In a tough general election for Oregon Republicans, pro-life candidates held onto their ability to represent the most vulnerable in the state legislature. Their wins came thanks in part to the tireless efforts of pro-life people who participated in grassroots action, gave financial contributions, and urged their friends and family members to back candidates who would represent the most vulnerable.
Nationwide, Republicans celebrated major victories last night, defeating pro-abortion ballot initiatives, reclaiming the White House and the U.S. Senate, and potentially winning the U.S. House of Representatives. That strong Republican wave sadly did not extend into the deep blue coastal states like California, Oregon, and Washington, where pro-abortion Democrats continue to hold power.
Nevertheless, in Oregon, pro-life candidates backed by Oregon Right to Life PAC were able to secure wins in key races where ORTL PAC employed strategic door-to-door canvassing efforts.
See all ORTL PAC-supported winners of last night’s election below:
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Tri-County (Portland) Area
U.S. Congress
Lori Chavez-DeRemer (CD 5)’s race has not been called yet.
State House
HD 18 – Rick Lewis
HD 31 – Darcey Edwards
HD 51 – Christine Drazan
Jeff Helfrich (HD 52) and John Masterman (HD 48)’s races have not been called yet.
Willamette Valley
State Senate
SD 5 – Dick Anderson
SD 9 – Fred Girod
SD 12 – Bruce Starr
State House
HD 9 – Boomer Wright
HD 11 – Jami Cate
HD 12 – Darin Harbick
HD 15 – Shelly Boshart Davis
HD 17 – Ed Diehl
HD 18 – Rick Lewis
HD 23 – Anna Scharf
HD 24 – Lucetta Elmer
HD 21 – Kevin Mannix
HD 22 – Tracy Cramer
County Commissioner:
Linn County Pos. 2 – Sherrie Sprenger
Marion County Pos. 3 – Danielle Bethell
Lindsay Berschauer (Yamhill County Pos. 2)’s race has not been called yet.
Central, Southern, and Eastern Oregon
U.S. Congress
CD 2 – Cliff Bentz
State Senate
SD 1 – David Brock Smith
SD 2 – Noah Robinson
SD 28 – Diane Linthicum
SD 29 – Todd Nash
SD 30 – Mike McLane
State House
HD 1 – Court Boice
HD 2 – Virgle Osborne
HD 3 – Dwayne Yunker
HD 4 – Alek Skarlatos
HD 6 – Kim Wallan
HD 55 – E. Werner Reschke
HD 56 – Emily McIntire
HD 57 – Greg Smith
HD 58 – Bobby Levy
HD 59 – Vikki Breese Iverson
HD 60 – Mark Owens
Jeff Helfrich (HD 52)’s race has not yet been called.
County Commissioner
Josephine County Pos. 2 – Chris Barnett
Josephine County Pos. 3 – Ron Smith
Klamath County Pos. 1 – Andrew Nichols
Wallowa County Pos. 1 – Lisa Collier
Seth Taylor (Jefferson County Pos. 3)’s race has not been called yet.
Oregon Coast
State Senate
SD 1 – David Brock Smith
SD 5 – Dick Anderson
State House
HD 1 – Court Boice
HD 9 – Boomer Wright
HD 32 – Cyrus Javadi
From the 2024 primary election through the general election, ORTL PAC’s grassroots team knocked on nearly 21,000 doors, made more than 20,000 direct phone calls, and surveyed almost 9,000 voters in key districts. Volunteers and staff members provided information to undecided voters and energized pro-life Oregonians to cast their ballots for candidates who will represent Oregon’s most vulnerable.
In total, ORTL PAC supported 69 candidates in the 2024 general election, 42 of whom won their races with four races still too close to call.
In Marion County, ORTL PAC-endorsed incumbents Kevin Mannix (HD 21) and Tracy Cramer (HD 22) won re-election and will remain pro-life champions.
“Tracy and Kevin were targeted for defeat from the beginning. Where it counted, the pro-life message won on Tuesday night and we retained our ability to represent the most vulnerable in the Oregon legislature,” Oregon Right to Life political director Sharolyn Smith said in a Wednesday morning press release. “We’re very proud of the work our grassroots team did to secure these crucial wins.”
“Our grassroots team is one of the only ones in the state that operates year round, informing Oregonians about abortion and rallying the pro-life vote,” said Oregon Right to Life executive director Lois Anderson. “Advancing the pro-life message in Oregon is challenging. In several races, especially at the county commissioner level, this was not the night we were hoping for. But we have solid wins to celebrate.”
“Where we focus our efforts and resources, we can and do win,” Anderson continued. “Our grassroots team rallied the pro-life vote and created a path to victory for strong candidates like Tracy Cramer, Kevin Mannix, and Darin Harbick in House District 12, who will make a real difference for life.”
In a much-anticipated victory last night, ORTL PAC-endorsed pro-life candidate Darin Harbick solidified his win to represent the people of rural Lane County in HD 12. Harbick’s Tuesday night win came after a historic pro-life primary election victory in which he earned more than 82% of the vote against pro-abortion incumbent Charlie Conrad (R-Dexter).
“We went into the 2024 election mainly to accomplish one thing: Defeat pro-abortion Republican Charlie Conrad,” Smith said. “And we did it to a historic degree.”
Oregon voters not only rejected Conrad over his abortion support, they also opposed abortion extremism in Democrat-leaning districts.
“We knew abortion was going to be the main attack on Tracy and Kevin in Marion County, but 65% of voters in their Democrat-leaning districts think Oregon’s abortion law is too extreme,” Smith added. “These voters support candidates who want to see limits on abortion. They know that Representatives Mannix and Cramer will represent their values.”
