e MOSTLY EditionCLOUDY 66 • 54 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | theworldlink.com Follow us online: facebook.com/theworldnewspaper twitter.com/TheWorldLink instagram.com/theworldlink Presidency hinges on tight races WASHINGTON (AP) — sin gave Biden a small lead in ahead of Election Day. election to the Supreme Court to continue beyond Election Day, The fate of the United States those states, but it was still too But the margins were exceed- stop the counting. It was unclear and states largely set the rules presidency hung in the bal- early to call the race. Hundreds ingly tight, with the candidates exactly what legal action he for when the count has to end. In ance Wednesday morning, as of thousands of votes were also trading wins in battleground might try to pursue. presidential elections, a key point President Donald Trump and outstanding in Pennsylvania. states across the country. Trump Biden, briefly appearing in is the date in December when Democratic challenger Joe The high stakes election was picked up Florida, the largest of front of supporters in Dela- presidential electors met. That’s Biden battled for three familiar held against the backdrop of a the swing states, while Biden ware, urged patience, saying the set by federal law. battleground states — Wiscon- historic pandemic that has killed flipped Arizona, a state that has election “ain’t over until every Several states allow mailed-in sin, Michigan and Pennsylvania more than 230,000 Americans reliably voted Republican in vote is counted, every ballot is votes to be accepted after Elec- — that could prove crucial in and wiped away millions of jobs. recent elections. Neither cleared counted.” tion Day, as long as they were determining who wins the White Both candidates spent months the 270 Electoral College votes “It’s not my place or Donald postmarked by Tuesday. That House. pressing dramatically different needed to carry the White House. Trump’s place to declare who’s includes Pennsylvania, where It was unclear when or visions for the nation’s future Trump, in an extraordinary won this election,” Biden said. ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 can how quickly a winner could and voters responded in huge move from the White House, “That’s the decision of the Amer- be accepted if they arrive up to be determined. A late burst of numbers, with more than 100 issued premature claims of vic- ican people.” three days after the election. votes in Michigan and Wiscon- million people casting votes tory and said he would take the Vote tabulations routinely Please see President, Page 2 Merkley reelected to Senate SALEM (AP) — Democrat U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley has won the Oregon seat that he was first elected to in 2008. Merkley defeated Republican Jo Rae Perkins, who made na- tional headlines this year for her support of the wide ranging and baseless QAnon internet conspir- acy theory and “science denial- ism” during the pandemic. “Tonight Oregonians have made their voices heard — loud and clear. Our Oregonians have rejected the politics of hate and division and they have chosen a path of hope and healing,” Merkley said during the Demo- The World file photo cratic Party of Oregon’s election Rep. Peter DeFazio speaks to constituents at a townhall meeting at Marshfield High School in this 2017 file photo. night celebration. “I feel really honored that Oregonians have elected me to serve a third term for Senate.” The incumbent’s win keeps Peter DeFazio reelected Democrats holding both of the state’s Senate seats, the oth- ZACK DEMARS “I want to thank my grassroots the people of Southwest Oregon The race was unusually er Democrat being Sen. Ron The World supporters all across Oregon in the US House of Representa- intense in this election, with Wyden. and the country. This race would tives,” DeFazio wrote. “The citi- national attention focusing on “Jeff is a leader on so many of Rep. Peter DeFazio was have never come this close zens of Southwest Oregon spoke the district that Republicans felt the issues we care about — cli- reelected by Oregon’s Fourth without your support, and I am clearly tonight in favor of a they could potentially pick up mate change, human rights and District voters Tuesday. The thankful for each and every one system that works for the people, in the house. Skarlatos, a former priorities that really matter to long-time Democratic incumbent of you,” he wrote in statement. not wealthy special interests.” Oregon National Guardsman working families. He has been a beat out Republican challenger DeFazio has been the district’s The district includes parts of who famously thwarted a Paris wonderful partner in the Unit- Alek Skarlatos in one of the dis- representative