In a Night of Blowouts, Portland House District Nearly A Dead Heat

Candidates vying to succeed Portland's only African-American lawmaker locked in tight battle.

Roberta Phillip-Robbins and Tawna Sanchez, the two principal candidates seeking to replace state Rep. Lew Frederick (D-North/Northeast Portland) in House District 43, remained in a tight race at 9:30 Tuesday night.

Phillip-Robbins, until recently a gang violence prevention worker at Multnomah County, held a slim lead over Sanchez, the acting executive director of the Native American Youth and Family Center 49.3 percent to 47.7 percent.

Willamette Week

Nigel Jaquiss

Reporter Nigel Jaquiss joined the Oregon Journalism project in 2025 after 27 years at Willamette Week.

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