It's looking increasingly unlikely the OR gov's race will include a conservative third-party candidate. The Libertarian Party of Oregon opted to cross nominate GOP state Sen. Christine Drazan over the weekend. #orpol
Dirk VanderHart
@dirquez.bsky.social
Artist, dog-lover and avid reader.
Gov. Tina Kotek's reelection bid received its biggest check to date yesterday: $400K from IBEW Local 48. The money arrived the same day that Kotek accepted recommendations from a Prosperity Council that labor groups have been hostile to. #orpol
Portland lost one of its most delightful journalists/human beings this weekend. 💔
Zane Sparling, reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive, dies of cancer at 33
“He wanted his identity to be a reporter, and that’s what it was,” his father said.
oregonlive.com
A poll has finally emerged in the heated GOP race for Oregon governor. It shows state Sen. Christine Drazan with a commanding lead. #orpol www.opb.org/article/2026...
Christine Drazan holds sizable lead in GOP race for Oregon governor, new poll suggests
The poll by Salem-based Nelson Research is the first public survey to emerge in the battle to take on Gov. Tina Kotek in November.
opb.org
For more than a week, Amazon has managed to keep a death at its Troutdale, Oregon, facility out of public view. Workers I spoke to are pissed.
‘Everyone is Replaceable’: Death Rattles Oregon Amazon Facility
A worker died at Amazon’s Troutdale warehouse last week. Employees were told to look away.
thewesternedge.media
State Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, decided not to file to run for Oregon's Labor Commissioner, despite creating a website for the purpose. (Anderson was hoping for a 1-on-1 race against Commish Christina Stephenson but another person was in the race). #orpol
Whoops! Left out that the $365M is for Moda Center renovations designed to keep the Blazers in Portland. #orleg
Dirk VanderHart@dirquez.bsky.social · 5mo agoAs a bill to put $365M in state funding continues to move in the Legislature, some notable numbers are emerging. That includes the first estimates for how much will be diverted from the state's general fund in coming budgets. #orleg
As a bill to put $365M in state funding continues to move in the Legislature, some notable numbers are emerging. That includes the first estimates for how much will be diverted from the state's general fund in coming budgets. #orleg
The Oregon House is debating a bill that would nix some of the tax cuts passed by congress last year. If SB 1507 passes, state Rep. Ed Diehl, who already referred a gas tax hike to voters, says he'll collect signatures to send pieces of it to the ballot. #orleg
All indications are that there's been a transportation funding deal for weeks. Lawmakers are just opting not to tell anyone what it is. #orleg
Julia Shumway@jmshumway.bsky.social · 5mo agoKotek says there's a bipartisan agreement on short-term transportation funding that avoids layoffs but didn't share details when OPB's @dirquez.bsky.social pressed her. This is the most recent public document, a suite of options including potential layoffs. olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/D...
Could Oregon have an interesting BOLI race this year? State Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, says he's close to announcing a challenge to Commissioner Christina Stephenson. #orpol www.opb.org/article/2026...
Oregon may have a real labor commissioner race on its hands
Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, says he’s leaning toward challenging Labor Commissioner Christina Stephenson.
opb.org
The Oregon Senate is about to convene and take up SB 1599, the bill to reschedule a public vote on gas tax/transpo fee hikes from Nov. to May The crucial question is whether a weekend of screw-turning has won Dems the votes they need. #orleg Background: www.opb.org/article/2026...
Lacking support, Oregon Democrats delay Senate bill to move gas tax vote
It’s just the latest misstep in an ongoing road-funding saga in the Capitol.
opb.org
The Oregon Senate is getting ready to vote on SB 1599 -- probably the legislative session's most contentious bill. It would move the date of a vote on gas tax increases from Nov. to May. The big question is whether Dems can find 16 votes in their 18-member caucus. #orleg
More GOP Oregon state representatives have reported accepting campaign donations during this year's session -- breaking a chamber rule that legislative attys say is likely unconstitutional. E. Werner Reschke accepted $500 on 2/2. Alek Skarlatos accepted $250 on 2/5. #orleg
ICYMI last week: The Oregon House has a rule that members can't raise campaign funds during session. At least one Republican is putting it to the test, after legislative attorneys said it is likely unconstitutional. #orleg #orpol www.opb.org/article/2026...
