In the 2016 elections, several Willamette Law graduates ran for positions in Oregon, Washington, and on the national level in Washington, D.C. Here’s how they fared.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) JD’85 was re-elected to the Senate with 44 percent of the vote. She defeated several opponents.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee JD’76 ran for re-election and defeated Republican Bill Bryant with 56 percent of the vote.
State Rep. Ken Helm ‘87, JD’93 ran for re-election to the Oregon House of Representatives in District 34, which serves the northern Beaverton area in the state’s northwest region. He defeated Independent Donald Hershiser to win the race.
State Rep. Daniel A. Rayfield JD’06 ran for re-election to the Oregon House of Representatives in District 16, comprised of Corvallis and Philomath in the state’s western region. He defeated Republican Judson McClure, Progressive Sami Al-AbdRabbuh, and Libertarian Andrew Freborg.
Rich Vial JD’81 ran for election to the Oregon House of Representatives in District 26, which serves the Clackamas County area in the state’s northwest region. He defeated Democrat Ray Lister. Vial will replace State Rep. John Davis, R-Wilsonville, who decided not to seek re-election.
Colm Willis JD’15 received 43 percent of the vote but lost his race for the U.S. House of Representatives, Oregon District 5 seat. The district is comprised of Oregon’s central coast through Salem, north to the southern Portland suburbs, and east to the summit of Mount Hood. Incumbent Kurt Schrader won with 54 percent of the vote.
Councilman Jeffrey D. Goodwin JD/MBA’12 campaigned for the Oregon House of Representatives in District 17, which serves the Linn County area in the state’s central region. He lost to incumbent Sherrie Sprenger. Goodwin currently serves on the city council of Sweet Home, Oregon.
About Willamette University College of Law
Opened in 1883, Willamette University College of Law is the first law school in the Pacific Northwest. The college has a long tradition at the forefront of legal education and is committed to the advancement of knowledge through excellent teaching, scholarship, mentoring and experience. Leading faculty, thriving externship and clinical law programs, ample practical skills courses, and a proactive career placement office prepare Willamette law students for today's legal job market. According to statistics compiled by the American Bar Association, Willamette ranks first in the Pacific Northwest for job placement for full-time, long-term, JD-preferred/JD-required jobs for the class of 2014 and first in Oregon for the classes of 2012, 2013 and 2014. Located across the street from the state capitol complex and the Oregon Supreme Court in downtown Salem, the college specializes in law and government, law and business, and dispute resolution.