seat. In addition, no Republicans filed for the District 23 seat, so he was unopposed in both the Democratic primary and the general election. The 1923 legislative session began on February 8. Because he was the senior senator of the four Democrats serving in that chamber, Strayer became the spokesman for the newly elected Democratic governor, Walter M. Pierce. He also served on the ways and means, enrolled bills, irrigation, and mining committees. The session lasted six weeks, ending on February 22. United States Senate candidate (1924) In 1924, Strayer was in the middle of his four-year term, so he could run for another office without losing his state senate seat. He decided to run for the United States Senate. His campaign slogan was: Only by spending less money can the cost of government be reduced. During the campaign, Strayer was endorsed by Governor Pierce. Strayer ran on his record as a fiscal conservative and small-government Democrat. In the state senate, he often voted against popular programs that he thought cost taxpayers too much money. These included appropriations for the University of Oregon medical school and state libraries. During his years in the legislature, he also voted against numerous bills that he believed unnecessarily extended the power and influence of state agencies. In the four-way race for the Democratic nomination, Strayer ran a close second behind Milton A. Miller of Portland. In the primary to nominate the Democratic party's United States senate candidate, Miller got 10,932 votes versus Strayer's 10,566. The other two candidates ran further behind; George Mansfield received 8,605 votes, while W. R. King trailed the field with 8,101 votes. State senator (1925–1933) After losing his bid for the United States Senate, Strayer continued his service in the state senate. The regular 1925 legislative session began on January 12. As in the 1923 legislative session, he was one of four Democrats with a seat in the state senate. During the session he was appointed to the ways and means, livestock, mining, municipal affairs, enrolled bills, and revision of laws committees. The six-week session ended on February 26. In 1926, another United States Senate seat was open, and Strayer was discussed in the media as a possible Democratic candidate. However, the state senate seat in District 23 was also up for election. Strayer could file as a candidate in only one race. He chose to defend his District 23