2008 Oregon legislative election

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.

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.
Portland area Senate districts.
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%
1RepublicanJeff Kruse
of Roseburg		Re-electedRepublicanJeff Kruse38,36669.69
DemocraticEldon Rollins16,46129.90
write-ins2290.42
2RepublicanJason Atkinson
of Central Point		Re-electedRepublicanJason Atkinson39,26568.81
DemocraticRichard Koopmans17,57030.79
write-ins2240.39
5DemocraticJoanne Verger
of Coos Bay		Re-electedDemocraticJoanne Verger40,01296.77
write-ins1,3373.23
9RepublicanFred Girod
of Stayton		Re-electedRepublicanFred Girod[3]31,20161.09
DemocraticBob McDonald[4]19,75338.68
write-ins1160.23
12RepublicanGary George
of Newberg		RetiredRepublicanBrian Boquist33,26460.62
DemocraticKevin Nortness21,48039.14
write-ins1300.24
14DemocraticMark Hass
of Beaverton		Re-electedDemocraticMark Hass35,84767.79
RepublicanLisa Michaels16,85031.86
write-ins1860.35
17DemocraticSuzanne Bonamici
of Portland		Re-electedDemocraticSuzanne Bonamici44,47596.90
write-ins1,4233.10
18DemocraticGinny Burdick
of Portland		Re-electedDemocraticGinny Burdick41,91669.96
RepublicanJohn Wight17,80929.72
write-ins1890.32
21DemocraticKate Brown
of Milwaukie		Retired[5]DemocraticDiane Rosenbaum49,14997.67
write-ins1,1722.33
22DemocraticMargaret Carter
of Portland		Re-electedDemocraticMargaret Carter48,93998.15
write-ins9211.85
23DemocraticAvel Gordly
of Portland		RetiredDemocraticJackie Dingfelder[6]44,63197.68
write-ins1,0582.32
25DemocraticLaurie Monnes Anderson
of Gresham		Re-electedDemocraticL. M. Anderson27,01358.45
RepublicanDave Kim[7]19,03641.19
write-ins1670.18
27DemocraticBen Westlund
of Bend		Retired[8]RepublicanChris Telfer[9]42,06159.60
DemocraticMaren Lundgren28,37940.21
write-ins1290.18
28RepublicanDoug Whitsett
of Klamath Falls		Re-electedRepublicanDoug Whitsett39,41697.65
write-ins9492.35
29RepublicanDavid Nelson
of Pendleton		Re-electedRepublicanDavid Nelson32,74798.13
write-ins6231.87
30RepublicanTed Ferrioli
of John Day		Re-electedRepublicanTed 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%
1RepublicanWayne Krieger
of Gold Beach		Re-electedRepublicanWayne Krieger'17,590
DemocraticRichard (Rick) Goche11,357
write-ins
2RepublicanSusan Morgan
of Myrtle Creek		RetiredRepublicanTim Freeman[11]16,780
DemocraticHarry McDermott9,143
write-ins
3RepublicanRon Maurer
of Grants Pass		Re-electedRepublicanRon Maurer16,982
DemocraticJulie Rubenstein10,674
write-ins
4RepublicanDennis Richardson
of Central Point		Re-electedRepublicanDennis Richardson19,641
Independent PartyKeith Wangle8,053
write-ins
5DemocraticPeter Buckley
of Ashland		Re-electedDemocraticPeter Buckley18,452
Independent PartyPete Belcasto11,653
write-ins
6RepublicanSal Esquivel
of Medford		Re-electedRepublicanSal Esquivel14,622
DemocraticLynn Howe12,638
write-ins
7RepublicanBruce Hanna
of Roseburg		Re-electedRepublicanBruce Hanna17,614
DemocraticDonald Nordin[12]9,954
write-ins
8DemocraticPaul Holvey
of Eugene		Re-electedDemocraticPaul Holvey23,366
write-ins
9DemocraticArnie Roblan
of Coos Bay		Re-electedDemocraticArnie Roblan15,444
RepublicanAl Pearn11,365
write-ins
10DemocraticJean Cowan
of Newport		Re-electedDemocraticJean Cowan19,829
write-ins
11DemocraticPhil Barnhart
of Eugene		Re-electedDemocraticPhil Barnhart22,260
write-ins
12DemocraticTerry Beyer
of Springfield		Re-electedDemocraticTerry Beyer14,800
RepublicanSean MP VanGordon7,554
write-ins
13DemocraticNancy Nathanson
of Eugene		Re-electedDemocraticNancy Nathanson22,899
write-ins
14DemocraticChris Edwards
of Eugene		Re-electedDemocraticChris Edwards20,552
write-ins
15RepublicanAndy Olson
of Albany		Re-electedRepublicanAndy Olson18,808
DemocraticDick Olsen10,971
write-ins
16DemocraticSara Gelser
of Corvallis		Re-electedDemocraticSara Gelser
write-ins
17RepublicanSherrie Sprenger
of Scio		Re-electedRepublicanSherrie Sprenger[13]
DemocraticDan Thackaberry
write-ins
18RepublicanVic Gilliam
of Silverton		Re-electedRepublicanVic Gilliam
DemocraticJim Gilbert
write-ins
19RepublicanKevin Cameron
of Salem		Re-electedRepublicanKevin Cameron
DemocraticHanten (HD) Day
write-ins
20RepublicanVicki Berger
of Salem		Re-electedRepublicanVicki Berger
DemocraticRichard Riggs
write-ins
21DemocraticBrian Clem
of Salem		Re-electedDemocraticBrian Clem
write-ins
22DemocraticBetty Komp
of Woodburn		Re-electedDemocraticBetty Komp
RepublicanTom M. Chereck, Jr.
