Charlie Conrad runs as Independent for Oregon House District 12

Former state representative Charlie Conrad announced on January 16 that he will seek to regain the Oregon House District 12 seat as a candidate of the Independent Party of Oregon. Conrad framed his return to the ballot as an effort to move beyond partisan gridlock and to refocus state attention on local priorities such as housing affordability, improving education outcomes and strengthening wildfire resilience in East Lane County.

District 12 covers parts of east Lane County, including sections of Cottage Grove and nearby communities. At the time of reporting no Democratic candidate had filed for the seat, setting up a likely head-to-head contest between Conrad and Republican Darin Harbick, who defeated Conrad in the 2024 Republican primary. Conrad previously represented District 12 in the Oregon House before his 2024 primary loss.

Conrad’s decision to run under the Independent Party label alters the political geometry of the 2026 campaign. Independents and unaffiliated voters make up a growing portion of Lane County’s electorate, and an Independent nominee could attract voters from both major parties as well as those who have left the two-party system. For local governance, a shift from a party-affiliated representative to an Independent could influence committee assignments, coalition-building in Salem and how the district’s priorities are negotiated within caucuses.

Policy-wise, Conrad emphasized three issues that resonate in East Lane: housing affordability, education outcomes and wildfire resilience. Housing affordability has been a persistent local concern as Cottage Grove and outlying communities face pressures from rising costs and limited rental stock. Education outcomes remain central to voters concerned about school funding and student achievement in smaller districts. Wildfire resilience is an ongoing local and regional challenge after recent seasons of destructive fires; investments in mitigation, evacuation planning and forest health continue to be high priorities for residents and local officials.

The absence of a Democratic filer at this stage heightens the strategic importance of voter outreach and turnout. With a Republican candidate who prevailed in the 2024 primary and an Independent challenger who previously held the seat, precinct-level turnout and campaign messaging will likely determine the outcome in November. Voters in Cottage Grove and other parts of East Lane should expect door-knocking, town halls and candidate forums as the campaign unfolds.

Conrad’s entry formalizes a 2026 race that will test whether an Independent candidacy can reassemble the coalition that previously supported him and whether that coalition can address the practical issues residents raised in his announcement. The contest will shape how District 12’s voice is represented in Salem on housing, schools and wildfire policy in the coming legislative session.