Oregon House Republicans test rule barring political donations during session
A recent opinion by legislative attorneys suggested the longstanding rule is unconstitutional.
opb.org
Oregon lawmakers got a slightly brighter budget picture this morning. They'd been planning for a $750 million budget hole. Now it's closer to $650 million. #orleg #orpol www.opb.org/article/2026...
As cuts loom, Oregon’s budget picture improves
A new revenue forecast suggests lawmakers have about $100 million more than they’d been planning for.
opb.org
Oregon Democrats today unveiled their plan for reclaiming state money that is due to be lost to the Trump tax cuts. This figures to be one of the more heated debates of the new legislative session. #orpol #orleg www.opb.org/article/2026...
Oregon Democrats float plan to reclaim state money lost to Trump tax cut bill
The proposal to disconnect from some pieces of H.R 1 is likely to generate friction in the brand-new session.
opb.org
Oregon's (blessedly only) five-week legislative session begins today. It'll feature budget cut questions, attempts to push back on ICE, and a road-funding time loop. #orpol #orleg www.opb.org/article/2026...
Oregon’s 2026 legislative session: What you need to know
Budget challenges, ICE activity and roads will compete for attention in the five-week session convening Monday.
opb.org
One of those magical stories which sparks outrage from... everyone!
Portland councilors mull citywide foie gras ban
Portland city councilors will discuss a citywide ban on the sale of foie gras on Tuesday morning.
opb.org
Something you don't see every day: Oregon labor unions are targeting moderate Democratic lawmakers with unflattering ads. The aim: Forcing Democrats to reject tax changes in President Trump's H.R. 1 -- and therefore (functionally) raising taxes. #orpol www.opb.org/article/2026...
Pressure campaign by Oregon unions targets Democratic lawmakers
Labor groups say the politicians need to take a vote that would help the state budget – but functionally raise taxes.
opb.org
To all the chaos that has surrounded Oregon’s quest for transportation funding in the last year, add this: Absolutely no one knows what happens next. #orpol www.opb.org/article/2026...
With Oregon gas tax hike headed to voters, legal confusion reigns
Can Democrats repeal the tax before a vote? What happens then? No one knows for sure.
opb.org
Not something anyone I've talked to was expecting. Former state Sen. Tim Knopp, who led the longest legislative walkout in Oregon history, now works for Gov. Tina Kotek. #orleg #orpol www.opb.org/article/2026...
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek taps Republican rival to boost business relations
Tim Knopp, a former state senator from Bend, will join Kotek’s administration.
opb.org
Gov. Tina Kotek now says lawmakers should scrap the transportation funding bill she muscled through the Capitol last summer. Kotek wants to cut her losses and start afresh, after Republicans forced a vote on tax increases in the bill. #orpol www.opb.org/article/2026...
Gov. Tina Kotek now wants to scrap her newly passed transportation bill
The development comes after a Republican-led campaign delayed key tax increases in the bill.
opb.org
The Oregon DOJ is asking a judge to block the construction of an ICE detention facility in Newport -- a facility no one is sure is actually coming. www.opb.org/article/2025...
Oregon asks judge to block potential ICE detention center in Newport
The state Department of Justice says the Trump administration hasn’t met key requirements.
opb.org
The US Coast Guard told Oregon's US Senators that it will return a rescue helicopter to Newport permanently. A lawsuit over the helicopter's sudden removal in Oct is ongoing. www.opb.org/article/2025...
US Coast Guard returns rescue helicopter to Newport
The U.S. Coast Guard has permanently returned its rescue helicopter to Newport, after removing the aircraft without explanation in October. That’s according to Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, who sh...
opb.org
With Gov. Tina Kotek's (long-expected) announcement that she's running for reelection this morning, it's the perfect time to revisit our comprehensive look at how her first term has gone. #orpol www.opb.org/article/2025...
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek says she’s made progress on major issues. Even some fans are skeptical
As the governor prepares to launch a reelection bid many believe will succeed, she may need to address the sense that she has underwhelmed.
opb.org
The campaign hoping to refer Oregon's newly passed gas tax increase to next year's ballot now says it has more than 150,000 signatures -- roughly double of what it needs. #orpol
