Krause Wins Oregon Senate District 3 Seat

Democrat Denise Krause has won the Oregon Senate District 3 race, as Democrats appear on track to keep their supermajority.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a columned state capitol with dome silhouette above a green forested ridge, evoking Oregon's legislature. — Democrat Denise Krause won Oregon's Senate District 3 seat on Tuesday, defeating Republican Brad Hicks and helping Democrats keep their state Senate supermajority. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Democrat Denise Krause won the Oregon Senate District 3 race on Tuesday night, defeating Republican Brad Hicks to succeed retiring Democratic state senator Jeff Golden. Democrats appear on track to hold their supermajority in the Oregon Senate.

Why it matters

Half of Oregon's 30 Senate seats and all 60 House seats were on the ballot, and Democrats have held 60% of seats in both chambers for the last two years. The district has more Democrats than Republicans, and non-affiliated voters outnumber both major parties there.

The race was the most expensive legislative contest in Oregon this fall, with half of the 30 Senate seats and all 60 House seats on the ballot. Democrats have held 60% of seats in both chambers for the last two years, a share that allows passage without Republican votes.

The players

Denise Krause

Democrat who won the Oregon Senate District 3 seat and plans to prioritize transportation funding for ODOT.

Brad Hicks

Republican candidate who lost the Oregon Senate District 3 race to Denise Krause.

Jeff Golden

Democratic Oregon state senator who is retiring from the Senate District 3 seat.

The details

Krause plans to focus on a transportation package for ODOT next year and hopes to join the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire in her first term. The district represents southern Jackson County and includes Salem-area legislative business.

Tuesday night (Nov. 3, 2026): Midterm votes counted for Senate District 3 and other seats.
2023: Three Republican senators from northern Oregon staged a 6-week walkout over Democratic bills.
2027: Krause plans to push a transportation package for ODOT.

Political Context

Three Republican state senators from northern Oregon, who staged a six-week walkout over Democratic bills in 2023, are unable to seek reelection this fall. Their absence comes as Democrats seek to retain the supermajority that has allowed them to pass legislation without Republican votes.

Oregon residents in the district will have a new state senator focused on transportation funding for ODOT. Statewide, the balance of power in the Legislature will determine which bills can pass without Republican votes.

The takeaway

The outcome shows how a single district race can shape whether a party can pass bills without opposition votes, so tracking legislative seat counts is useful for understanding policy outcomes.