Sara Gelser Blouin

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Sara Gelser Blouin
Image of Sara Gelser Blouin

Democratic Party

Oregon State Senate District 8
Tenure

2015 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

9

Predecessor
Prior offices
Oregon House of Representatives District 16
Successor: Dan Rayfield

Compensation

Base salary

$35,052/year

Per diem

$157/day

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Earlham College, 1994

Graduate

Oregon State University, 1999

Personal
Religion
Christian: Lutheran
Contact

Official website

Official Twitter

Campaign website

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn 

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Sara Gelser Blouin (Democratic Party) is a member of the Oregon State Senate, representing District 8. She assumed office on January 12, 2015. Her current term ends on January 11, 2027.

Gelser Blouin (Democratic Party, Independent Party, Working Families Party) ran for re-election to the Oregon State Senate to represent District 8. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022. She advanced from the Democratic primary on May 17, 2022.

Gelser served in the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 16 from 2004 to 2015. Gelser previously served as an assistant leader on politics for the Democratic Caucus in 2011. Gelser served as a member on the Corvallis School Board from 2001-2006.

Biography

Gelser earned her bachelor's degree in history and education from Earlham College in 1994 and her M.A. in interdisciplinary studies from Oregon State University in 1999. Her professional experience includes working as a substitute teacher for Richmond Community School System, as a regional coordinator for the Oregon Parent Training and Information Center, as a policy analyst for the Oregon Department of Human Services, as a parent educator for Linn-Benton Community College, as a youth minister for Grace Lutheran Church, as the founder of FG Syndrome Family Alliance, and as regional coordinator for the Coalition in Oregon for Parent Education.[1]

Committee assignments

2023-2024

Gelser Blouin was assigned to the following committees:

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2021-2022

Gelser Blouin was assigned to the following committees:

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2019-2020

Gelser Blouin was assigned to the following committees:

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}

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Oregon committee assignments, 2017
• Education
• Human Services, Chair
• Workforce

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Gelser served on the following committees:

2013-2014

In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Gelser served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Gelser served on these committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Gelser served on these committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2022

See also: Oregon State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Oregon State Senate District 8

Incumbent Sara Gelser Blouin defeated Valerie Draper Woldeit in the general election for Oregon State Senate District 8 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sara Gelser Blouin
Sara Gelser Blouin (D / Independent Party / Working Families Party)
 
59.8
 
37,815
Image of Valerie Draper Woldeit
Valerie Draper Woldeit (R)
 
40.1
 
25,375
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
97

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 63,287
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Oregon State Senate District 8

Incumbent Sara Gelser Blouin advanced from the Democratic primary for Oregon State Senate District 8 on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sara Gelser Blouin
Sara Gelser Blouin
 
98.8
 
15,329
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.2
 
183

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 15,512
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Oregon State Senate District 8

Valerie Draper Woldeit advanced from the Republican primary for Oregon State Senate District 8 on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Valerie Draper Woldeit
Valerie Draper Woldeit
 
97.7
 
7,450
 Other/Write-in votes
 
2.3
 
175

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 7,625
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: Oregon State Senate elections, 2018

In addition to running as a Democratic Party candidate, Gelser cross-filed to also run as a Working Families Party candidate and an independent write-in candidate in 2018.[2]

General election

General election for Oregon State Senate District 8

Incumbent Sara Gelser Blouin defeated Erik Parks and Bryan Eggiman in the general election for Oregon State Senate District 8 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sara Gelser Blouin
Sara Gelser Blouin (D)
 
63.0
 
38,119
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Erik Parks (R)
 
34.6
 
20,959
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Bryan Eggiman (L)
 
2.2
 
1,351
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
90

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 60,519
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Oregon State Senate District 8

Incumbent Sara Gelser Blouin advanced from the Democratic primary for Oregon State Senate District 8 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sara Gelser Blouin
Sara Gelser Blouin
 
100.0
 
13,624

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 13,624
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Oregon State Senate District 8

Erik Parks advanced from the Republican primary for Oregon State Senate District 8 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Erik Parks
 
100.0
 
5,926

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 5,926
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2014

See also: Oregon State Senate elections, 2014
BattlegroundRace.jpg

Elections for the Oregon State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 11, 2014. Sara Gelser was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Betsy Close was unopposed in the Republican primary. Close also ran on the Libertarian ticket and Gelser also ran on the Working Families Party ticket. Gelser defeated Close in the general election.[3][4][5]

The Oregon State Senate was a battleground chamber that Ballotpedia identified as having the opportunity to switch partisan control in 2014. The Oregon Senate had a difference in partisan balance between Democrats and Republican of two seats, which amounts to 13.3 percent of the seats up for election in 2014. District 8 in the Senate was identified by Ballotpedia and The Oregonian as a battleground district that could determine control of the Oregon State Senate. Incumbent Betsy Close (R) was defeated by Rep. Sara Gelser (D-16) in the general election. Close, from conservative Albany, was appointed to the chamber to replace Frank Morse (R), a more moderate Republican who retired. Gelser has served in the House for four terms, representing the liberal college town of Corvallis.[6] Before the general election, Gelser had raised $630,000, compared to $408,000 for Close. Gelser received more than $160,000 from the Senate Democratic campaign fund as well as donations from several union organizations.[7]

