A recent polling memo indicates that Republican challenger Raymond Love, an Army Reserves colonel, is gaining traction against Democratic state Sen. Chris Gorsek in the 25th Senate District in east Multnomah County.
The memo, conducted by Salem-based Nelson Research, shows a decline in support for Gorsek from 43% in July to 39% in September while Love’s support increased from 29% to 36%. Overall support for Democrats dropped from over 51% to 46%.
With 15 Senate seats up for election this November, only three are competitive. Democrats currently hold 17 seats, one short of the supermajority needed to pass tax bills without Republican support.
Winning either of the Republican-held districts could facilitate significant transportation funding next year, but losing Gorsek’s seat would necessitate victories in both Republican districts to reach a supermajority.
The polling memo attributed the shifts in voter sentiment to the increased enthusiasm following Vice President Kamala Harris’s nomination, which may have caused temporary response bias in earlier surveys.
Love claims his campaign’s door-to-door strategy has revealed voter dissatisfaction with Gorsek’s representation over the past four years.
The article notes that East Multnomah County has become a battleground in recent elections, with close margins and shifting political dynamics, underscoring the importance of this Senate race for both parties.