since 1987, and seven counties. DeFazio suc- terrorist attack, outraised Defazio ed States Senate,” Wyden said trict’s most contentious elections has become one of the House’s ceeded with voters in Benton and with millions in campaign dona- during the celebration. in recent history. top Democrats as the chair of a Lane counties, while Skarlatos tions, much of that coming from Before Merkley’s election to The Associated Press called key transportation and infrastruc- pulled ahead in Coos, Curry, out of state. the Senate, he was a five-term the race Tuesday night for ture committee. Douglas, Josephine and Linn Some also speculated that member of the Oregon House DeFazio, who was reporting DeFazio, a Springfield resident counties. DeFazio might face trouble in of Representatives, serving as 51.56% of the vote across the and former Lane County Com- In Coos County, returns show the district’s college towns of speaker of the house from 2007 district to Skarlatos’ 46.22% missioner, thanked supporters in that Skarlatos received 57.30% Eugene and Corvallis, where the to 2009. Wednesday morning. a statement late Tuesday. of the vote (20,600 votes), a students who tend to vote Dem- Merkley said that having Skarlatos conceded the race “I am honored to have earned knockout over DeFazio’s 40.43% grown up in a blue-collar family just before midnight. your trust once again to serve (14,535 votes). Please see DeFazio, Page 2 “he never anticipated or imag- ined” serving the U.S. Senate. “That is something that rich and powerful that connected Coos Bay retains Benetti, councilors people do. Not boys growing up in blue collar communities,” The World it percentage point margins. Merkley said. “But, America Kilmer led the slate with 26.78% City of Coos Bay affords opportunities that I COOS BAY — Voters retained of the vote (4,251 votes), while think begin with good families, the status quo in Coos Bay city Farmer carried 22.20% of the strong families and strong public hall Tuesday night, with incum- vote (3,524 votes) and DiNovo Mayor schools.” bent mayor Joe Benetti and three carried 19.92% (3,163 votes). Name Votes Pct. Joe Benetti 4068 58.41 Perkins, Merkley’s challeng- incumbent councilors winning in Jim Kingsley, who positioned er and a staunch supporter of himself as a deeply conservative Steven Matthew McSweeney 860 12.35 final unofficial returns. Mark Daily 1959 28.13 President Donald Trump, ran Benetti won easily in his bid candidate, carried 1,729 votes, for the Senate in 2014 and for for reelection, with 4,068 votes, or 10.89% of those reported, and Councilor (vote for 3) the U.S. House in 2016 and or around 58.41%. progressive challengers Cam- 2018. She failed to win primary eron Langley and Cody Skoff, Name Votes Pct. Benetti’s challengers, Mark Drew Farmer 3524 22.20 contests until this year when she Daily and Steven St. Michael carried 1,619 votes (10.20%) Stephanie Kilmer 4251 26.78 won 49% of the Republican vote McSweeny, stood at 28.13% and and 1,400 votes (8.82%) respec- Lucinda DiNovo 3163 19.92 against three other challengers. 12.35%, respectively. tively. Cody Skoff 1400 8.82 Perkins, who has had a career Current councilors Stephanie This story was updated with Cameron Langley 1619 10.20 as a real estate agent, personal Kilmer, Drew Farmer and Lucin- the county’s final returns, which Jim Kingsley 1729 10.89 banker, financial advisor and da DiNovo won with double-dig- were published around 11 p.m. insurance agent, holds views that largely align with Trump’s. She is in favor of expanding the U.S.-Mexico border wall and Engelke wins race for City of North Bend passing laws that limit or stop federal dollars to places that have Mayor declared “sanctuary” status on North Bend mayor Name Votes Pct. cooperating with federal immi- Jessica Engelke 2518 52.34 gration authorities. The World James Rose 2265 47.08 She also supports the Second Amendment and is anti-abor- Jessica Engelke beat James Rose in the race for North Bend mayor Councilor (vote for 3) tion, receiving the endorsement in the final unofficial results released by Coos County on Tuesday Name Votes Pct. of Oregon Right to Life PAC, a night. Levi Clow 1047 9.03 political action committee that With 4,811 votes in, Engelke led Rose 2,518 to 2,265 (52.34% to Eric Gleason 1993 17.18 raises money and makes contri- Pat Goll 1909 16.46 47.08%). butions to campaigns of political Ron Kutch 1950 16.81 candidates or parties. The results also showed the three leaders for the city council all Timm Slater 1885 16.25 ahead of the lone incumbent on the ballot, Timm Slater. Perkins made national Jonathan Vinyard 1558 13.43 headlines earlier this year for Eric Gleason had 1,993 votes, Susanna Nordhoff 1,950 and Pat Susanna Noordhoff 1950 16.81 Goll 1,909.