Oregon State House: 5 closest races

Republicans staved off an even bigger Democratic majority in the Oregon State House by pulling out three of the closest victories in the state, according to official election results released by the Secretary of State’s office.

However, Democrats pulled out two close wins in House Districts 51 and 52, which had been Republican seats during the last cycle.

The following are the five closest State House Races in campaigns containing two major-party candidates:

1.      HD-39: State Representative-elect Bill Kennemer (R-Oregon City) def. State House candidate Toby Forsberg (D-Oregon City) by 487 votes
2.      HD-51: State Representative-elect Brent Barton (D-Clackamas) def. outgoing State Rep. Linda Flores (R-Clackamas) by 976 votes
3.      HD-52: State Representative-elect Suzanne VanOrman (D-Hood River) def. State house candidate Matt Lindland (R-Eagle Creek) by 1,259 votes
4.      HD-26: State Rep. Matt Wingard (R-Wilsonville) def. State House candidate Jessica Adamson (D-Sherwood) by 1,748 votes
5.      HD-6: State Rep. Sal Esquival (R-Medford) def. Lynn Howe (D-Medford) by 1,984 votes

According to Oregon’s latest census numbers, the average population in an Oregon State House district is 62,458. And according to the secretary of state’s voter registration numbers, there is an average of 35,899 registered voters per house district.  With the secretary of state reporting that 85.7 percent of registered voters participating in the 2008 election, each house district saw an average of 30,754 registered voters cast a ballot.