Senate Democrats Applaud Full Slate of Nominees

Candidates will run in all 16 Senate races in the 2010 November election.

Salem-News.com photo by Tim King

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Democratic candidates for the Oregon Senate were finalized this evening. Three candidates won contested primaries and thirteen others won the official nomination of the Democratic Party.

“This is an exceptionally strong slate of candidates,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin, a candidate for Senate District 19 (Tualatin, Lake Oswego, and West Linn). “As caucus leader, I’m confident about Senate Democrats’ ability to maintain our majority. Our candidates are in touch with everyday Oregonians and are working hard to spur job creation, help our local small businesses, and stand up for Oregon’s families.”

Devlin pointed to Senate Democrats’ accomplishments in 2009 and 2010 helping Oregonians get back to work, balancing the state budget, and protecting families from unscrupulous banks and credit card companies.

“Ever since the global recession hit, Senate Democrats have been focused on getting Oregon out of this economic downturn while protecting essential services, like schools and public safety,” said Devlin. “There are signs that our work is beginning to pay off and we will continue our commitment to these core priorities in the months and years ahead.”

Senate Democratic candidates across Oregon include 10 members running for reelection, four running against Republican incumbents, and two running in open seats. “The blend of experience, leadership, and enthusiasm represented by our slate of candidates is impressive in these times when there are a lot of tough choices to be made in Salem,” said Devlin. “These candidates are stepping up to work toward a brighter future for Oregon.”

The following is a list of Democrats who have won the Democratic nomination for their Senate seats (in numerical order):

• SD 3, Ashland & Medford: Senator Alan Bates
• SD 4, Eugene & North Douglas County: Senator Floyd Prozanski
• SD 6, Springfield: Lee Beyer, former senator & Public Utility Commission Chair
• SD 7, Eugene, Junction City: Senator Chris Edwards
• SD 8, Corvallis & Albany: Dan Rayfield, President of Linn-Benton Bar Assoc.
• SD 10, Salem: William Dalton, fund development specialist
• SD 11, Salem, Gervais, & Woodburn: Senator Peter Courtney
• SD 13, Yamhill & Polk Counties: Timi Parker, retired Oregon schoolteacher
• SD 15, Hillsboro & Forest Grove: Representative Chuck Riley
• SD 16, Columbia, Clatsop, & Tillamook Counties: Senator Betsy Johnson
• SD 17, Washington County & NW Portland: Senator Suzanne Bonamici
• SD 19, Tualatin, West Linn, & Lake Oswego: Senate Richard Devlin
• SD 20, Canby, Oregon City, & Gladstone: Senator Martha Schrader
• SD 22, Portland: Senator Chip Shields
• SD 24, Portland & Happy Valley: Senator Rod Monroe
• SD 26, Estacada, Sandy, & Hood River: Representative Brent Barton

Source: Oregon Legislature