City Councilmember Vanessa Nordyke Unseats Julie Hoy as Mayor of Salem, Oregon
Primaries for four of Oregon's most-populous counties are detailed below.
The elections occurred today in Oregon for county positions in four of the state’s most-populous counties. That includes Clackamas, Lane, Marion, and Washington Counties. This post also features the nonpartisan contest for mayor of Salem. Separate posts will be covering the primaries for federal races, statewide executive offices, and both chambers of the state legislature.
The races in Clackamas, Lane, and Washington Counties are officially nonpartisan. A candidate will be elected outright if they achieve a 50%+1 majority on the ballot today. If not, then the top two finishers will advance to a second round scheduled to occur alongside the regular elections on November 3, 2026. In Marion County, the races for the Board of Commissioners will select their Democratic and Republican nominees today while the county positions are nonpartisan.
Clackamas County Board of Commissioners:
For District 2, incumbent Paul Savas and former County Commissioner Mark Shull will advance with 42.7% (33,517) and 24.8% (19,504) against former County Commissioner Jim Bernard with 23.8% (18,702), business owner David Bush with 7.1% (5,547), and mechanic Jacob Hinthorne with 1.6% (1,248). 78,518 votes counted.
For District 4 (special), incumbent Diana Helm and environmental consultant R.W. Smith will advance with 42.8% (32,544) and 15.5% (11,811) against rancher Bill Osburn with 14.0% (10,663), operations manager Brian O’Neill with 10.4% (7,896), business owner Robert Kukish with 7.8% (5,907), mortgage broker Pete Wease with 6.1% (4,682), and Jeannette Christina Warren with 3.4% (2,608). 76,111 votes counted.
For District 5, attorney Sonya Fischer won with 51.8% (40,949) against incumbent Ben West with 48.2% (38,090). 79,039 votes counted.
Clackamas County Officials:
For Assessor, incumbent Bronson Rueda won unopposed.
Lane County Board of Commissioners:
For District 1, incumbent Ryan Ceniga won with 61.9% (8,313) against Lane school board director Thomas Hiura with 38.1% (5,122). 13,435 votes counted.
For District 2, Springfield mayor Sean VanGordon won with 51.5% (4,711) against incumbent David Loveall with 41.1% (3,763) and counselor William Thomas Monsoor with 7.4% (678). 9,152 votes counted.
For District 5, Marine veteran Jake Pelroy and incumbent Heather Buch will advance with 49.9% (6,282) and 45.2% (5,680) against program manager Bob Zybach with 4.9% (618). 12,580 votes counted.
Lane County Officials:
For Assessor, incumbent Mary Vuksich-Shafer won unopposed.
Marion County Board of Commissioners:
For District 1:
Business consultant Sara Duncan won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Kevin Cameron won the Republican primary.
For District 2:
Former Salem-Keizer school board member Maria Hinojos Pressey won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Colm Willis won the Republican primary.
Marion County Officials:
For District Attorney, Chief Deputy District Attorney Brendan Murphy won unopposed.
For Treasurer, incumbent Samuel Brentano won unopposed.
Washington County Board of Commissioners:
For Chair, County Commissioner Pam Treece and County Commissioner Nafisa Fai will advance with 37.9% (23,203) and 34.1% (20,874) against entrepreneur Jenny Kamprath with 28.0% (17,166). 61,243 votes counted.
For District 2, Planning Commissioner Felicita Monteblanco won with 52.0% (7,499) against Marine veteran Stevan Kirkpatrick with 24.5% (3,532) and state prosecutor Blayne Soleymani-Pearson with 23.5% (3,394). 14,425 votes counted.
For District 4, Former Hillsboro mayor Steve Callaway and nurse Ayla Hofler will advance with 35.8% (5,247) and 18.5% (2,709) against Hillsboro city councilmember Kipperlyn Sinclair with 18.0% (2,646), financial analyst Anthony Martin with 11.9% (1,748), senior planner Paul Schaefer with 9.7% (1,426), and nonprofit executive Kimberly Culbertson with 6.1% (896). 14,672 votes counted.
Washington County Officials:
For Auditor, incumbent Kristine Adams-Wannberg won unopposed.
For District Attorney, incumbent Kevin Barton won unopposed.
Mayor:
In Salem, city councilmember Vanessa Nordyke won with 56.2% (13,541) against incumbent Julie Hoy with 43.8% (10,555). 24,096 votes counted.