Updated results released Thursday by the Benton County Elections Office kept incumbent Jessica Andrade, former councilor David Low and challenger Amanda Polley in the top three spots in the Philomath City Council race.
Andrade led the five-candidate field with 1,683 votes (25.53%). Low was second with 1,424 (21.60%) and Polley third with 1,351 (20.49%).
Challenger Candy Garcia was fourth with 1,144 votes (17.35%). Incumbent Richard Saalsaa was fifth with 922 (13.98%). Write-in votes totaled 69.
Polley’s lead over Garcia for the third seat grew to 207 votes, up from 196 on election night. Low holds a 73-vote edge over Polley for second.
The results remain unofficial. The county plans to release final results Nov. 25, after the deadline for resolving ballot challenges, and must deliver certified results by Nov. 30.
If the results hold, two of the council’s three open seats will change hands in January. Low would return after a four-year absence, and Polley would join the council for the first time. Saalsaa, who was appointed in January 2025 to complete a term that expires at the end of this year, would leave the council.
Philomath does not use wards or districts for council elections. The three seats go to the top three vote-getters in an at-large race. The seats carry four-year terms that begin Jan. 1 and run through Dec. 31, 2030. The positions are nonpartisan and unpaid.
The Benton County Elections Office reported Thursday afternoon that 45,353 ballots were accepted out of 61,355 eligible voters, for an unofficial turnout of 73.92%. That’s up from the 71.03% reported on election night.
County races
Democrat John Wilson increased his total to 29,596 votes (80.66%) in the race for a seat on the Benton County Board of Commissioners. Pacific Green Party candidate James Dashiell had 6,284 (17.13%), and write-ins totaled 813.
Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Scott Bressler, the only candidate on the ballot for Benton County sheriff, had 29,672 votes (97.82%). Write-ins totaled 661.
Summit resident David Barron, unopposed for the Zone 1 seat on the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District board, received 26,395 votes (98.55%).
Federal and state races
Benton County voters favored Democratic incumbents in the top races on the ballot by wider margins than voters statewide.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., won reelection to the U.S. Senate with 1,132,682 votes (58.04%) statewide, according to the latest unofficial results from the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office. Republican David Brock Smith had 753,657 (38.62%), Progressive Party candidate Chris Henry had 43,795 (2.24%) and Libertarian Gary Lyndon Dye had 19,944 (1.02%). In Benton County, Merkley received about 68% of the vote.
Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Ore., won reelection in the 4th Congressional District with 182,495 votes (53.60%) districtwide. Republican Monique DeSpain had 145,814 (42.83%) and Pacific Green Party candidate Justin Filip had 11,807 (3.47%). Hoyle received about 66% of the vote in Benton County.
Gov. Tina Kotek won reelection with 1,046,933 votes (53.26%) statewide. Republican Christine Drazan had 859,025 (43.70%) and Pacific Green Party candidate Brett Smith had 57,072 (2.90%). Kotek received about 64% of the vote in Benton County.
Rep. David Gomberg, D-Otis, won reelection in House District 10, which includes Philomath, with 26,247 votes (96.52%) districtwide. Running unopposed, he had 5,717 votes in the Benton County portion of the district.
