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Oregon News
2026 ELECTION
Chris Dudley enters Oregon governor’s race
OPB | By Lauren Dake
Chris Dudley is getting back into the political game.
Sixteen years after the former Portland Trail Blazers center came within one percentage point of beating Democrat John Kitzhaber for governor in 2010, Dudley announced on Monday he’s entering the GOP primary and going to try to be the next governor of Oregon once again.
In Oregon’s most flippable U.S. House district, why have Republicans struggled to recruit a strong candidate?
The Oregonian | By Betsy Hammond
In some ways, the Republican Party response has been surprising: The best candidate state and national party leaders have managed to recruit is a 74-year-old two-term Deschutes County commissioner who has been staunchly pro-President Donald Trump and acknowledges she does not yet have name recognition in Clackamas County, the district’s largest population base.
But experts say it’s actually not a big eye-opener that no better-known, more battle-tested or moderate Republican has agreed to take on Bynum.
The district’s voter make-up, while the closest thing to a swing district in Oregon, somewhat favors a Democrat in any year, they say. But this year Democrats have a decisive advantage due to Trump’s low approval rating among Democrats and independents.
“This would be a tough district for Republicans to target in any cycle,” said Erin Covey, editor for U.S. House races at nonpartisan elections newsletter the Cook Political Report. “If you talk to both parties, they would tell you they don’t expect this race to be competitive in 2026,” she said, no matter how impressive a candidate the Republicans were to put forth.
POLITICS
Editorial: Move tax vote to May but Dems must end mismanagement
The Oregonian Editorial Board
Democrats aren’t wrong to propose fast-tracking a transportation tax referendum onto the May ballot instead of waiting for November.
Now that the Legislature’s legal counsel has reversed himself and concluded that lawmakers can’t simply repeal provisions of the controversial tax bill that were referred to voters, it makes sense to find out sooner than later if Oregonians are going to reject the $4.5 billion package that Democrats narrowly passed last year to fund transportation needs. Previous tax measures sent by referendum to the ballot have similarly been voted on outside of the November cycle.
And if voters do overturn the package, then state and local governments will face huge questions about how to pay for basic road safety and maintenance work, never mind any of the big projects still on the horizon. As Oregonians learned from the past year of watching elected officials’ bumbling, fumbling, bad luck and manipulations, they will need every available day to come up with a decent alternative.
Still, let’s not get carried away with the notion that moving up the election is purely about what’s best for Oregon. Little about the last year — from the rushed review of the initial mega package to the cursed special legislative session that lasted weeks longer than intended to the governor’s gamesmanship over signing the bill — showed a concern for public transparency, financial stewardship or fair process.
First, the proposal carries a real downside for the public. May primaries routinely see far lower turnout than November general elections – a 29 percentage point difference in 2022 — due in part to Oregon’s insistence on keeping its major party, taxpayer-funded primaries closed to anyone who’s not registered as a Democrat or Republican. That means it will take more work to engage casual voters and ensure a result more representative of the public as a whole, not just the most partisan.
There’s also a real political advantage for Democrats to move the vote to May. The referendum was spearheaded in part by a Republican legislator who is now running for governor. Making the change ensures that Gov. Tina Kotek and any Democrats in competitive districts aren’t on the same general election ballot as the unpopular tax package they passed. Considering the governor’s delay in signing the bill limited the window for referendum organizers to gather signatures, pairing the two contests on the same ballot could certainly make a difference in her race. While we don’t think the timing of a referendum should be used to give Republicans a political advantage either, Democrats are undeniably exploiting the edge.
Democratic legislators easily hold majorities in both chambers. Before they approve this change in election date, they must do a lot more to show that they are truly acting in the public’s interest.
That starts with owning up to mistakes and communicating honestly with Oregonians.
In last week’s press release announcing the proposal from House Speaker Julie Fahey and Senate President Rob Wagner, Fahey claimed that “in this time of uncertainty, we’re focused on governing, not politics.” That statement disrespects Oregonians, who witnessed how top Democrats shepherded the transportation package along a deeply partisan path, capped off by the governor’s milking the clock in her unsuccessful bid to derail the referendum. Only two Democratic senators, Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, and Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, stood up for the integrity of the process to urge Kotek to stop stalling and sign the bill. Governing, not politics, should have prompted Wagner and Fahey to do the same.
Legislators should also press Kotek to rescind her executive order requiring contractors on major state-owned construction projects to negotiate working conditions and benefits with labor unions — even if their workforce is not unionized. The state transportation department already concluded that requiring such “project labor agreements” can inflate costs by as much as 20%, and the agency’s appalling record of fiscal stewardship is one reason it is in such a financial bind now. The extra expense drove California Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto a bill that called for similar agreements. And Kotek cannot prioritize Oregon’s economic comeback when she is singlehandedly seeking to crush basic competition.
In a call with The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board, Fahey signaled reason for hope on that front. While she did not directly address the executive order, which is blocked pending an ongoing legal challenge, she emphasized that accountability in spending must be a key part of fashioning a transportation funding plan. Democrats should stop ignoring Republicans’ objection to project labor agreements and recognize that a policy benefiting longtime Democratic donors at greater public expense is unjustifiable.
And legislators of both parties must be open to a major overhaul of policies that balance affordability, targeted spending cuts and tax increases and a disciplined focus on what the state is trying to achieve – and whether it is the right entity to do so. For example, we noted in an earlier editorial the need to empower local jurisdictions to seek public transit funding from their residents as opposed to relying on the state to make those decisions. Similarly, with increasing power costs as well as the potential for higher gas prices and other transportation costs, legislators must look at how to lessen the overall affordability burden rather than treat everything as a separate matter for consideration.
