Oregon SD 15 race still not decided

Starr – Riley

by NW Spotlight

The race in Hillsboro for Oregon Senate District 15 is still too close to call. Washington County Elections posted an update at 3:30 PM today that now shows Democrat Chuck Riley up by 13 votes, over incumbent Republican Sen. Bruce Starr. In the previous update, at 07:50 PM on Wednesday, Sen. Starr held a 64 vote lead over Riley.

The Oregonian reported that “The 13-vote margin separating Riley and Starr is well within the number that would trigger an automatic recount.”

Oregon law requires the Secretary of State to order a full recount of the votes if the difference in the vote between the top vote getter and the next closest vote getter “is not more than one-fifth of one percent of the total votes for both candidates.” In this case that would currently be 65 votes – 16,230 votes for Riley + 16,217 votes for Sen. Starr x 0.2%.

If Sen. Starr were to lose, Democrats would have a super-majority in the Oregon Senate – the 3/5 majority needed to increase revenue in the Oregon Legislature without any Republican votes. Democrats are one seat shy of a super-majority in the Oregon House.

UPDATE (as of 11/7/2014 8:00 PM): Chuck Riley is now ahead by 50 votes (16,856 to 16,806) – still within the automatic recount, now at 67 votes.

UPDATE (as of Sat 11/8/2014 1:00 PM): Chuck Riley is now ahead by 96 votes (17,165 to 17,069) – outside of the automatic recount, now at 68 votes.

UPDATE (as of Sat 11/8/2014 5:06 PM): Chuck Riley is now ahead by 128 votes (17,442 to 17,314) – outside of the automatic recount, now at 70 votes.

UPDATE (as of Sun 11/9/2014 12:47 PM): Chuck Riley is now ahead by 221 votes (17,930 to 17,709) – outside of the automatic recount, now at 71 votes.

UPDATE (as of Mon 11/10/2014 at 12:56 PM) The Oregonian is calling the SD15 race for Chuck Riley. 

UPDATE (as of Fri 11/14/2014 3:25 PM): Chuck Riley is now ahead by 265 votes (18,087 to 17,822) – outside of the automatic recount, now at 72 votes.

UPDATE (Mon 11/17/2014): Sen. Bruce Starr posted this on his Facebook page “On Friday evening I talked with my opponent and congratulated him on winning the race for Senate District 15. The race was hard fought and difficult. I am extraordinarily grateful for all the volunteers who worked tirelessly for months and until just a couple of days ago. I am also so grateful for so many who contributed financially so we could attempt to compete with the deluge of dollars from out of state. I have been honored to serve my constituents in western Washington county for the last 16 years. My family and I are looking forward to what the future holds.”

UPDATE (as of Wed 11/19/2014 3:15 PM): Chuck Riley is now ahead by 283 votes (18,152 to 17,869) – outside of the automatic recount, now at 72 votes.

UPDATE (Official Final results – Fri 11/21/2014 04:06 PM): Chuck Riley finished ahead by 287 votes (18,156 to 17,869) – outside of the automatic recount threshold of 72 votes.