Linn County, OR. — Lane County Planning Advisory Commission member Jack Tibbetts is the presumptive winner of the Republican primary for Oregon Senate District 6, narrowly defeating longtime state Representative Jami Cate in one of Oregon’s most closely watched legislative primaries.
According to unofficial election results Tuesday night, Tibbetts received 49.68% of the vote with 9,359 votes, while Cate received 45.85% with 8,637 votes. Republican candidate Nicole De Graff received 4.18% with 788 votes.
Senate District 6 became an open seat after incumbent Senator Cedric Hayden did not seek re-election. The district includes portions of Linn, Lane, and Douglas counties.
Tibbetts campaigned as a conservative focused on agriculture, family values, property rights, and reducing regulation. On his campaign website, Tibbetts described himself as a farmer and rancher living near Cottage Grove, raising Angus cattle and wine grapes while serving on the Lane County Planning Advisory Commission. He emphasized support for responsible growth, opposition to excessive regulation, and expanding opportunities for rural Oregon communities.
His campaign also highlighted his background working in a variety of roles including welding, farming, fishing, aviation, and public office. Tibbetts previously served on the Santa Rosa, California City Council, where he said he governed during multiple major wildfire disasters.
The race also drew attention because of Tibbetts’ political evolution. Before moving to Oregon, Tibbetts had previously been highly active in Democratic politics in California and ran for office with support from Democratic organizations and progressive-aligned groups during his time in Santa Rosa.
During the campaign, Tibbetts discussed his shift away from the Democratic Party, saying he became increasingly concerned with the party’s direction on issues including policing, abortion, transgender policies, and economic regulation. He described himself as now being a “proud Republican” who supports the Second Amendment, opposes new taxes, and advocates for what he called “commonsense leadership.”
Cate’s campaign highlighted Tibbetts’ past Democratic affiliations throughout the primary contest. Cate, who has represented House District 11 since 2021, argued the district needed consistent conservative leadership rooted in rural Oregon.
Results remain unofficial until certified by Oregon election officials.
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