Election 2022: Wyden winning after early returns Tuesday night
Published 8:15 pm Tuesday, November 8, 2022
- U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, highlights the value of the Pendleton Children’s Center Oct. 3, 2022, during a tour of the center. Wyden and Sen. Jeff Merkley on March 27, 2024, announced federal funding for 139 projects in Oregon, including $1.5 million for expansion of the Pendleton Children’s Center.
SALEM — U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden retained his place in Congress on Tuesday night, Nov. 8, outpacing GOP nominee Jo Rae Perkins of Albany.
Wyden, a Democrat, was the clear front-runner election night, garnering nearly 60% of the vote, according to early results from the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office. Perkins had about 40%.
As the night wore on, Wyden’s lead dipped to about 55.7% and Perkin’s picked up to about 41.5%
Also running was Dan Pul Ju, a Pacific Green Party candidate and Chris Henry of the Progressive Party. Each had less than 2% of the vote.
Wyden, 73, was first elected to the Senate in 1996. He chairs the powerful U.S. Senate Finance Committee and also sits on the Energy and Natural Resources, Budget and Intelligence committees. He holds town halls each year in all 36 counties in Oregon.
Wyden raised $13.8 million this election cycle, according to Federal Elections Commission campaign finance reports.
Perkins, who ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2014 and for the 4th Congressional District in 2016 and 2018, raised more than $92,000. She has supported QAnon conspiracy theorists, questioned the validity of President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory, opposes COVID-19 mask and vaccine mandates and does not support abortion.
