This remains unchanged although CQ Politics had forecasted district 5 to be at some risk for the incumbent party earlier in the year.

[3] Hobbs, a political novice, earned some attention late in the race, by winning the endorsements of major newspapers The Oregonian and Willamette Week.

[3] In the general election, he faced Republican Delia Lopez, a real estate investor,[11] and Pacific Green Party candidate Michael Meo.

[3] He was being challenged in the general election by Constitution Party member Jaynee Germond and Pacific Green Mike Beilstein, a research chemist.

In February 2008, Democrat Darlene Hooley, who had represented Oregon's 5th congressional district since 1996, announced that she would not seek re-election in 2008.