Oregon Elections: Democrats Grab Supermajority In Both Houses

SALEM, OR – Not only did Kate Brown win another term as governor on Election Day, she won what may turn out to be a bigger prize. The Democrats were able to seize control of both the state house and the state senate, claiming supermajorities in both.

By flipping one seat in each chamber, the Democrats now have supermajorities in both.

A supermajority is three-fifths of the votes and is what's needed to be able to pass tax increases.

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While Brown has not indicated that she's planning tax hikes when the legislative session begins next year, the state is facing financial problems.

Brown can thank Jeff Golden who won his race to take the seat that had been held by Republican state Senator Alan DeBoer and Rachel Prusak who defeated Republican incumbent, Rep. Julie Parrish.

Prusak is a nurse who built her campaign on protecting the rights of patients, saying she'd been motivated by Parrish's support of a ballot measure that would have done away with a tax intended to provide medical care for Oregonians who couldn't afford it.

It won't be all smooth sailing.

Brown knows that while her party has the supermajorities, the Republicans still have plenty of ways to gum up the works.

Photo via Oregon legislature.