire season, Oregon democrats are expected to put aside legislative priorities to ensure Oregon’s success.