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]
Party
Incumbent
Status
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
1
Republican
Jeff Kruse of Roseburg
Re-elected
Republican
Jeff Kruse
38,366
69.69
Democratic
Eldon Rollins
16,461
29.90
write-ins
229
0.42
2
Republican
Jason Atkinson of Central Point
Re-elected
Republican
Jason Atkinson
39,265
68.81
Democratic
Richard Koopmans
17,570
30.79
write-ins
224
0.39
5
Democratic
Joanne Verger of Coos Bay
Re-elected
Democratic
Joanne Verger
40,012
96.77
write-ins
1,337
3.23
9
Republican
Fred Girod of Stayton
Re-elected
Republican
Fred Girod [ 3]
31,201
61.09
Democratic
Bob McDonald[ 4]
19,753
38.68
write-ins
116
0.23
12
Republican
Gary George of Newberg
Retired
Republican
Brian Boquist
33,264
60.62
Democratic
Kevin Nortness
21,480
39.14
write-ins
130
0.24
14
Democratic
Mark Hass of Beaverton
Re-elected
Democratic
Mark Hass
35,847
67.79
Republican
Lisa Michaels
16,850
31.86
write-ins
186
0.35
17
Democratic
Suzanne Bonamici of Portland
Re-elected
Democratic
Suzanne Bonamici
44,475
96.90
write-ins
1,423
3.10
18
Democratic
Ginny Burdick of Portland
Re-elected
Democratic
Ginny Burdick
41,916
69.96
Republican
John Wight
17,809
29.72
write-ins
189
0.32
21
Democratic
Kate Brown of Milwaukie
Retired [ 5]
Democratic
Diane Rosenbaum
49,149
97.67
write-ins
1,172
2.33
22
Democratic
Margaret Carter of Portland
Re-elected
Democratic
Margaret Carter
48,939
98.15
write-ins
921
1.85
23
Democratic
Avel Gordly of Portland
Retired
Democratic
Jackie Dingfelder [ 6]
44,631
97.68
write-ins
1,058
2.32
25
Democratic
Laurie Monnes Anderson of Gresham
Re-elected
Democratic
L. M. Anderson
27,013
58.45
Republican
Dave Kim [ 7]
19,036
41.19
write-ins
167
0.18
27
Democratic
Ben Westlund of Bend
Retired [ 8]
Republican
Chris Telfer [ 9]
42,061
59.60
Democratic
Maren Lundgren
28,379
40.21
write-ins
129
0.18
28
Republican
Doug Whitsett of Klamath Falls
Re-elected
Republican
Doug Whitsett
39,416
97.65
write-ins
949
2.35
29
Republican
David Nelson of Pendleton
Re-elected
Republican
David Nelson
32,747
98.13
write-ins
623
1.87
30
Republican
Ted Ferrioli of John Day
Re-elected
Republican
Ted Ferrioli
35,606
97.91
write-ins
760
2.09
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]
Party
Incumbent
Status
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
1
Republican
Wayne Krieger of Gold Beach
Re-elected
Republican
Wayne Krieger'
17,590
Democratic
Richard (Rick) Goche
11,357
write-ins
2
Republican
Susan Morgan of Myrtle Creek
Retired
Republican
Tim Freeman [ 11]
16,780
Democratic
Harry McDermott
9,143
write-ins
3
Republican
Ron Maurer of Grants Pass
Re-elected
Republican
Ron Maurer
16,982
Democratic
Julie Rubenstein
10,674
write-ins
4
Republican
Dennis Richardson of Central Point
Re-elected
Republican
Dennis Richardson
19,641
Independent Party
Keith Wangle
8,053
write-ins
5
Democratic
Peter Buckley of Ashland
Re-elected
Democratic
Peter Buckley
18,452
Independent Party
Pete Belcasto
11,653
write-ins
6
Republican
Sal Esquivel of Medford
Re-elected
Republican
Sal Esquivel
14,622
Democratic
Lynn Howe
12,638
write-ins
7
Republican
Bruce Hanna of Roseburg
Re-elected
Republican
Bruce Hanna
17,614
Democratic
Donald Nordin[ 12]
9,954
write-ins
8
Democratic
Paul Holvey of Eugene
Re-elected
Democratic
Paul Holvey
23,366
write-ins
9
Democratic
Arnie Roblan of Coos Bay
Re-elected
Democratic
Arnie Roblan
15,444
Republican
Al Pearn
11,365
write-ins
10
Democratic
Jean Cowan of Newport
Re-elected
Democratic
Jean Cowan
19,829
write-ins
11
Democratic
Phil Barnhart of Eugene
Re-elected
Democratic
Phil Barnhart
22,260
write-ins
12
Democratic
Terry Beyer of Springfield
Re-elected
Democratic
Terry Beyer
14,800
Republican
Sean MP VanGordon
7,554
write-ins
13
Democratic
Nancy Nathanson of Eugene
Re-elected
Democratic
Nancy Nathanson
22,899
write-ins
14
Democratic
Chris Edwards of Eugene
Re-elected
Democratic
Chris Edwards
20,552
write-ins
15
Republican
Andy Olson of Albany
Re-elected
Republican
Andy Olson
18,808
Democratic
Dick Olsen
10,971
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
^ Sinks, James (June 23, 2008). "On east side, 6 from GOP earn Democrats' nod" . The Bend Bulletin .
^ "November 4, 2008, General Election Abstracts of Votes: State Senate" . Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved June 21, 2012 .
^ Defeated Sarah Arcune and Herman Joseph Baurer in the Republican primary.
^ Defeated Steven Frank in the Democratic primary.
^ Ran for Oregon Secretary of State
^ Defeated Sean Cruz in the Democratic primary.
^ Successful write-in candidate; see Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division Official Results .
^ Ran for Oregon State Treasurer
^ Defeated John Robbins in the Republican primary
^ "November 4, 2008, General Election Abstracts of Votes: State Representative" . Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved June 21, 2012 .
^ Defeated Jim Fox in the Republican primary.
^ Defeated G. Nick McKibbin in the Democratic primary.
^ Defeated Bruce Cuff, Marc Lucca, and Cliff Wooten in the Republican primary.
^ Ran successfully for the Oregon Senate
^ Defeated Craig Pope in the Republican primary.
^ Defeated Wesley West in the Democratic primary.
^ Defeated Jim Bunn and Edward (Ed) Glad in the Republican primary.
^ Ran unsuccessfully for Oregon Attorney General
^ Defeated Linda Brown in the Democratic primary.
^ Ran successfully for the Oregon Senate.
^ Defeated Regan Felice Gray, Gordon Hillesland, and Teddy Keizer in the Democratic primary.
^ Defeated Cyreena Boston and Jon Coney in the Democratic primary.
^ Ran successfully for United States Senate
^ Defeated Barbara Kyle in the Democratic primary.
^ Defeated Steve Richkind in the Democratic primary.
^ Defeated Phyllis Thiemann in the Republican primary.
^ Defeated Barbara Ann Wright in the Democratic primary.
^ Defeated Tim K. Smith in the Republican primary.
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