The Ballot Brief
Columbia County, Oregon

Oregon Senate District 16

3 candidates are tracked for Oregon Senate District 16 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Courtney Bangs, Melisa Finkle and Rachel Armitage. Candidate information follows official Columbia County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Courtney Bangs (Republican), Melisa Finkle (Independent), Rachel Armitage (Democrat) are on the ballot for Oregon Senate District 16 on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot, per the Oregon Secretary of State's ORESTAR certified candidate filing list (read September 17, 2026).

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot.

Oregon › Columbia County › Oregon Senate District 16

Courtney Bangs

R

Top priorities
  • Supports protecting working forests and natural resource employment, and reducing regulatory barriers to housing development.
  • Wants improved rural infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and flood protection, and supports local law enforcement.

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Courtney Bangs is an educator and Clatsop County Commissioner who operates a sixth generation family farm in Knappa, in northwest Oregon, with her husband, per her campaign site. She has served on the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners since 2020 and works as an academic director and teacher at Encore Academy in Warrenton, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Melisa Finkle

Independent

Biography

Melisa Finkle has worked for ten years as an investigator for the State of Oregon, per the Tillamook Headlight Herald. She is running as an independent candidate and is not seeking party endorsements, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Rachel Armitage

D

Biography

Rachel Armitage previously served as an appointed Oregon state senator representing District 16, from January 2022 to January 2023, per Oregon Capital Chronicle. She works in sales and is a native of Oregon's North Coast region, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Next on your ballotOregon House District 31

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Oregon Senate District 16 in 2026?

3 candidates are tracked for Oregon Senate District 16 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Courtney Bangs, Melisa Finkle and Rachel Armitage. Candidate information follows official Columbia County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Oregon Senate District 16 election in Oregon?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Oregon are on the Oregon election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Columbia County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Columbia County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Oregon election office, or see the full Columbia County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Columbia County ballot

3 tracked races in Columbia County, Oregon. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Oregon House District 32See all 3 Columbia County races
Candidate profiles
Courtney Bangs, full profileMelisa Finkle, full profileRachel Armitage, full profileOfficial Oregon election office