Oregon State Senate District 8, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSara A. Gelser 55.7% 27,828
     Republican Betsy L. Close Incumbent 43.8% 21,922
     None Miscellaneous 0.5% 250
Total Votes 50,000

Endorsements

In 2014, Gelser's endorsements included the following:[8]

  • SEIU Local 503
  • NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association)
  • Oregon Council of Police Associations
  • Oregon Education Association (OEA)
  • Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA)
  • American Federation of Teachers (AFT-Oregon)
  • Basic Rights Oregon Equality-PAC
  • Oregon School Employees Association
  • AFSCME Local 75
  • Oregon AFL-CIO

2012

See also: Oregon House of Representatives elections, 2012

Gelser won re-election in the 2012 election for Oregon House of Representatives District 16. Gelser was unopposed in the May 15 Democratic primary and defeated Andrew Decker (R) and Rachel Feigner (L) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[9][10][11]

Oregon House of Representatives, District 16, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSara Gelser Incumbent 70.2% 19,306
     Republican Andrew Decker 26.7% 7,336
     Libertarian Rachel Feigner 3.2% 876
Total Votes 27,518

2010

See also: Oregon House of Representatives elections, 2010

Gelser won re-election to District 16 in 2010. She had no primary opposition but was challenged by Rose Cook in the general election which took place on November 2, 2010.[12][13]

Oregon State House, District 16
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Sara Gelser (D) 15,782
Rose Cook (R) 7,096

2008

See also: Oregon House of Representatives elections, 2008

On November 4, 2008, Gelser ran unopposed and won election to Oregon State House District 16.[14][15]

Oregon State House District 16
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Sara Gelser (D) 21,641
Misc. 669

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Sara Gelser Blouin did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2014

Gelser's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[16]

Creating jobs and opportunity

  • Excerpt: "In the State Senate, Sara will: Fight to Increase the Minimum Wage."

Protecting our healthcare system

  • Excerpt: "In the State Senate, Sara will work to expand access to life-saving mental health treatment, especially among young people."

Protecting our personal freedoms & rights

  • Excerpt: "Sara Gelser is proudly pro-choice and will always defend women's access to reproductive health care services. Sara is also a longtime supporter of equal rights for LGBT Oregonians."

Protecting our children's education

  • Excerpt: "In the State Senate, we can count on Sara to: Advocate for more workforce development programs at our community colleges."

Protecting our natural treasures

  • Excerpt: "In the State Senate, Sara will continue to be a champion for the environment and build on her work to: Invest in alternative energy resources."

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Sara Gelser Blouin campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2022Oregon State Senate District 8Won general$165,107 $189,195
2018Oregon State Senate District 8Won general$148,252 N/A**
2014Oregon State Senate, District 8Won $947,125 N/A**
2012Oregon State House, District 16Won $54,289 N/A**
2010Oregon State House, District 16Won $65,144 N/A**
2008Oregon State House, District 16Won $77,229 N/A**
2006Oregon State House, District 16Won $109,131 N/A**
2004Oregon State House, District 16Lost $85,061 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Oregon

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of Oregon scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012


2011

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Sara Gelser was born December 20, 1973, in Las Vegas, Nevada and raised in Corvallis, Oregon. She is currently married to Peter Gelser with four children.[1]

Organizations

  • Founder, FG Syndrome Family Alliance
  • Member, Grace Lutheran Church, Corvallis
  • Member, National Early Childhood Transition and Research Council Advisory Board
  • Member, Zonta, Corvallis Chapter
  • Past Member, Linn-Benton-Lincoln Education Service District
  • Vice-President/President/Board Member, The Arc of Benton County.

Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees

  • National Early Childhood Transition and Research Council Advisory Board
  • Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • Oregon Dispute Resolution Board, Oregon Department of Education
  • State Interagency Coordinating Council.

See also

2022 Elections

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External links

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Candidate

Oregon State Senate District 8

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    Officeholder

    Oregon State Senate District 8

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Project Vote Smart, "Biography of Rep. Sara Gelser," accessed May 24, 2014
    2. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search Results: 2018 General Election," accessed October 30, 2018
    3. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Official Results - May 20, 2014 Primary Election," accessed July 8, 2014
    4. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing," accessed March 15, 2014
    5. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Official general election results for 2014," accessed April 30, 2015
    6. ↑ Daily Journal, "Control of Oregon Legislature will come down to a handful of Senate districts," accessed October 28, 2014
    7. ↑ Oregon Live, "Oregon state Senate races top $1 million mark in furious battle for control of chamber," accessed October 28, 2014
    8. ↑ Sara Gelser, "Main page," accessed August 27, 2014
    9. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2012 Candidate Filings for the House," accessed May 24, 2014
    10. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Official Results for May 15 Primary election," accessed April 30, 2015
    11. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Official General Results for 2012," accessed April 30, 2015
    12. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2010 Oregon Primary Election Results," accessed April 30, 2015
    13. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2010 General Election Results," accessed April 30, 2015
    14. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2008 Oregon Primary Election Results," accessed April 30, 2015
    15. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2008 General Election Results," accessed April 30, 2015
    16. ↑ Sara Gelser, "Issues," accessed August 27, 2014

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Betsy Close (R)     		Oregon State Senate District 8
    2015-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -     		Oregon House of Representatives District 16
    2005-2015    		 Succeeded by
    Dan Rayfield (D)


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