Benton County voters turned out at a high rate in Tuesday’s general election, with 71.03% of registered voters casting ballots in the latest unofficial count. Decisively approving two local measures, Corvallis voters also left the races for mayor and the Ward 7 council seat to a ranked-choice tabulation that will come later because no candidate won a majority of first-choice votes.
Caveat. Results are from 3:15 pm, Nov.4, they are unofficial and will change. Ballots postmarked by Election Day may arrive up to seven days later and still be counted. Okay, let’s get into what we know, most if anyhow, is decisive.
Wilson wins Benton County commissioner race in a landslide
Democrat John Wilson won the Position 1 seat on the Benton County Board of Commissioners with 28,550 votes, or 80.9%. Pacific Green Party candidate James Dashiell received 5,976 votes, or 16.9%. Write-in candidates received 783 votes, or 2.2%.
Maughan leads four-way mayor’s race but falls short of majority; ranked-choice count ahead
Incumbent Charles Maughan led the Corvallis mayor’s race in first-choice votes but did not reach a majority, so the winner will be decided by ranked-choice voting. Maughan received 8,097 votes, or 44.9%, followed by Andrew Struthers with 6,833 votes, or 37.9%, a gap of 1,264 votes. Kasey Haxton received 2,138 votes, or 11.8%, and Kimi Gatherum received 825 votes, or 4.6%. Write-ins received 153 votes, or 0.8%.
In a ranked-choice count, the last-place candidate is eliminated and those ballots go to voters’ next choices until one candidate has a majority. The Haxton and Gatherum ballots, nearly 3,000 combined, will be redistributed. The matchup repeats 2022, when Maughan edged Struthers by 34 votes in the city’s first ranked-choice mayoral election.
Clark defeats Irish in Ward 1
Steve Clark won Ward 1 with 1,876 votes, or 54.9%. Bre Irish received 1,529 votes, or 44.7%. Write-ins received 12 votes, or 0.4%. This was an expensive contest by Corvallis standards, with both candidates outspending candidates in other wards – mud was thrown.
Lewis defeats Weikert in Ward 2
Briae Lewis won Ward 2 with 604 votes, or 63.2%. Tarsa Weikert received 342 votes, or 35.8%. Write-ins received 9 votes, or 0.9%. Our analysis had been that this would be a race to watch – it wasn’t.
Moorefield wins unopposed in Ward 3
Jim Moorefield won Ward 3 without an opponent, receiving 2,019 votes, or 97.4%. Write-ins received 53 votes, or 2.6%.
Berg wins Ward 4 by wide margin
Paul Berg won Ward 4 with 465 votes, or 71.4%. Evrek Smith received 181 votes, or 27.8%. Write-ins received 5 votes, or 0.8%.
Dashiell wins open Ward 5 seat unopposed
Christine Dashiell won Ward 5, a seat left open by the departure of Councilor Charlyn Ellis. She ran unopposed and received 1,112 votes, or 97.8%. Write-ins received 25 votes, or 2.2%.
Shiffer wins Ward 6 in two-way contest
Greg Shiffer won Ward 6 with 1,613 votes, or 69.9%. Brennan Colberg, the runner-up in the 2024 Ward 6 race, received 681 votes, or 29.5%. Write-ins received 15 votes, or 0.6%.
Ingersoll edges Chambers in Ward 7, heading to ranked-choice count
The Ward 7 contest for an open seat was the closest on the council ballot, and no candidate won a majority of first-choice votes. Jerry Ingersoll led with 1,276 votes, or 48.9%. Danielle Chambers followed with 1,222 votes, or 46.8%, 54 votes behind. Asa Jorg received 107 votes, or 4.1%, more than the gap between the leaders. Write-ins received 5 votes, or 0.2%. Ranked-choice tabulation will decide the seat, with Jorg’s ballots going to voters’ next choices. Looking at Ingersoll and Chambers, we observed in our endorsements that, “Either, in our estimation, would be an excellent Councilor.”
Mayers wins Ward 8 unopposed
Carolyn Mayers won Ward 8 without an opponent, receiving 2,998 votes, or 98.3%. Write-ins received 52 votes, or 1.7%.
Hammer wins open Ward 9 seat unopposed
Alexis Hammer won Ward 9, succeeding Councilor Tony Cadena, who is stepping down after four years on the council. Hammer ran unopposed and received 1,947 votes, or 97.7%. Write-ins received 46 votes, or 2.3%.
Measure 2-159: Voters back smaller, longer-term City Council
Corvallis voters were passing Measure 2-159, with 11,907 yes votes, or 58.2%, to 8,545 no votes, or 41.8%. The charter amendment would reduce the City Council from nine members to six, lengthen terms from two years to four, and limit councilors and the mayor to three consecutive terms. The council referred the measure to voters on a 7-2 vote. If it holds, a six-ward map is expected to be adopted by ordinance by the end of 2027 and take effect in 2028.
Measure 2-160: School levy renewal wins overwhelming support
Voters were approving Measure 2-160 by a wide margin, with 21,932 yes votes, or 79.6%, to 5,613 no votes, or 20.4%. The measure renews the district’s local option levy at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value for five years beginning in 2027-28. The current levy expires June 30, 2027. It makes up about 10% of the district’s 2026-27 operating budget and pays for 67 full-time teachers. The district also covers part of Linn County, so these are Benton County totals only.
Results are unofficial and will change as additional ballots are counted. Official results will be certified by the county by Nov.30.
By Advocate staff
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