|
Oregon News
2026 ELECTION
After Coasting to GOP Primary Win, Drazan Says Governor’s Race Will Be Different This Time
Willamette Week | By Nigel Jaquiss
The Republican nominee will face incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek in November.
Trump’s actions could loom large in race to be next Oregon governor
OPB | By Lauren Dake
Within ten minutes of Christine Drazan winning the GOP primary on Tuesday night, the Oregon Democratic Party sent out an email casting her as an extremist who takes her orders directly from the White House.
Changed political environment will shake up Kotek-Drazan rematch
KGW | By Alex Jensen
Kotek narrowly beat Drazan in 2022, with Oregon still deep in pandemic recovery. Now, four years and a full gubernatorial term later, the dynamics have shifted.
Gas tax failure: On transportation, voters tell Oregon leaders to try again
OPB | By Bryce Dole
The resounding defeat of Measure 120 underscored the high costs facing Oregon voters.
Oregonians won’t see higher gas tax as Measure 120 goes down with strong opposition
The Oregonian | By Carlos Fuentes
Oregonians have decided not to increase a series of transportation taxes that would have bolstered funding for road maintenance and public transit — a long-anticipated result that concludes more than a year of political theater and debate.
What's next for ODOT after Oregon voters reject the gas tax hike?
KATU | By Vasili Varlamos
Oregon lawmakers are now facing more pressure to find a long-term funding solution for roads, bridges, and transit in 2027 after voters rejected Measure 120, the statewide transportation tax package that would have raised the gas tax and vehicle fees.
Washington County Legislative Contests Are Nail-Biters, but the Late Votes Lean Left
Willamette Week | By Aaron Mesh
Given that mailed-in ballots will be accepted through May 26, anything could happen. But late returns tend to favor progressives.
Labor-backed candidates in 2 ultra-close Washington County races for Legislature have claimed lead, new results show
The Oregonian | By Betsy Hammond
Two ultra-progressive Washington County Democratic candidates backed by powerful public employee unions have claimed the lead in their races for the Oregon Legislature against business-friendly, moderate or progressive Democrats, newly released results show.
Challenger Vanessa Nordyke leads incumbent Julie Hoy for Salem mayor in early returns
OPB | By Natalie Pate
Nordyke took a notable lead, particularly in Marion County, in the race to run Oregon’s capital city Tuesday.
Challengers oust incumbents in Pendleton City Council races
OPB | By Antonio Sierra
A political action committee has donated thousands to candidates backed by a group targeting homelessness.
Oregon U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle headed to rematch with Republican Monique DeSpain
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Mia Maldonado
The race to represent Oregonians living in a congressional district centered in Eugene and stretching along the state’s central and southern coast will be a rematch of 2024.
Wasco County Commissioner Phil Brady dies suddenly while leading election
The Oregonian
Wasco County Commissioner Phil Brady died suddenly on Election Day.
POLITICS
Iran war, skyrocketing fuel prices battering Oregon’s economic forecast
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Alex Baumhardt
Oil prices have doubled since Oregon’s top economists last met with reporters and lawmakers to discuss the state’s economic outlook, creating a “new economic reality.”
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, a Dundee Republican, acknowledged oil prices as a concern, and said Democrats over the years had exacerbated the pain via fuels taxes meant to address the rising costs of climate change.
“Over the last decade, Democrats in Salem have implemented repeated tax hikes, mandates, and regulations that have steadily increased the cost of gas, electricity, and heating bills for Oregon households and businesses,” he said.
Economic outlook dims, while projected revenue grows in Oregon
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo
Oregon's economic outlook has weakened since the last quarterly forecast, thanks to surging oil and gasoline prices that have slowed projected growth, state economists said during a May 19 briefing with reporters.
Providence to end most health insurance plans, forcing hundreds of thousands in Oregon to switch
The Oregonian | By Kristine de Leon
Providence Health & Services plans to exit most of its Oregon health insurance business next year, citing rising costs, tougher regulation and intensifying competition from national insurers — a move that will force hundreds of thousands of Oregonians to find new coverage.
In final state of the county, Jessica Vega Pederson emphasizes wins from a bruising tenure
The Oregonian | By Austin De Dios
Jessica Vega Pederson delivered her final state of the county address as chair on Tuesday night, reviewing her tenure as the county’s top executive with a packed audience in the new East County Library.
Portland Housing Bureau ‘routinely’ excluded money from city budget, investigator says
The Oregonian | By Jonathan Bach
The Portland Housing Bureau accumulated more than $100 million in unbudgeted funds because of a “longstanding practice” of excluding money from the public-facing budget and due to communication breakdowns between Housing Bureau and city finance staff, according to investigative documents obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
A journey through Nike history: From Phil Knight’s basement to a 400-acre campus
The Oregonian | By Matthew Kish
This week, Nike is honoring Knight with “Founder’s Week,” and marking the recent renaming of the company’s leafy 400-acre campus the Philip H. Knight Campus.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Oregon approves extension of spring salmon season
The Oregonian | By Bill Monroe
Oregon and Washington fish managers ensured a memorable and uniformly long Memorial Day weekend by extending the spring chinook salmon season on the Columbia River.
| 
