Updated November 7, 2024
Election Update
Oregon election results so far
The majority of races were called Tuesday night in Oregon, but a few are still too close to call. Voter turnout sits just below 70%, similar to this point during previous presidential elections. As a reminder, to be counted, ballots must have been postmarked by Nov. 5. That means county clerks are likely still receiving ballots.
The bottom line: Republicans seem to have staved off a supermajority in the House, while Democrats secured a supermajority in the Senate, which they had lost in 2022.
We give the “it’s still early” caveat mostly because the vote differential in some districts is too wide for any races to be called. Each county has its own process for reporting to the Secretary of State. Some may not send an update again until Wednesday evening.
Check out the results so far below (as of 11am Nov. 6), and we will update this page after by 8am Nov. 7 with more context and results.
Voter turnout
Early numbers depicted a slower ballot return rate this year than in previous presidential elections. In 2020, roughly 73% of ballots were received before election day, and the final turnout was around 80%. The Secretary of State reported 61% of ballots were returned as of 3pm Nov. 5.
This is also the first presidential election since we started allowing all ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked on or before election day, which could mean these lagging numbers could indicate a change in voter behavior and not a lower turnout. Time will tell.
Federal & Statewide Offices
In Oregon, our congressional races haven’t previously received national attention like they did this year in the CD 5 race between incumbent U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R) and challenger Janelle Bynum (D), a current state representative for House District 39. In the final weeks of the election, both candidates benefited from millions of dollars from their respective national parties, as well as out-of-state volunteers who were bussed in to knock on doors. Neither candidate has reached 50%, but Rep. Bynum has a slight edge of around 8,000 votes. National eyes are on Oregon for this race as a potential flip for Democrats.
Officially called
* = Incumbent
Federal
1st Congressional District | Suzanne Bonamici* (D)
2nd Congressional District | Cliff Bentz* (R)
3rd Congressional District | Maxine Dexter (D)
4th Congressional District | Val Hoyle* (D)
6th Congressional District | Andrea Salinas* (D)
Statewide
Secretary of State | Tobias Read (D)
Attorney General | Dan Rayfield (D)
Treasurer | Elizabeth Steiner (D)
Too close to call
Federal
Oregon’s 5th Congressional District | Janelle Bynum (D) / Lori Chavez-DeRemer* (R)
State Senate
Current makeup: 17 Democrats, 13 Republicans
On the ballot: 6 Democrats, 9 Republicans
New makeup: 18 Democrats, 11 Republicans (1 not called)
Since state senators have 4-year terms, half of the 30 seats are up this time around. Due to the lengthy walkout in 2023, the turnover in the Republican caucus is lengthy. However, many of these districts are solidly Republican seats, except for one Democrats have targeted as a potential flip since the redistricting process, Senate District 27. Former Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp currently represents that district but was barred from running for re-election due to his unexcused absences during the walkout.
* = Incumbent
Officially called
|
|
Too close to call
SD 5 | Dick Anderson* (R) / Jo Beaudreau (D)
State House of Representatives
Current makeup: 35 Democrats, 25 Republicans
On the ballot: 51 incumbents (30 Democrats, 21 Republicans)
New makeup: 34 Democrats, 22 Republicans (4 not called
We are seeing a very different election this year in the Oregon House, compared with the historic high turnover in 2022. This time around, of the 60 House races, all but 9 have an incumbent in the race. Of the races that have been called, no incumbents have lost re-election.
* = Incumbent
Officially called
|
|
Too close to call
HD 22 | Tracy Cramer* (R) / Lesly Muñoz (D)
HD 32 | Cyrus Javadi* (R) / Andy Davis (D)
HD 48 | Hoa Nguyen* (D) / John Masterman (R)
HD 52 | Jeff Helfrich* (R) / Nick Walden Poublon (D)
Ballot Measures & Other Initiatives
Statewide Ballot Measures
There are five statewide ballot measures on this year’s ballot, three Legislative Referrals and two Citizen Initiatives. As of 10pm tonight, it appears two will pass with healthy margins, two will fail, and one is too close to call.
