State Rep. Ben Bowman is running for reelection to Oregon House of Representatives District 25 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Republican Robert H. Niemeyer III.
Bowman, a Democrat who also carries the Working Families Party line, has represented District 25 since 2023. He serves as House majority leader, a role he has held since 2024, according to his BallotReady profile. He is certified for the November ballot, according to BallotReady election data.
Candidate information
Name: Benjamin W. Bowman
Party: Democratic / Working Families Party
Office sought: Oregon House of Representatives, District 25
Education:
- High school diploma, Tualatin High School (2010)
- Bachelor's degree in political science, University of Oregon (2014)
- Master's degree in policy, organization, and leadership studies, Stanford University (2018)
Experience and public service
Bowman served as chief of staff to former state Rep. Margaret Doherty from 2015 to 2016, according to his BallotReady profile. He has worked as a legislative affairs specialist at the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators since 2018.
He served as an innovation and partnership strategist at the Oregon Department of Education from 2020 to 2023. He also founded OR360 Media, where he served as editor and podcast host from 2021 to 2024.
Bowman has served on the Tigard-Tualatin School Board since 2019 and works as director of community relations and partnerships at Gladstone School District 115. He ran for Oregon State Senate District 18 in 2020.
On the issues
The following positions are based on Bowman's responses on his campaign issues page.
Education: Bowman said he supports lifting academic achievement by investing in preschool for all, reading programs and career and technical education. He said the state must support educators and lower the cost of higher education.
Health care and social services: Bowman said he supports reducing the cost of health care and prescription drugs, expanding affordable childcare options and creating more living-wage jobs to promote economic mobility.
Housing: Bowman listed affordable housing and homelessness solutions as a priority, according to his candidate responses.
Environment: Bowman said he believes in preserving Oregon's natural beauty and that the state must combat and build resilience to climate change.
Infrastructure: Bowman listed investing in infrastructure and expanding public transportation as a priority, according to his candidate responses.
Endorsements
According to BallotReady and his campaign website, Bowman has received endorsements from the Tigard Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO, Oregon Working Families Party, American Federation of Teachers-Oregon, Oregon School Employees Association, Oregon Nurses Association, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Stand for Children Oregon, LiUNA! Oregon and Southern Idaho District Council, and Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters.
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