write-ins
23RepublicanBrian Boquist
of Dallas		Retired[14]RepublicanJim Thompson[15]
DemocraticJason Brown[16]
write-ins
24RepublicanDonna G. Nelson
of McMinnville		RetiredRepublicanJim Weidner[17]
DemocraticBernt (Al) Hansen
write-ins
25RepublicanKim Thatcher
of Keizer		Re-electedRepublicanKim Thatcher
write-ins
26RepublicanMatt Wingard
of Wilsonville		Re-electedRepublicanMatt Wingard
DemocraticJessica Adamson
LibertarianMarc Delphine
write-ins
27DemocraticTobias Read
of Beaverton		Re-electedDemocraticTobias Read
RepublicanMichael F. DeVietro
write-ins
28DemocraticJeff Barker
of Aloha		Re-electedDemocraticJeff Barker
write-ins
29DemocraticChuck Riley
of Hillsboro		Re-electedDemocraticChuck Riley
Independent PartyTerry L. Rilling
write-ins
30DemocraticDavid Edwards
of Hillsboro		Re-electedDemocraticDavid Edwards
RepublicanAndy Duyck
ConstitutionKen Cunningham
write-ins
31DemocraticBrad Witt
of Clatskanie		Re-electedDemocraticBrad Witt
write-ins
32DemocraticDeborah Boone
of Cannon Beach		Re-electedDemocraticDeborah Boone
RepublicanTim Bero
write-ins
33DemocraticMitch Greenlick
of Portland		Re-electedDemocraticMitch Greenlick
RepublicanJames (Jim) Ellison
write-ins
34DemocraticChris Harker
of Beaverton		Re-electedDemocraticChris Harker
RepublicanPiotr Kuklinski
write-ins
35DemocraticLarry Galizio
of Tigard		Re-electedDemocraticLarry Galizio
RepublicanTony Marino
write-ins
36DemocraticMary Nolan
of Portland		Re-electedDemocraticMary Nolan
RepublicanSteve Oppenheim
LibertarianJay A. Ellefson
write-ins
37RepublicanScott Bruun
of West Linn		Re-electedRepublicanScott Bruun
DemocraticMichele Eberle
write-ins
38DemocraticGreg Macpherson
of Lake Oswego		Retired[18]DemocraticChris Garrett[19]
RepublicanSteve Griffith
write-ins
39RepublicanWayne Scott
of Oregon City		RetiredRepublicanBill Kennemer
DemocraticToby Forsberg
write-ins
40DemocraticDave Hunt
of Gladstone		Re-electedDemocraticDave Hunt
write-ins
41DemocraticCarolyn Tomei
of Milwaukie		Re-electedDemocraticCarolyn Tomei
RepublicanRandy Uchytil
write-ins
42DemocraticDiane Rosenbaum
of Portland		Retired[20]DemocraticJules Kopel-Bailey[21]
Pacific GreenChris Extine
write-ins
43DemocraticChip Shields
of Portland		Re-electedDemocraticChip Shields
write-ins
44DemocraticTina Kotek
of Portland		Re-electedDemocraticTina Kotek
write-ins
45DemocraticMichael Dembrow
of Portland		Re-electedDemocraticMichael Dembrow[22]
LibertarianJim Karlock
write-ins
46DemocraticBen Cannon
of Portland		Re-electedDemocraticBen Cannon
write-ins
47DemocraticJeff Merkley
of Portland		Retired[23]DemocraticJefferson Smith
write-ins
48DemocraticMike Schaufler
of Happy Valley		Re-electedDemocraticMike Schaufler
write-ins
49RepublicanKaren Minnis
of Wood Village		RetiredDemocraticNick Kahl[24]
RepublicanJohn Nelsen
write-ins
50RepublicanJohn Lim
of Gresham		Lost re-electionDemocraticGreg Matthews
RepublicanJohn Lim
write-ins
51RepublicanLinda Flores
of Clackamas		Lost re-electionDemocraticBrent Barton
RepublicanLinda Flores
write-ins
52RepublicanPatti Smith
of Corbett		RetiredDemocraticSuzanne VanOrman[25]
RepublicanMatt Lindland[26]
write-ins
53RepublicanGene Whisnant
of Sunriver		Re-electedRepublicanGene Whisnant
DemocraticConrad Ruel
write-ins
54RepublicanChuck Burley
of Bend		Lost re-electionDemocraticJudy Stiegler
RepublicanChuck Burley
write-ins
55RepublicanGeorge Gilman
of Bend		Re-electedRepublicanGeorge Gilman
write-ins
56RepublicanBill Garrard
of Klamath Falls		Re-electedRepublicanBill Garrard
write-ins
57RepublicanGreg Smith
of Heppner		Re-electedRepublicanGreg Smith
DemocraticJerome (Jerry) Sebestyen
write-ins
58RepublicanBob Jenson
of Pendleton		Re-electedRepublicanBob Jenson
DemocraticBen Talley[27]
write-ins
59RepublicanJohn Huffman
of The Dalles		Re-electedRepublicanJohn Huffman
DemocraticMike Ahern
write-ins
60RepublicanCliff Bentz
of Ontario		Re-electedRepublicanCliff 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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