We had partially agreed with Kotek’s earlier call for repeal, believing that legislators should respond to the clear message coming from the referendum effort to take back the problematic provisions and immediately work on a better solution. With repeal no longer an option, the May election offers legislators an opportunity to break from the patterns of the past. Exorcise the demons of bad luck and bad leadership and point Oregon in a better direction.
Oregon Republicans to tackle transportation funding in new legislative session
KATU | By Wright Gazaway
The upcoming 2026 legislative session is set to tackle significant issues, with a major focus on transportation funding. Earlier this month, Gov. Tina Kotek announced her intention to ask lawmakers to repeal her transportation funding package after Republicans gathered enough signatures to place it on the ballot. Initially, leading Democrats planned to repeal the bill before it reached voters. However, last Wednesday, they reversed their stance, acknowledging the legal requirement to allow voters to decide. Democrats now aim to have the referendum on the May ballot, contrary to the November timing preferred by signature-gatherers. In the short session, lawmakers will also address a more than $240 million budget gap in the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). In this full interview on Your Voice, Your Vote, with House Minority Leader Lucetta Elmer (R-McMinnville) and [Senate Republican Leader] Bruce Starr (R-Dundee), the Republicans criticize the decision to move the referendum to May, labeling it a political strategy.
Dems reverse course, set transport funding vote for May amid GOP criticism
KATU
Earlier this month, Gov. Tina Kotek announced her intention to ask lawmakers to repeal her transportation funding package after Republicans gathered enough signatures to place it on the ballot. Initially, leading Democrats planned to repeal the bill before it reached voters.
However, last Wednesday, they reversed their stance, acknowledging the legal requirement to allow voters to decide. Democrats now aim to have the referendum on the May ballot, contrary to the November timing preferred by signature-gatherers.
Democrats push for May ballot on transportation funding referendum
KATU | By Wright Gazaway
House Speaker Julie Fahey (D-Eugene) and Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) discuss their work on short-term transportation funding, addressing a significant state budget shortfall, and responding to increased immigration enforcement.
What Oregon lawmakers will discuss in the 2026 legislative session
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo, Anastasia Mason
Republicans have made it clear they will likely reject any attempts to opt out of federal tax changes.
"Senate Republicans believe Oregonians deserve to keep more of what they earn, especially right now when saving money is a challenge," said spokesperson Ashley Kuenzi in an emailed statement.
Kuenzi said 250,000 Oregonians signed a petition to refer the transportation bill to voters and reject higher taxes. She referred to the proposal to disconnect as a "backdoor tax hike on working Oregonians."
"This is a clear choice between trusting taxpayers or protecting government revenue, and Democrats are choosing revenue, even if it means taking more from the people working extra hours just to make ends meet, many of whom live in our districts," Kuenzi added.
Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, vice chair of the Committee on Finance and Revenue, said disconnecting would add complexity for taxpayers and businesses and would fail to address long-term budget pressures. McLane also pushed back on the argument that failing to disconnect would automatically lead to service cuts.
"I think we all have to prepare, not just this year, but for the next five to six or longer years, for a debate over the growth that this government has undergone over the last 10 years," McLane said.
What are Mid-Valley lawmakers proposing during 2026 session? See list
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo
Here's what Mid-Valley lawmakers will be introducing during the short session.
Oregon’s top cop approves rare waiver landing his rehired buddy a big promotion
The Oregonian | By Maxine Bernstein
Oregon State Police Superintendent Casey Codding offered a rare eligibility waiver to promote a friend to a high-ranking position despite the trooper’s checkered record.
Codding’s decision paved the way for his former SWAT colleague Joey Pollard to get the top job at the agency’s Newport office.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield talks continuing battle with the Trump administration
KOIN 6 | By Ken Boddie
Under Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, the state has filed or joined in 53 lawsuits against the Trump administration on everything from tariffs, to the withholding of federal grants, to birthright citizenship and more.
AG Rayfield returned to Eye on Northwest Politics to talk victories, losses, and Oregon’s efforts to protect vote-by-mail.
Beaverton City Council discusses Oregon's Sanctuary Promise Act
KATU
The city of Beaverton is considering sending police officers to reports of immigration enforcement.
Protesters converge on Portland ICE facility after latest Minneapolis shooting, met with tear gas
The Oregonian | By Noelle Crombie
An estimated 500 demonstrators gathered at the Portland ICE building on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 to condemn the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis by federal agents. Federal officers deployed tear gas against protesters who funneled into the ICE driveway and pushed a large metal trash bin up against the facility’s white barred gates.
Legacy Health sends cease-and-desist letter to nurses union after claims about ICE agents
KATU | By Barry Mangold
A back-and-forth between Oregon's largest healthcare workers union and Legacy Health has led to a cease-and-desist letter over claims that federal agents are "roaming" the halls of a Portland hospital.
HEALTH CARE
Opinion: Oregon is ambling toward a health care implosion
The Oregonian | Opinion by John Kitzhaber
The accelerating crisis of cost and access overtaking Oregon’s health care system was decades in the making and cannot be turned around in the course of a single two-year state budget and legislative cycle. We need a multi-year strategy, guided by a clear vision of what we want our health care system to look like in 2033—the values we want it to reflect and the outcomes we want it to produce.
This vision, this “North Star,” must be established in the upcoming session of the Oregon Legislature.
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