David Brock Smith, a state senator, won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Oregon, emerging from seven candidates to challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley in November. Merkley, first elected in 2008, has been viewed as holding a generally safe seat because Oregon has not elected a Republican U.S. senator since 2002. Brock Smith framed his campaign around putting Oregon first, focusing on affordable living, safer communities, good-paying jobs, responsible government, and protecting state values. The primary result followed other major races called after the May 19 primary, including a gas tax referendum and a Republican governor primary. Voters rejected a proposed gas tax increase, and Republicans hailed the outcome while Democrats largely stayed quiet amid rising fuel prices.
"Brock Smith, a state senator, emerged from a field of seven candidates to challenge the incumbent, Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, in November. "This campaign is about putting Oregon first. Fighting for affordable living, safer communities, good-paying jobs, responsible government, and protecting the values that make our beloved state strong," he said in a statement. "This election is bigger than politics. It's about restoring hope, opportunity, and accountability for every Oregonian.""
"Merkley, who was first elected in 2008, is viewed as having a generally safe seat since Oregon hasn't elected a Republican U.S. senator since 2002. His campaign did not immediately respond Friday evening to a request for comment on Brock Smith's win. Friday's result comes after other high-profile contests were called on election night, including a gas tax referendum and the Republican primary for governor that set up a November rematch for the state's top job."
"Voters overwhelmingly rejected the ballot measure that asked them whether to raise the state gas tax by 6 cents to 46 cents a gallon. The Democratic-controlled Legislature passed the contested gas tax increase and a series of fees last year to help fix roads and plug a gap in the state's transportation budget. Republicans then launched a referendum campaign to refer it to the ballot and give voters the final say."
"Republicans hailed the rejection of the gas tax increase after it was trounced by voters. Democrats have remained mostly silent and didn't organize efforts to campaign for it as the Iran war caused prices at the pump to skyrocket. Some party members said in the run-up to the primary that they expected voters to defeat it."
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