• Home
  • About
  • Advertise
Thursday, July 31, 2025
No Result
View All Result
Astoria Journal
  • Home
  • News
  • Community
  • Local News
  • Oregon
  • About
  • Home
  • News
  • Community
  • Local News
  • Oregon
  • About
No Result
View All Result
Astoria Journal
No Result
View All Result

Oregon Democrats Secure Supermajority in State Legislature Following Narrow Win in Woodburn

by Tonya McPhearson
November 28, 2024
in Local News
Oregon Democrats Secure Supermajority in State Legislature Following Narrow Win in Woodburn
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Astoria, OR – Oregon Democrats have secured a supermajority in both the state House and Senate, thanks to a narrow victory in the 22nd House District, which includes the rural community of Woodburn. The victory, confirmed late Tuesday, came after a prolonged ballot count in Marion County, where Democratic challenger Lesly Muñoz defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Tracy Cramer by just 161 votes out of more than 20,800 cast.

Muñoz, a labor organizer from Woodburn, overtook Cramer as the final ballots were tallied. Marion County, home to Oregon’s state capital, was slower to count votes due to a high number of write-ins, which required additional time for election workers to process. Despite trailing Cramer in the initial results posted on November 5, Muñoz’s lead grew as more ballots were counted, ultimately giving her a slim victory in one of Oregon’s most competitive House races.

The outcome is a significant win for Democrats, as it not only regains a seat they lost two years ago but also provides them with a crucial three-fifths majority in the state House. This majority enables House Democrats to pass new taxes or increase existing ones without Republican support, an important development ahead of the 2025 legislative session. Lawmakers are expected to work on a multi-billion-dollar transportation funding package, which will likely require significant funding sources.

Muñoz, whose campaign was heavily backed by the farmworkers’ union Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, framed her victory as a win for farmworkers in Oregon. Nearly 48% of the district’s residents are Hispanic, making it the only majority-minority district in the Oregon House. Muñoz expressed her commitment to advocating for farmworkers, highlighting recent victories such as the extension of overtime protections to farmworkers.

“Farmworkers need a seat at the table in our state legislature,” Muñoz said in a statement. “Recently farmworkers won the same overtime protections all other Oregon workers enjoy, and now we have a voice in Salem to fight for equal rights in other areas.”

Democratic leaders in the House celebrated the win, with House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, asserting that Oregonians had sent a clear message through their votes. He pledged that House Democrats would focus on issues such as affordability, government efficiency, and the protection of basic rights and freedoms in the upcoming legislative session.

“House Democrats will protect what makes Oregon special and show that this state is for everyone. We take this responsibility seriously,” Bowman said in a statement. “In the 2025 session, we will improve the lives of all Oregonians with a focus on affordability, making government work, and keeping Oregonians safe.”

The tight race in District 22 was closely watched, and Cramer, who has yet to concede, requested a recount. Under Oregon law, recounts are triggered automatically if the margin between the top two candidates is less than one-fifth of 1 percent of the total votes cast, which in this case would be around 42 votes. If the margin exceeds that threshold, candidates may still request a recount, but they would need to pay for it themselves.

Muñoz’s victory marks a decisive shift in the balance of power in Oregon’s legislature, and with Democrats holding a supermajority in both chambers, they are poised to advance their legislative agenda, including key priorities such as expanding worker protections and investing in infrastructure.

You May Also Like

Astoria police and Oregon State Police conduct crosswalk enforcement, issue citations and make arrest

Astoria police and Oregon State Police conduct crosswalk enforcement, issue citations and make arrest

by Tonya McPhearson
July 29, 2025
0

Astoria, OR - The Astoria Police Department, in partnership with the Oregon State Police and Oregon Impact, carried out a...

Crosswalk installation limits access on 37th Street in Astoria July 29

Crosswalk installation limits access on 37th Street in Astoria July 29

by Ted Wolfson
July 29, 2025
0

Astoria, OR - The City of Astoria Public Works Operations began installing new crosswalks on 37th Street between Lief Erikson...

Portland Man Killed in Head-On Collision on Highway 58

Portland Man Killed in Head-On Collision on Highway 58

by Tonya McPhearson
June 6, 2025
0

LANE COUNTY, Ore. – A Portland man was killed early Tuesday morning in a head-on crash on Highway 58 just east...

Coquille Educators Ratify New Contract, Avert Strike

Coquille Educators Ratify New Contract, Avert Strike

by Tonya McPhearson
June 5, 2025
0

COQUILLE, Ore. — The Coquille Education Association (CEA) and the Coquille School District have reached a new labor agreement, successfully...

Portland Man Killed in Head-On Crash on Highway 58 Near Oakridge

Portland Man Killed in Head-On Crash on Highway 58 Near Oakridge

by Tonya McPhearson
June 5, 2025
0

LANE COUNTY, Ore. — A Portland man was killed early Tuesday morning in a head-on collision on Highway 58, east...

Suspect Apprehended After Armed Robbery at Market of Choice in Eugene

Suspect Apprehended After Armed Robbery at Market of Choice in Eugene

by Tonya McPhearson
June 5, 2025
0

EUGENE, Ore. – A man was taken into custody Tuesday following an armed robbery at the Market of Choice on...

Next Post
Coquille Indian Tribe Partners with State of Oregon for Emergency Preparedness Exercise

Coquille Indian Tribe Partners with State of Oregon for Emergency Preparedness Exercise

Astoria police and Oregon State Police conduct crosswalk enforcement, issue citations and make arrest
Local News

Astoria police and Oregon State Police conduct crosswalk enforcement, issue citations and make arrest

by Tonya McPhearson
July 29, 2025
0

Astoria, OR - The Astoria Police Department, in partnership with the Oregon State Police and Oregon Impact, carried out a...

Read more
Crosswalk installation limits access on 37th Street in Astoria July 29

Crosswalk installation limits access on 37th Street in Astoria July 29

July 29, 2025
City of Astoria announces temporary traffic detour on 16th Street for waterline maintenance July 15

City of Astoria announces temporary traffic detour on 16th Street for waterline maintenance July 15

July 15, 2025
Astoria Fire Department holds badge pinning ceremony to celebrate new lieutenant promotion

Astoria Fire Department holds badge pinning ceremony to celebrate new lieutenant promotion

July 15, 2025
Oregon Launches 12-Month Plan to Tackle Public Defender Shortage

Oregon Launches 12-Month Plan to Tackle Public Defender Shortage

June 6, 2025

Astoria Journal is the Astoria’s largest locally owned, independent news platform. We specialize in hyperlocal coverage of the people, places and events that shape the communities we love. Our team of award-winning, Astoria-based, reporters are dedicated to bringing readers stories fast, first and forever free.

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise

© 2021 Astoria Journal

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Community
  • Local News
  • Oregon
  • About

© 2021 Astoria Journal