While Democrats were largely anticipated to maintain their legislative majority in Oregon, it was uncertain whether they could reclaim the three-fifths majority in both chambers that they lost in 2022.
In the Senate, they succeeded by flipping the Bend seat, previously held by former Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp, who was ineligible to run for reelection after participating in a walkout during the 2023 legislative session. This district had consistently supported Republican candidates for years, but following the redistricting after the 2020 census, it has shifted to what is likely to become a reliably blue area. Democratic Bend City Councilor Anthony Broadman decisively defeated Republican Redmond School Board Chair Michael Summers, securing 59% of the vote compared to Summers’ 41%.
Amidst national setbacks for Democrats in the presidential and U.S. Senate races, Oregon’s Democratic lawmakers experienced a boost in this fall’s election, successfully flipping a crucial seat in the Legislature to strengthen their control in the state Senate.
However, the party seems to have missed the opportunity to flip any seats in the House, remaining just one seat short of regaining a powerful supermajority in both chambers. Such a supermajority would have enabled them to pass new taxes or increase existing ones without needing Republican support.
Regaining a supermajority in the Senate could have significant implications for the upcoming legislative session, particularly as lawmakers seek new funding sources to address a substantial shortfall in Oregon’s transportation budget. Nevertheless, the lack of additional seats in the House could limit their influence since revenue bills must originate there, meaning Democrats will require at least one Republican vote to pass any tax increases.
Despite their Senate supermajority, top Democratic leaders have indicated that they want any transportation funding package to receive bipartisan support. As the minority party, Republicans have limited options to obstruct the Democrats’ agenda. In recent years, they have increasingly employed boycotts of floor sessions to deny the necessary two-thirds quorum for voting on bills, but the era of extended walkouts may be coming to an end.
Measure 113, approved by voters in 2022, prohibits lawmakers from seeking reelection if they accumulate 10 or more unexcused absences from floor sessions. Consequently, ten Republicans who participated in a six-week walkout in 2023 have been barred from running for reelection under this law.
