by Shaanth Nanguneri, Oregon Capital Chronicle
October 23, 2025
Former House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby is headed to the state Senate after beating out two opponents for the seat of former Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, in a Thursday meeting where she sought to dispel county commissioners’ concerns that a potential run for Oregon governor in 2026 could distract her from the role.
President Donald Trump nominated Bonham, the former Senate minority leader, to the U.S. Department of Labor after he was barred from running again due to the number of unexcused absences he racked up during his participation in a 2023 Republican-led walkout. He announced his resignation Sept. 15, endorsing Drazan for his position before he officially left on Oct. 5.
“I recognize that he’s got very big shoes to fill, and this next year, it would be a privilege to work on behalf of Senate District 26 and continue to tackle the problems that face our state, whether or not that’s youth homelessness, wildfire response, increasing agency accountability or tackling the high costs which burden Oregon families,” Drazan said Thursday.
The seven decisive votes cast in favor of Drazan do not represent a majority of all commissioners present. The Senate district contains all of Hood River county and parts of Multnomah, Clackamas, and Wasco counties, and the 18 commissioners in attendance had their votes weighted based on the portion of their county’s voters in the district. That gave more weight to the five commissioners from Clackamas County, all of whom lent their support to Drazan.
“Ms. Christine Drazan, I’ve known you for so very long,” said Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader. “You’re a Canby native, as I once was, and we’ve had many conversations together where I think that we have worked across the aisle on the issues that matter most to Oregonians.”
Local Republican officials had nominated Drazan, Rep. Jeff Helfrich, R-Hood River, and John Grant, chairman of the Wasco County Republican Central Committee, to be considered for replacing Bonham.
On Thursday, Drazan pointed to Bonham’s endorsement and sought to appease concerns that her electoral prospects would distract her from governing or supporting the district. Polling Drazan disclosed paying for in August has fueled rumors that she is planning to once again challenge Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, who defeated her in a tight race that also featured a popular independent challenger in 2022.
Drazan served just two years in the House, from 2019 to 2021, and quickly rose to become the House Republican leader before her unsuccessful race for governor. Voters returned her to the House in the 2024 election, and House Republicans again selected her as their caucus leader, replacing Helfrich, before she officially took office in 2025. She faced a question from a commissioner on Thursday who appeared to ask her to “allay fears that you won’t have time to serve the residents of this district because you’re focused on running for statewide office.”
“That is just a reflection of the fact that I am always determined to do more than everyone else sometimes is willing to do, to serve the greater good for the state of Oregon,” Drazan said in response. “But that begins with this district. I would not have accepted Senator Bonham’s endorsement and been willing to take on the responsibility that he so dearly loved to represent the Senate seat if I were not completely committed to doing my best by the constituents of Senate District 26.”
Drazan and the other candidates also fielded questions about addiction treatment, ongoing debates over transportation funding and the cost of living in the state. She called for a pause on further regulations and rulemaking to ease the strain they could pose on businesses in the state.
She also expressed support for more frequent eligibility reviews for benefits like food stamps, as well as lowering the state’s SNAP payment error rate, priorities included in congressional Republicans’ summer tax and spending law that critics warn may make it harder to accurately administer benefits.
Drazan ended up with seven votes in comparison to Helfrich, who served as House Republican leader from 2023 to 2024 and did not back down from his February announcement that he would seek election to the position in 2026. He said on Thursday that he would prioritize bipartisanship, pointing to his experience working with Democrats to roll back Measure 110’s controversial drug decriminalization policies.
“I never thought in my growing up as a kid I would end up in politics, let alone be the House Republican leader for that time, and then make the impact that I did, and the Senate for me is the end point for my political career,” he said. “I don’t plan on seeking higher office. I don’t want to go to D.C.”
Drazan’s appointment to the Senate leaves a vacancy in the 51st House District spanning much of Clackamas County, which will require another appointment process involving commissioners and a list of potential Republican candidates. In a statement, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, called Drazan a proven leader who understands the needs of Oregonians.
“She has shown time and again that she’s willing to stand up for her community and fight for a better path forward for our state,” Starr said. “Our caucus is thrilled to welcome her to the Senate, and we’re confident she’ll serve her constituents with the same integrity, energy, and commitment that have defined her public service.”
State law mandates that the vacancy be filled within 30 days of Bonham’s Oct. 5 resignation.
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