Oregon Gov. Kate Brown wins, incumbents return to Congress
PORTLAND – Democratic Gov. Kate Brown defeated Republican opponent Bud Pierce on Tuesday.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden handily defeated Republican challenger Mark Callahan to retain his seat.
Oregon’s sole Republican in Congress, Greg Walden, beat Democratic challenger Jim Crary, who lacked an extensive background in politics. Democratic U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici and Kurt Schrader are also keeping their seats in Congress.
Brown’s victory keeps her in the governor’s job for another two years. She will be finishing the last two years of the term of Gov. John Kitzhaber, who quit in February 2015 because of an influence-peddling scandal swirling around him and his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes.
Brown, the nation’s first bisexual governor, took over for Kitzhaber because as secretary of state she was next in line.
There will be another gubernatorial election in 2018.
In the run-up to Tuesday’s election, Brown touted achievements such as a deal to incrementally raise the minimum wage to as high as $14.75 by 2022 and passage of pioneering legislation to eliminate the use of coal-fired power by 2035.
Pierce, a Salem oncologist and political newcomer, got into trouble by suggesting during a debate with Brown that successful women aren’t susceptible to domestic abuse and sexual violence. He later apologized.