Republican and Democratic parties gained important national victories on Election Day. In Oregon, as well, both parties won key seats, with eight-term U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Eugene, defeating former state Rep. Liz VanLeeuwen, and incumbent U.S. Senator Gordon Smith, R-Ore., keeping his seat over Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury.
Poised to defy history, Republicans raced to key early victories nationwide in Tuesday’s battle for control of the U.S. Congress. They held the U.S. House of Representatives and threatened to win back control of the U.S. Senate. Republicans needed to gain one seat to regain control of the Senate, but several races remained too close to call.
In Oregon, DeFazio said he was happy to win yet another bipartisan victory.
“I’m pleased that (people) reached through party labels and looked at what I do and how I represent them,” DeFazio said.
DeFazio said his main priorities going back to Congress will be defeating the new energy bill, working on the federal budget and getting another $6 billion for education. The politician from Springfield was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986 and has served eight consecutive terms.
VanLeeuwen said her race against DeFazio was difficult because of his “big bank account” and his “media hounds.”
“Some people on his staff must just spend full time dialing up the talk shows and putting out his news releases,” she said.

Like DeFazio, VanLeeuwen is a veteran to the Oregon Legislature, spending 18 years in the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 37. Her last term ended in 1998.
In Oregon’s race for the U.S. Senate, Smith easily defeated Bradbury.
Smith, who lost a bitter race against U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden in 1996, said he could relate to Bradbury’s loss.
“It was my name on the ballot, but the victory is yours as well,” Smith said in a statement. “I know how it feels to lose, and I wish (Bill Bradbury) the very best.”
Smith began his legislative career in 1993 after being elected to the Oregon Senate and served as Senate president from 1995 to 1996. The following year, Smith was elected to the U.S. Senate.
Bradbury, a former journalist and restaurant owner, has been involved with the Oregon Legislature for 14 years. As a state senator, Bradbury served as Senate majority leader from 1987 to 1992 and Senate president from 1993 to 1995 before being appointed Secretary of State in 1999.
Bradbury’s campaign staff was not available for comment at press time.