Measure 115: Impeaching statewide elected officials (Legislative Referral)
Passing
This measure would amend the Oregon constitution to allow the Oregon State Legislature to impeach statewide elected officials with a two-thirds vote in each chamber. Oregon is currently the only state that does not have a process for the state legislature to impeach a governor or other statewide electeds.
Measure 116: Establishes “Independent Public Service Compensation Commission” (Legislative Referral)
Too close to call
By creating this new commission, this measure would establish a new process for determining salaries for many public officials, including legislators, judges of the Supreme Court, the Governor, the Secretary of State, the State Treasurer, the Attorney General, and others. Currently, these salaries can only be changed by passing legislation.
Measure 117: Ranked-choice voting (Legislative Referral)
Failing
This measure would create a new voting system for electing certain candidates, namely for federal and statewide races (it would not impact state legislative races). Should this pass, it would go into effect for elections starting in 2028, and it would authorize local elections to use ranked-choice voting as well. There are currently two states who have a ranked-choice voting system statewide: Alaska & Maine.
Measure 118: Raises corporate taxes; distributes revenue to Oregonians (Citizen Initiative)
Failing
Should this measure pass, it would raise the minimum corporate tax rate and distribute the additional revenue equally to residents of Oregon.
Measure 119: Unionization of Cannabis Workers Initiative (Citizen Initiative)
Passing
If passed, this measure would require cannabis employers to enter into labor neutrality agreements with labor organizations. It also adds clarity about what is considered interference with that effort, and what fines or other consequences could be implemented.
Local Ballot Measures
The following are a few local measures that we found interesting, not a comprehensive list.
Greater Idaho slow-down
Over the past few years, we’ve seen multiple Eastern and Central Oregon counties approve ballot measures for the Greater Idaho movement, an initiative promoting shifting the borders between Idaho and Oregon so that some parts of Eastern Oregon would become Idaho. This year, however, three counties that previously passed ballot measures requiring their county commissioners to discuss state border relocation are now looking to put guardrails up. Voters in Baker County and Lake County will decide if their commissioners should have more discretion as to how often and when they discuss the issue. In Malheur County, voters will decide if they want to repeal the requirement that their commission discuss state border relocation, citing low attendance and engagement.
Prohibition of Psilocybin-related businesses
Voters all over the state will weigh in on whether their municipality should proactively prohibit psilocybin-related businesses, including service centers. There are 17 ballot measures, which range from a two-year moratorium to a permanent ban. We have seen these since a 2020 statewide ballot measure was approved by the voters to allow the state to set up licensed facilities to administer psilocybin in a therapeutic setting.
Offshore wind
Two counties have ballot measures dealing with offshore wind projects. Both Coos and Curry Counties are holding advisory votes (essentially a vote to determine public opinion and not enact a change) as to whether their county commissioners should oppose offshore wind projects in their respective energy areas.
OPCA’s Policy, Regulatory, & Advocacy Update
Join OPCA’s Policy staff for our Policy, Regulatory, & Advocacy Update Call where they will provide monthly updates on important policy and regulatory issues that matter to health centers.
- When: Every second Wednesday of the month at 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
- Register in advance for this meeting
OPCA’s Policy Office Hours
Join OPCA staff for our new Policy and Regulatory Office Hours! This is a dedicated space for you to share policy or regulatory concerns, successes, or questions with OPCA’s policy team.
- When: Every third Thursday of the month at 12:00 PM
- Register for this meeting
Contact OPCA’s Policy and Advocacy team
Policy & Governmental
Affairs Sr. Director
Danielle Sobel
503-228-8852, x248
dsobel@orpca.org
Governmental
Affairs Director
Marty Carty
503-228-8852, x239
mcarty@orpca.org
Health Policy Analyst
Erin Woods
ewoods@orpca.org
