Election 2022
Oregon Secretary of State didn’t investigate residency complaint against new Rep. Hai Pham
State election officials opted not to investigate a complaint alleging that a new Democratic state representative doesn’t actually live in the district he represents, citing the complaint’s proximity to the November election. Hai Pham, a pediatric dentist and Vietnamese refugee, was elected in November to represent the strongly Democratic 36th House District in Hillsboro. A […]
Two-thirds of Oregon voters participated in 2022 midterm election
More than two-thirds of Oregon voters cast ballots in the November general election, final results certified Thursday showed. In total, 1,997,689 Oregonians returned their ballots, more voters than in any other midterm election in the state’s history. “This election was smooth and secure,” Secretary of State Shemia Fagan said in a statement. “It’s a testament […]
Oregon’s top election official seeks more money to combat election misinformation
Citing an increase in misinformation, complaints and time-consuming public records requests from election deniers, Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan is seeking roughly $2 million over the next two years to hire more staff dedicated to election security and oversight. That sum includes two new election complaint investigators, two more employees dedicated to combating misinformation […]
Raphael Warnock wins U.S. Senate runoff, giving Democrats a 51-seat majority
Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock will return to Washington to represent Georgia for the next six years after winning his Senate runoff Tuesday, handing Senate Democrats a coveted 51st seat. The Associated Press called the race at 10:26 p.m. Tuesday. By early Wednesday morning, Warnock had 51.3% of the vote, edging out Republican Herschel Walker […]
An anti-environmental group is shaping Oregon politics and policy
Shortly after this year’s midterm elections, an anti-government group in Oregon called Timber Unity posted a call to action on Facebook. It asked its followers to “bombard” Portland City Council members during an upcoming hearing over a proposed change to a motor vehicles fuel code. The changes in the code would reduce dependence on nonrenewable […]
A few Oregon, Washington congressional seats likely to be competitive in 2024
It’s been a long time since Oregon and Washington were home to more than at most a single seriously up for grabs congressional seat. This year, the states had a small pile of them. Fewer are likely to be as seriously contested two years from now, but a couple probably will. Washington has 10 House […]
Federal court weighs arguments on Oregon firearms measure
A federal judge will decide early next week whether to temporarily halt a voter-approved Oregon firearms law from taking effect Dec. 8, as court challenges against it proceed. U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut heard arguments Friday about Measure 114, which will limit sales of some high-capacity ammunition magazines and require safety training before purchasing […]
Some Oregon gun shops selling weapons to customers who might fail a background check
As Oregonians scramble to purchase firearms before the state’s new gun regulations go into effect, some gun shops are using a loophole to potentially bypass background checks and sell firearms to anyone, including to people who might not qualify to legally own them. Measure 114, which was narrowly approved by voters last month, will tighten […]
Attorney says Erickson isn’t trying to overturn Salinas’s election as lawsuit continues
OREGON CITY — A Clackamas County judge ruled Thursday that Republican Mike Erickson’s lawsuit against Democratic congresswoman-elect Andrea Salinas can continue, and Erickson’s attorney said Erickson isn’t currently seeking to bar Salinas from taking office in January. That could change, Erickson attorney Jill Gibson told Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Todd L. Van Rysselberghe on […]
Oregon Legislature’s racial diversity continues to grow after 2022 election
The Oregon Legislature will again have a record number of people of color next year after voters elected five Vietnamese-Americans and a second Indigenous woman. In January 2021, there were 13 people of color in the Legislature. That number will rise to 19 this year, and lawmakers celebrated the step toward greater diversity while acknowledging […]
Betsy Johnson attracted voters in regions where she has strong ties
The core support for Betsy Johnson, the unaffiliated candidate for governor in the election, was almost surely a lot different six months ago than it was when the ballots were cast. Polling from last spring up into September put her in third place but not by much: She was pulling numbers just above and below […]
Oregon gun group sues over gun-control law as sheriffs vow not to enforce it
Oregon’s new voter-approved gun law is facing its first legal challenge as a number of county sheriffs have pledged not to enforce it. Voters earlier this month narrowly approved Measure 114, which will limit sales of some ammunition magazines and require safety training before purchasing a gun when it takes effect Dec. 8. A federal […]