Election Result Highlights 2020 – Sky-High Turnout

Ballot counting is underway in the 2020 general election. The following early unofficial results are from the races The Advocate is following closely, as discussed in our endorsements. You can check the full results here. Certified results will be posted once released by the elections department. 

Benton County Eligible Voters – 60,558 

Ballots Accepted – 50,309 

Voter Turnout – 83.08% 

Local Elections 

Ranked choice voting was approved by Benton County voters in 2016, and the public tries it this year for the first time. The cumulative result returns will reflect only the first choice ranking for the county commissioner positions. 

County Commissioner Position 2: We endorsed Democratic nominee Xan Augerot as our first choice, and Pacific Green Progressive nominee Mike Beilstein as our second choice.   

  • Xan Augerot (Dem.) 27,953 
  • Mike Beilstein (PGP) 4,604 
  •  Tom Cordier (Rep.) 14,319 

Write-In Totals 124 

County Commissioner Position 3: We endorsed Democratic nominee Nancy Wyse.   

  •  Nancy V Wyse (Dem.) 30,127 
  •  John E Sarna (Rep.)14,648 
  •  Cody Serdar (Lbt.) 1,840 

Write-In Totals 97 

Corvallis City Council, Ward 7: We endorsed incumbent Paul Schaffer.   

  • Nic Bowman 945 
  • Paul W Shaffer 2,216 

Write-In Totals 30 

State & National Elections 

Secretary of State: We endorsed Shemia Fagan (Dem).  

  • NATHALIE PARAVICINI (PGP, PROG) 3.41% – 65,840
  • KYLE MARKLEY (LBT.) 2.52% – 48,686
  • KIM THATCHER (Rep., Ind.) 41.72% – 806,427
  • SHEMIA FAGAN (Dem.) 52.24% – 1,009,680

Write-In 0.11% – 2,095

State Treasurer: We endorsed Tobias Read (Dem).  

  • MICHAEL P MARSH (Con.)  2.08% – 39,967
  • TOBIAS READ (Dem.) 53.58% – 1,027,122 
  • CHRIS HENRY (Ind., Prog., PG) 4.16% – 79,748
  • JEFF GUDMAN  (Rep.)  40.08% –  768,276

 

Write-In 0.09% – 1,802

Attorney General: We endorsed Ellen Rosenblum (D). 

  • ELLEN ROSENBLUM (Dem., Ind., WF) 57.73% – 1,108,256
  • LARS D H HEDBOR (Lbt.) 2.04% – 39,088
  • MICHAEL CROSS (Rep.) 39.91% – 766,131

Write-In 0.32% –  6,239

State Representative: We endorsed Dan Rayfield (D).  

  • DAN RAYFIELD (Dem., WF) 76.50% – 24,702
  • JASON HUGHES (Rep.) 23.24% –7,505 

Write-In 0.25% – 82

U.S. Representative: We endorsed Peter DeFazio (D).  

  • DANIEL HOFFAY (PG) 2.04% – 8,860
  • PETER DEFAZIO (Dem., Ind., WF)  52.65%% – 228,140
  • ALEK SKARLATOS (Rep.) 45.20% – 195,837

Write-In 0.11% – 465

U.S. Senate: We endorsed Jeff Merkley (D).  

  • JO RAE PERKINS (Rep.) 38.14% – 759,789
  • JEFF MERKLEY (Dem., Ind., WF) 58.46% – 1,164,762
  • IBRAHIM A TAHER (PG, Prog.) 1.65% – 32,949
  • GARY DYE (Lbt.) 1.65%– 32,845

Write-In 0.1% – 1,967

President: We endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president. 

  • DONALD J TRUMP / MICHAEL R PENCE (Rep.) 39.13%– 794,498
  • JOSEPH R BIDEN / KAMALA D HARRIS  (Dem.) 58.07% – 1,179,159
  • JO JORGENSEN / JEREMY (SPIKE) COHEN (Lbt.) 1.51% – 30,733
  • HOWIE HAWKINS / ANGELA WALKER (PG) 0.45%– 9,177
  • DARIO HUNTER / DAWN NEPTUNE ADAMS (Prog.) 0.19%– 3,903

Write-In  0.64% – 12,938

Statewide Measures 

We said Yes on Measure 107 to allow campaign contribution limits. 

  • Yes 1,532,917 (76.70%) – No 465,561 (23.30%)

We said Yes on Measure 108 the vape tax & tobacco tax increase. 

  • Yes 1,341,501 (66.34%) –  No 680,757 (33.66%)

We said Yes on Measure 109 to legalize psilocybin therapy. 

  • Yes 1,091,661 (55.91%) – No 860,887 (44.09%)

We said Yes on Measure 110 to decriminalize personal drug possession.  

  • Yes 1,155,342 (58.72%) – No 812,089 (41.28%)