The Oregon Senate is back to its full 30 members, but now the House is hunting for a fresh face.

State Rep. Courtney Neron, D-Wilsonville, handily won appointment on Wednesday to a vacant Senate seat created by the death of Sen. Aaron Woods, D-Wilsonville.

Following a two-hour hearing featuring public testimony and multiple rounds of questions, commissioners from Washington, Clackamas and Yamhill counties resoundingly chose Neron to ascend to the upper chamber.

She beat out two other nominees: Tigard City Councilor Jeanette Shaw and energy consultant Dave Backen, who threw his support behind Neron at the outset of the hearing.

“You are not just choosing a legislator,” Neron told commissioners before a vote that seemed little in doubt. “You are choosing a partner and someone who cares and someone who understands that policy passed in Salem impacts our counties, our cities, our schools, our homes, and our future.”

A four-term House member, Neron is a former high school teacher who has spent much of her time in Salem focused on education policy. She’s also forged close relationships with county officials in her district — a fact that became clear as commissioners with very different political leanings praised her work.

Ben West, a conservative commissioner from Clackamas County, called Neron a friend.

“I have to say working with Courtney Neron has been a pleasure,” West said. “Though we may have some policy disagreements, she is available. She is acutely aware of the issues, especially in Clackamas County, that we face. She takes my calls.”

Nafisa Fai, a progressive commissioner in Washington County, had a very similar take.

“It’s really good to have somebody that has that sympathetic ear to say, ‘I care about your county, I care about the residents that elected you to represent and to pass issues,’” Fai said. “And for me, Courtney, you’ve been that leader in Oregon. Anytime we have had issues in Washington County, you picked up the phone and reached out.”

Votes on who would replace Woods were heavily weighted in favor of commissioners from Washington County, where much of Senate District 13 lies. But in the end, all but one commissioner voted for Neron.

Now the question becomes who replaces her. As they did for Woods’ seat, Democratic party officials will meet in coming days to nominate between three and five people to take Neron’s old desk in the House.

That list may well include Backen, who removed his name from consideration for Woods’ Senate seat on Wednesday because he conceded Neron was a better fit.

Democrats have an especially good reason to ensure all their seats are filled this year. The party holds a three-fifths supermajority in both chambers, meaning it could theoretically pass a major tax package to fund roads and bridges on a party-line vote. If they lose even one member in the House or Senate, that advantage disappears.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/08/oregon-state-representative-courtney-neron-wins-open-senate-seat/