A sign for the Oregon Senate chamber in the Oregon State Capitol. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
Polling over the summer shows a Republican challenger gaining ground in a key Oregon state Senate race that could determine whether Democrats regain the supermajority that would allow them to pass tax bills without Republican support.
Senate Republicans this week shared a polling memo conducted on behalf of Raymond Love, an Army Reserves colonel challenging Democratic state Sen. Chris Gorsek in the 25th Senate District in east Multnomah County. Salem-based Nelson Research surveyed 320 likely voters in July and 393 likely voters in September and found support for Gorsek shrinking.
While 15 Senate seats are up for election this November, only three are in competitive districts. Along with the 25th Senate District, Republican Sen. Dick Anderson of Lincoln City is defending his seat in the coastal 5th Senate District and Democrat Anthony Broadman and Republican Michael Summers are vying for the Bend-based 27th Senate District, now represented by Republican Tim Knopp. Both districts have more registered Democrats than Republicans.