Election 2022: Incumbent Manning fending off Republican challenger for state Senate seat
Two candidates are competing in the race for Oregon State Senate District 7.
State Sen. James Manning Jr., a Democrat also running on the Working Families Party ticket, is running against Raquel Ivie, a pharmacy technician and auto broker running as a Republican. The election is on Nov. 8.
Manning has represented State Senate District 7 since he was appointed to the seat in 2016. The district includes much of west Eugene, but redistricting changed its shape, which previously included Junction City but now includes Veneta.
Below is information about the candidates, their campaign issues and plans if elected to office:
Raquel Ivie
Attempts by The Register-Guard to contact Ivie for an interview for this article were unsuccessful.
According to her website, Ivie grew up in Klamath Falls before attending Lane Community College and, later, began a career in health care as a pharmacy technician. She is a spring car racer and still races on the Cottage Grove Speedway.
According to her website, her life experiences motivated her to run for the state Senate. She believes Oregon's high cost of living and "a decade of one-party rule in Salem" keep working families from achieving the American Dream.
"Portland politicians have been pushing policies that have made life more expensive, less safe, and that have restricted your freedom," the website reads.
According to her website, Ivie believes the cost of living can be lowered for working families with tax relief and regulations reform; opposes the "overbearing mandates" instituted during the pandemic over the last two years; and thinks the Oregon school system has failed and families need "the opportunity to chose the best education for them."
James Manning
Manning, a U.S. Army veteran and former Eugene Water & Electric Board commissioner, was appointed to the Oregon State Senate for Senate District 7 in 2016. He is running for his second full term.
Manning previously served on the Oregon Commission on Black Affairs and the City of Eugene Police Commission.
"My priorities have not changed. I believe that we have to have quality education for all. I believe we have to deal with our homeless problem we're dealing with. We have to ensure our law enforcement and communities are united," Manning said. "My job is to ensure that there's public safety but also providing quality police accountability work."
If re-elected, Manning said he's excited to bring to the state legislature for a vote the results of work a task force he helped lead, which is focused on creating a statewide comprehensive health insurance plan. He said he has a good working relationship with Oregon Congressional delegation and works to coordinate related state and federal policies.
"When people look at my voting record, they will see I am a visionary, I'm open, I'm accessible and my integrity is beyond reproach," Manning said.
Contact reporter Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@registerguard.com. Follow on Twitter @DuvernayOR.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Incumbent fending off Republican challenger for Oregon State Senate seat
