(NewsNation) — NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the U.S. Senate race in Oregon for incumbent Democrat Ron Wyden.
Wyden, easily won reelection, defeating Republican opponent 66-year-old Jo Rae Perkins who has never held elected office.
In a surprising twist, Oregon’s midterm races garnered national attention as Republicans made a play for formerly secure Democratic strongholds.
Wyden, who was first elected to the Senate in 1996, chairs the powerful U.S. Senate Finance Committee and also sits on the Energy and Natural Resources, Budget and Intelligence Committees.
Decision Desk HQ called the U.S. House race in Oregon’s 4th Congressional District for Democrat Val Hoyle.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer flipped Oregon’s 5th Congressional District for the Republicans, according to NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ.
In the race for Oregon’s governorship, Republican Christine Drazan challenged the former state House speaker Tina Kotek (D) with a successful campaign that could make Drazan the first Republican governor of Oregon in nearly 40 years. The two are locked in a tight race with a third candidate, Betsy Johnson, trying to pave her way as a centrist option for Oregonians and siphoning votes away from Kotek.
With the governorship in question, Republicans found an opening to fight for House and Senate seats. In the days leading up to the election, Oregon Democrats went on the defensive, trying to maintain their hold on the legislature despite criticisms about the handling of COVID-19 and the homelessness crisis.
The outcome of Oregon’s races is likely to affect the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate. Of the 100 Senate seats, 35 will see elections during the midterms, including one special election. Democrats have the effective majority with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaking vote in the 50-50 split chamber.
All 435 House seats are also up for election. Midterm election results will determine which party has legislative control, ultimately determining who sets the agenda for President Joe Biden’s remaining years in office.
Oregon is a vote-by-mail state so all registered voters in the state were mailed their ballots in the weeks leading up to the election.
See multiple Oregon election results as they come in by using the drop-down menus below:
