Lane County election results: Early returns shape local races
Voters across Lane County weighed in on local governance, ballot measures, and legislative contests during the November 3 elections, with initial returns released at 8 p.m. and updated tallies continuing throughout the evening, Lookout Eugene-Springfield reported.
In the high-profile U.S. Senate race, Democratic incumbent Jeff Merkley secured 806,949 votes, or 56.97%, leading Republican David Brock Smith, who gathered 570,034 votes at 40.25%. Minor party candidates also appeared on the ballot, with Chris Henry pulling 25,660 votes (1.81%) for the Progressive and Pacific Green parties, and Libertarian Gary Lyndon Dye taking 12,692 votes (0.90%).
For the U.S. House 4th Congressional District, Democrat Val Hoyle led the field with 147,509 votes (54.20%), ahead of Republican challenger Monique DeSpain, who collected 116,317 votes (42.74%). Justin Filip, running on the Pacific Green and Progressive tickets, brought in 8,133 votes (2.99%). In the gubernatorial contest across Oregon, Democrat Tina Kotek outpaced Republican Christine Drazan, pulling in 727,532 votes (52.37%) compared to Drazan’s 624,328 votes (44.94%), while Pacific Green candidate Brett Smith earned 35,631 votes (2.56%).
Floyd Prozanski and Jack Tibbetts secure legislative leads
Oregon legislative races within Lane County brought decisive margins in several districts. Senate District 4 saw Floyd Prozanski secure 29,911 votes (97.18%) as a Democrat. In Senate District 6, Republican Jack Tibbetts led with 33,561 votes (60.91%), ahead of Democrat Sierrah Williams at 20,493 votes (37.19%) and Libertarian Caleb Ticer at 1,005 votes (1.82%). Senate District 7 went to Democrat James Manning with 34,478 votes (67.66%) over Republican Jack Huff at 16,321 votes (32.03%).
House contests showed similar variation. In House District 7, Democrat Kori Rodley took 12,386 votes (56.88%) against Republican Adam Wilson’s 9,298 votes (42.70%). House District 8 favored Democrat Lisa Fragala with 18,414 votes (84.92%) over Republican Bill Vivian at 3,225 votes (14.87%). House District 9 went to Republican Claire Lynn with 16,229 votes (55.60%) over Democrat John Ezra Scheirman at 12,916 votes (44.25%). David Gomberg ran largely uncontested in House District 10 with 19,194 votes (96.71%). House District 12 favored Republican Darin Harbick with 15,541 votes (55.77%) over Democrat Amber Smith at 12,027 votes (43.16%). House District 13 went to Democrat Nancy Nathanson with 19,870 votes (70.58%) over Republican Jonathan T. Abrahamsen at 8,241 votes (29.27%). House District 14 elected Democrat Julie Fahey with 14,768 votes (64.48%) over Republican Kevin T. Burton at 8,108 votes (35.40%).
County-level administration and judicial positions also appeared on the ballot. Nathan J. Lichvarcik led the Lane County Circuit Court District 2 race with 73,164 votes (97.97%). For Lane County Commissioner Position 5 in East Lane, Heather Buch led with 14,726 votes (51.11%) over challenger Jake Pelroy at 14,029 votes (48.69%). West Lane District 1 Commissioner Ryan Ceniga captured 18,301 votes (95.42%), and Springfield District 2 Commissioner Sean VanGordon secured 14,355 votes (97.45%). Mary Vuksich-Shafer led the assessor race with 71,682 votes (98.28%), and Carl E. Wilkerson III took the sheriff’s race with 74,035 votes (97.76%).
Athena Aguiar leads Ward 5 and voters approve clean energy fund
Eugene city council races showed competitive results in Ward 5, where Athena Aguiar led with 4,985 votes (57.66%) over Mike Clark at 3,645 votes (42.16%). Wards 3, 4, and 6 saw Jennifer Smith (2,276 votes, 97.26%), Jennifer Yeh (4,474 votes, 97.94%), and Greg Evans (3,952 votes, 97.24%) leading their respective uncontested or low-opposition fields. Eugene voters also approved Measure 20-388 regarding the Eugene Clean Energy Fund, with 33,537 votes in favor (57.81%) and 24,476 opposed (42.19%).
Springfield City Council Ward 4 elected Callee Ackland with 8,809 votes (57.09%) over Jill Cuadros at 6,517 votes (42.24%).
In Oakridge, Measure 20-387 for a five-year ambulance service levy failed, drawing 587 no votes (64.36%) against 325 yes votes (35.64%). Meanwhile, Western Lane Ambulance District voters overwhelmingly renewed a five-year option levy under Measure 20-389, passing it with 6,481 yes votes (80.84%) to 1,536 no votes (19.16%).
