State Rep. Suzanne Weber, a Tillamook Republican, held the advantage over Melissa Busch, a home health nurse and a Democrat from Warren, for state Senate District 16.
Weber led with around 56% of the vote, while Busch has around 44%.
“I’m very excited with the results, and feel confident that these results will hold,” Weber said in a statement Wednesday morning. “I am so thankful for those who have supported me over this campaign and before. I’m ready to get to work.”
If secured, Weber’s victory would mark the first Republican winning the seat in over two decades.
Betsy Johnson’s decision to launch an independent campaign for governor placed the state Senate seat that covers the North Coast up for grabs. Soon after, Weber announced plans to give up her seat in state House District 32 to try to replace Johnson. Both Weber and Busch ran unopposed in the May primary.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Busch conceded the race and congratulated Weber.
“While I am disheartened by the election results, I will continue to advocate for my community and fight to solve the challenges we face together,” Busch said in a statement. “It has been my honor to run to represent (Senate District 16). I’m deeply grateful for the support I’ve received over the campaign — from my family, my campaign team, my neighbors and my friends.”
Weber and Busch identified housing and education as priorities during their campaigns, but offered decidedly different solutions to the issues. Weber, a longtime elementary school teacher, also named public safety and inflation as key issues in the district, while Busch pointed to health care and caregiving needs.
The candidates offered voters choices in policy and experience. Weber refers to herself as “pro-life,” while Busch positioned herself as a strong advocate for abortion rights. Weber opposed Measure 114, which would bolster the state’s gun control laws, while Busch showed qualified support.
Although only spending two years in the House, Weber had nearly two decades of experience serving as the mayor and as a city councilor in Tillamook. Busch had no previous political experience, but her work as a nurse, she said, gave her a unique perspective.
After Johnson vacated her seat, Rachel Armitage, of Warren, was nominated by Democrats and eventually appointed by county commissioners within the district to finish out her Senate term. Armitage had no plans to campaign for the seat.
Busch, along with House District 32 candidate Logan Laity, sought appointment to the seat before Armitage was selected.
Last week, Johnson endorsed Weber.
Weber outpaced Busch in campaign contributions. As of Tuesday night, Weber had raised over $470,000, while Busch collected over $250,000.
Weber gathered funding from several political action committees, including $35,000 from influential conservative group Bring Balance to Salem PAC. Busch received $110,000 from the Oregon Nurses Political Action Committee, an arm of the Oregon Nurses Association.
