LOC News
Election Results are Final: Democrats Hold Super-Majority in the Statehouse
The LOC has completed its compilation of the results related to local measures from the recently completed 2024 General Election. This election cycle included more than 90 local measures, along with a full slate of House elections and one-half of the Senate seats.
Based on the returns, nine new state legislators will be in the House and Senate chambers in 2025, and three lawmakers who previously served in the Legislature will return to the Capitol. With Senator Elizabeth Steiner's election as secretary of state, her successor, Representative Lisa Reynolds, was appointed by Commissioners in Multnomah and Washington County. The vacated House seat in District 34 is expected to have an appointment finalized in January.
Voter Turnout by County
Congratulations to Wheeler County, which has seen an 86% voter turnout, the highest among all counties. By contrast, Malheur County ranks the lowest at 60% voter turnout. This election cycle shifted the trend with all urban counties above 70%, which typically perform behind the average voter turnout in rural counties. Overall, 76% of the state’s registered voters turned out.
State Legislature Sees Shift to Supermajority for Senate and House
While the turnover of state legislators is not as high as in previous cycles, the Oregon Senate will see the most significant change. A full one-third of the Senate will have new members over the next two election cycles. Due to Measure 113, 10 Republican Senators with 10 or more unexcused absences during the 2023 session are prevented from running for reelection in 2024 and 2026. Republicans had six open Senate races between retirements and those impacted by M113. The remaining four Republican Senate seats impacted by M113 will be open in 2026.
Senate Democrats gained one additional seat and now hold a super-majority with 18 of 30 seats. In the House, House District 22 flipped from Republican to Democrat, giving the Democrats 36 of 60 seats. Just 161 votes separated this race.
Local Measures
This election cycle included 92 local government measures between counties, cities, and special districts. Revenue-raising measures (levies, bonds, taxes) combined for 40 measures, charter amendments accounted for 25, and the balance, or 27 local measures, focused on advisory questions. Out of all the revenue measures (levies, bonds, taxes), just 16 of the 40 passed. From this group of measures, only two of eight school bonds passed, eight of 15 tax measures passed, and just six of 16 local bond measures. The largest block of successful local measures was related to local advisory questions, with 24 of 30 passing.
Cities can access the LOC elections report here for more details of local measure results. For more details on state elections, go to the Oregon Secretary of State’s website here.
Contact: Jim McCauley, Legislative Director – jmccauley@orcities.org
Last Updated 12/6/24