Two legislative districts on the Oregon coast flip from Democrats to Republicans; Gomberg wins fifth term in House District race

Two legislative seats on the Oregon coast — including a closely watched and expensive contest for the Oregon Senate — flipped from Democrats to Republican office holders in Tuesday’s general election.

Lincoln City Mayor Dick Anderson, a Republican, has won the Senate District 5 race, beating Coos County Commissioner Melissa Cribbins by 2,000 votes — 37,182 to 35,125, according to results from the Oregon Secretary of State’s office.

A Pacific Green Party candidate, Shauleen Higgins of Lakeside, may have played the spoiler role in the race for Democrats, collecting 3,010 votes.

The senate district encompasses much of the Oregon coast, stretching from Coos Bay to Tillamook and includes all of Lincoln County. The winner replaces Sen. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay, who did not seek re-election to a four-year term. Anderson narrowly lost to Roblan in 2016.

In the race for Oregon House District 9, which stretches from Yachats to Coos Bay, Republican Gerald “Boomer” Wright of Reedsport soundly defeated Democrat Cal Mukumoto of Coos Bay 21,341 to 15,744. Wright will succeed Rep. Caddy McKeown, D-Coos Bay, who did not seek re-election.

In the race for Oregon House District 10, incumbent David Gomberg, D-Otis, won a fifth, two-year term beating Republican Max Sherman of Hebo 20,041 to 18,080.

Republicans had worked hard to pick up a rare seat in the Oregon Senate, where Democrats hold an 18-12 supermajority. Both Anderson and Cribbins raised and spent nearly $1 million in the contest.

Interestingly, Anderson and Cribbins under-performed in the counties were they were best known. Anderson beat Cribbins by 3,000 votes in Coos County, where she is a county commissioner. In Lincoln County, where Anderson is mayor of that county’s second-largest city, Cribbins beat him by 3,000 votes. Anderson won by smaller margins in those portions of Tillamook, Lane and Douglas counties that are in the senate district, according to results from the Oregon Secretary of State.

Wright, a retired school superintendent and principal, held an election-night gathering in Dunes City, where he promised to “do everything I can to humbly and sincerely represent our strong coastal voices. My door will always be open to the citizens throughout my entire district.” Wright said Tuesday night that he looks forward to addressing the issues of coastal communities, such as bringing jobs back, improving rural healthcare and sustainability for healthcare workers, and better protecting natural resource industries.