Varney Leads Cummings in Salem Ward 8 Runoff
Initial results show Micki Varney ahead of Chris Cummings in the nonpartisan Ward 8 race in West Salem.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Micki Varney holds an initial lead over Chris Cummings in the Salem Ward 8 runoff on November 3. After the May primary, the two were nearly tied, with Varney at 3,514 votes and Cummings at 3,509.
Why it matters
Neither candidate reached 50% plus one vote in May, forcing the runoff. The contest is a rematch of the 2022 race, which Varney won, and it decides a seat that serves Salem's West Salem area.
The Ward 8 seat is unpaid, nonpartisan and carries a four-year term. The May primary left the two candidates separated by only five votes, and the runoff's final count has not been reported.
The players
Micki Varney
Varney is a retired fish biologist who has served four years on the Salem City Council and won the 2022 Ward 8 race against Cummings.
Chris Cummings
Cummings is a tech company CEO who lost the 2022 Ward 8 race to Varney and finished nearly even with her in the May 2026 primary.
The details
Varney said she emphasized voting and her work on homelessness, traffic and data centers when speaking with voters. She has served four years on Salem City Council and is a retired fish biologist, while Cummings is a tech company CEO.
Timeline
May 2026: Varney and Cummings finish nearly even in the Ward 8 primary.
November 3, 2026: Ward 8 runoff election is held, with Varney leading initial results.
Political Context
This race is a direct rematch of the 2022 Ward 8 contest, which Varney won over Cummings. Its outcome will show whether Varney's prior win holds as voters again weigh her four years on the council against Cummings's challenge.
Ward 8 residents in West Salem will be represented by whoever wins the seat for a four-year term. The result determines who handles local issues in the area, including the homelessness, traffic and data center concerns Varney has highlighted.
The takeaway
Local council races can turn on a handful of votes, as the May primary's five-vote gap shows. Voters who want to follow the runoff should watch for the certified result after November 3.
What happens next
The Ward 8 runoff is scheduled for November 3, 2026, when the final result will be determined.
Further reading
For more on how local races are decided, see Elections coverage across Salem.
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