Redmond School Board chair Michael Summers to run for Oregon Senate

Published 3:32 pm Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Redmond School Board Chairman Michael Summers filed Tuesday to run for state Senate District 27 in the Republican primary in May. Summers is the only Republican in the race currently. The incumbent, Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, was barred from running for reelection, and the candidate he previously endorsed for the position, Shannon Monihan, was disqualified last week for not meeting residency requirements.

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The only Democrat currently filed for the seat is Bend City Councilor Anthony Broadman.

If no one else files before the March 12 deadline to run in the May 21 primary election, Broadman and Summers would likely face off in the November general election.

Senate District 27 covers a portion of Deschutes County including most of Bend, part of Redmond, Sisters and Tumalo. Knopp was barred from running again by the Oregon Supreme Court in February because of his role in last year’s GOP walkout.

Summers is the co-owner of Summers Flooring & Design in Bend. He was elected to the Redmond School Board in 2021, and his first term is set to expire in 2025.

Fellow Redmond School Board member Keri Lopez is running for the Republican nomination for House District 53, which is currently occupied by Rep. Emerson Levy.

No other Republicans or Democrats have filed for the primary in that race, meaning Levy and Lopez could also face off in the November general election.

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