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Democrats Kathleen Taylor and Rob Nosse have emerged with their party's nominations from two of the more crowded and bitterly fought primary races for the Oregon House of Representatives.
In House District 41—covering Milwaukie, Oak Grove and Portland's Eastmoreland and Sellwood neighborhoods—Taylor was leading her closest opponent, Deborah Barnes, by 62 percent to 31 percent.
The race came down to a duel between Barnes and Taylor, Milwaukie vs. Portland.
Barnes is a former radio journalist and member of the Milwaukie City Council. She teaches at North Clackamas School District, where she has been a leader of the teachers' union. Taylor, who lives in Eastmoreland, has worked as a government auditor.
The race for the Democratic nomination in House District 42 was wide open, with six candidates vying for a chance to replace Rep. Jules Bailey, who is giving up his seat to run for the Multnomah County Commission.
In early returns, Nosse leads the pack with 49 percent of the vote. Teddy Keizer, a private tutor whose lawn signs featured a silhouette of him hiking, has 36 percent. Don Gavitte, a teacher at Grant High School who has campaigned against cuts to school funding, has 7 percent.
Among other candidates, Kathleen O'Brien, an adoption lawyer, has 6 percent. John Sweeney, a former Portland Parks & Recreation supervisor, and Dan Shaw, a video-game designer and left-wing political activist, had less than 1 percent.
WWeek 2015