Gelser: 'Our chances of working toward a 41 seat majority are good'

DENVER -- Rep. Sarah Gelser (D-Corvallis) said Wednesday that Oregon Democrats had put forward a slate of qualified candidates for the state House and seemed poised to pick up a significant amount of seats this November.

Democrats have targeted 11 House races that they believe they can win. If they win all three, they would have a 22-seat advantage over Republicans in the house.

"Our chances of working toward a 41-seat majority are good," Gelser said. "We have voter registration behind us- that blue tide - and what we're finding is that when candidates are getting out and speaking to voters, they are connecting."

Democrats had a slim majority in the house for the 2007 session, 31-29, but Gelser said that number did not leave them with a lot of breathing room. The biggest advantage, Gelser said, of an increased majority is that if someone is sick or if someone has to be away from the session, they can be.

"On any issue, having more than a one-vote advantage gives you latitude," she said. "If someone is sick, or if someone is having a baby, they can be away and we can still get things done."

If they remain in the majority, Democrats will have to choose a new House Speaker. Current House Speaker Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) is running for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton).

Gelser refused to float any ideas as to who would replace Merkley, but she imagined that current House majority leader Dave Hunt (D-Clackamas) would be in the running.

"Conventional wisdom usually leads to the majority leader," Gelser said.