Tammy Carpenter (D / Working Families Party / Progressive Party) and G. Mark Norman (R) are running in the general election for Oregon House of Representatives District 27 on Nov. 3. Incumbent Ken Helm (D), who was elected with 74% of the vote in 2024, is not running for re-election.

Carpenter is one of 52 candidates the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) had endorsed in state legislative elections this year and two DSA-endorsed candidates running in Oregon. To learn more about about DSA endorsements nationally, click here.

Carpenter and Norman both completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. Click here (Carpenter) and here (Norman) to read their full responses. Both candidates wrote about healthcare, and taxes in response to our survey.

On healthcare, Carpenter said she supports a universal single-payer healthcare system. Norman said he supports expanding access to affordable healthcare. On taxes, Carpenter criticized President Donald Trump (R) and congressional Republicans' tax policies, saying she supported taxing millionaires and billionaires to invest in the Oregon Health Plan, public schools, and social housing. Norman said he would oppose tax increases that he deems unnecessary and demand transparency in government spending.

Here’s some more background on each candidate, and what they said in our survey about why they are running.

Carpenter’s career experience includes working as an anesthesiologist and serving on the board of directors of a private anesthesia practice. In response to our survey, Carpenter wrote, “I am running because healthcare is a human right and Oregonians deserve better. I will fight for single-payer healthcare to provide every Oregonian with comprehensive health care coverage, free at the point of service.”

Norman is a Navy veteran, veterinarian, former small-business owner. In response to our survey, Norman wrote, “I am running for the Oregon House because families, seniors, and small businesses are struggling with rising costs, declining public safety, and a government that too often spends more while delivering less. I will bring practical leadership, accountability, and a problem-solving approach to Salem.” As of this writing, Norman’s campaign website did not have a list of endorsements.

Click here to learn more about Oregon’s 2026 state House elections