The battle for District 9 ended with Rep. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay, trouncing his Republican challenger with approximately 63 percent of the vote.

Challenger Al Pearn earned 5,946 votes compared with Roblan’s 10,079. Pearn’s failed bid for the Oregon House seat was his second loss to Roblan.

From his home outside of Florence, Pearn said he learned of the election results this morning. Though disappointed, he took it in stride.

“I’d just like to say thank you to all of my volunteers and supporters, and I wish Arnie the best. We need to move forward today as Oregonians,” Pearn said. “I don’t know what to say. I try not to look back, I try to look forward.”

Roblan, 60, said he was ready for another two years and was heartened to learn that voters in Lane, Douglas and Coos counties had chosen him again.

He has served as the District 9 representative since 2004.

“I really appreciate their confidence in me,” Roblan said. “I look forward to representing the area’s views in Salem.”

On Monday, Pearn . predicted he’d win the race by a narrow margin.

Today, he speculated the national Democratic momentum had worked against him.

“I did think it was going to be closer,” said Pearn, 69. “There clearly were some forces, some trends that we picked up on, but I didn’t realize the depth of the national campaign.”

He added, “It’s inconsistent that voters should elect party members who have spent more but rejected measures that increase taxes and levies."