The Nation - News from Aug. 25, 1986

Oregon state Rep. Rick Bauman won the Democratic nomination to oppose Republican Sen. Bob Packwood in the November election. The four-term Portland lawmaker replaced the Democrats’ original nominee, U.S. Rep. James Weaver, who withdrew from the Senate race Aug. 13, citing a House ethics investigation of his past campaign finances. At a party Central Committee meeting, Bauman, 36, defeated four other candidates, getting the nomination on the first round with 72% of the votes. However, many of the strongest possible challengers refused to jump into the race against Packwood, who has a $7-million reelection campaign fund and name recognition among voters.