Jack Tibbetts is narrowly leading in the Republican primary for Oregon Senate District 6.
The open seat is currently held by Republican Cedric Hayden, who was barred from running for reelection after participating in a lengthy legislative walkout in 2023.
Tibbetts, a rancher and Lane County Planning Commissioner, held a 157 vote lead over current state representative Jami Cate, as of noon on Wednesday.
Springfield School Board Member Nicole de Graff was a distant third with just 708 votes.
Fundraising was neck-and-neck between the top two candidates by the end of the campaign, with Cate raising more than $80,000 during this election cycle and Tibbetts raising nearly $77,000.
Speaking to KLCC Wednesday, Tibbetts said he is not yet declaring victory in the Republican primary. But he said he was grateful to the voters he spoke to while phone banking who shared with him what they wanted from their government.
“We went out to all the town halls, the forums, knocked on doors, and just took every opportunity that we could get to meet somebody,” said Tibbetts. “I think that people are looking for somebody that is going to be really present and be available.”
In November, the winner of this race will face Sierrah Williams, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Hayden beat the previous Democratic nominee by more than 30 points.
