Toby Forsberg

Filling the vacant seat of state Senator Kurt Schrader (D-Canby), who is now heading to Congress, is turning out to be more of a saga than some pols initially anticipated.  Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader, wife of Kurt, and former Democratic House candidate Toby Forsberg are now both serious contenders for the open seat and are leaning on their own respective heavyweights in government for a little help.  Both Forsberg and Schrader have gone on the record with PolitickerOR.com regarding their interest in the state senate appointment.

Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader (D-Canby) told PolitickerOR.com on Tuesday that she was interested in pursuing the State Senate seat being vacated by her husband, incoming U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader.

State House candidate Toby Forsberg (D-Oregon City) has not officially lost the race against State House candidate Bill Kennemer (R-Oregon City), but Forsberg expressed interest in Friday in being appointed to replace outgoing State Sen. Kurt Schrader (D-Canby).

“I am interested in the seat and have been encouraged to look at it,” Forsberg said in a voicemail to PolitickerOR.com.

The results of the 5th Congressional District election have yet to be finalized, but once Secretary of State Bill Bradbury names Kurt Schrader the U.S. Representative-elect, Clackamas County will be faced with the prospect of appointing someone to replace the Canby state senator.

The dust has settled on the fifth congressional race and much to no one's surprise Democrat Kurt Schrader is the victor.  Schrader will vacate his state senate seat that he still has another two years left in his term to serve.  Newly elected Speaker of the House Dave Hunt is very clear about who he wants to see fill Schrader's seat - none other than his good friendToby Forsberg who just lost by a few hundred votes to Republican Bill Kennemer for the Oregon City state house seat. 

House Democrats may have been celebrating a 37-seat majority a little early.

State House candidate Bill Kennemer (R-Oregon City) pulled ahead of State House candidate Toby Forsberg on Thursday in the HD-39 race.

The defeat of two-term incumbent Republican Gordon Smith by Democrat Jeff Merkley is probably the biggest shocker to all political gawkers around the state, however, there some other races that produced some unexpected results.  Here's a quick rundown.

1.  Kurt Schrader is held below 55%.  A win for fifth congressional Democrat Kurt Schrader was inevitable, but his margin of victory was not quite what many anticipated.  Schrader faced Republican Mike Erickson who had been accused of flipping his position on abortion when convenient, segregating a school dance back in his days as a student at Portland State University, falsifying endorsements for prior campaigns, ignoring pamphlet distribution rules at county fairs and wining and dining himself on a trip to Cuba which his still refers to as "humanitarian."  The fact that Schrader stayed below the big win viability line of 55% means there remains some hope of GOP solidarity in this district and he could face a more credible and challenging opponent in two years.

Should Democrat Kurt Schrader make it to congress the looming question is who will fill his vacant spot in the Oregon Senate?  Oregon law mandates someone from the incumbent member’s party be chosen, so we know it will be a Democrat.  Names currently being thrown around include House Majority Leader Dave Hunt, County Commissioners Lynn Peterson and Martha Schrader (wife of the congressional candidate), and Democratic House candidate Toby Forsberg.

The open seat being vacated by retiring State Rep. Wayne Scott was supposed to be a take back opportunity highly coveted by House Democrats, however, their candidate Toby Forsberg is proving to be less "energetic" than they had hoped.