Oregon Senate GOP leader Daniel Bonham stepping down, backs Rep. Christine Drazan for Senate appointment
WILSONVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Oregon Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) announced Monday that he will resign from the state Senate effective October 5, 2025.
Senator Bonham expressed his full support for Representative Christine Drazan (R-Canby) to be appointed to serve the remainder of his term, which ends on January 11, 2027.
.Here's the rest of his and Drazan's announcements, in full:
At a caucus meeting this morning in Wilsonville, Senate Republicans elected Senator Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) as their new Leader.
“Serving in the Oregon Senate has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Senator Bonham. “I never set out to be a politician—I just wanted to serve my community, and I’ll always be grateful for the trust they placed in me. I’m excited about my future, but I’ll miss the day-to-day work alongside my colleagues in Salem.”
“Senator Starr has my complete confidence stepping in as our new Leader. Bruce is steady, experienced, and committed to fighting for Oregonians. I also trust that Representative Drazan will serve the remainder of my term with the same integrity and dedication she has always shown,” Bonham continued. “I know this caucus will build on the successes we’ve had, and I leave with deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve alongside them.”
Bonham has served in the Oregon Senate since 2023 and previously served in the Oregon House of Representatives beginning in 2017.
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News release from state Rep. Christine Drazan:
DRAZAN TO SEEK SENATE APPOINTMENT
CANBY, Ore. – Today, House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) issued the following statement after the announcement that Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) will be vacating his Senate seat and that Senator Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) has been elected to serve as the next Senate Republican Leader:
“During his service in the legislature, Senator Daniel Bonham has been a fearless leader and invaluable partner, wholly committed to standing up for Oregonians and their families. It has been a privilege to serve our shared constituents and I welcome the opportunity to complete his term and uphold his high standards of public service in the State Senate.
I would also like to offer my sincere congratulations to Senator Bruce Starr on his election as Senate Republican Leader. Senator Starr’s leadership represents deep legislative and political experience that will help guide the Senate in this upcoming session and drive the hard work of turning our state around.”
