Current News

Although the U.S. political party affiliation average for 2021 was similar to prior years, the country shifted from a nine-point Democratic preference early in the year to a five-point Republican advantage near the end.

The Wall Street Journal's punctuation fetish.There are so many things that make The Wall Street Journal editorial page a source of personal fascination--the undying faith in voodoo economics, the staunch defense of executive privilege and disdain for independent counsels during Republican presidencies alternating with disdain for executive privilege and staunch defense of independent counsels duri...

With contributions capped, big players with names like Goodman, Kafoury, and Jubitz are writing small checks to candidates for city commissioner.

Oregon is among a handful of states without limits on how much people or entities can contribute to election campaigns, but it could change this year. So far, six proposals have been introduced. Jason Kafoury, organizer for Honest Elections Oregon, which is behind three of the potential ballot measures limiting campaign finance donations, said money is set to play a big role in the 2022 election, illustrating the need for reining in its influence. ...

Despite Oregon's reputation as a state that values voter access, one third of its registered voters are barred from participating in the state's Democratic and Republican primaries, The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board writes. A proposal to copy Colorado's system, as suggested by former Secretary of State Phil Keisling, offers an elegant and effective way to enfranchise Oregon's one million nonaffiliated voters.

Oregon lawmakers will meet this week for a final round of meetings to prepare for the 2022 legislative session.

Letter to the editor

When Oregonians go to the polls in about a year, they won’t see their current governor on their ballot for only the second time this century. Gov. Kate Brown can’t run for a third term, leaving Democrats with a wide-open primary for the first time since 2002.  Both parties’ contests[Read More...]

Letter to the editor

2022 must be a year of fixing broken systems, delivering on promises and instilling confidence that our public agencies will operate with proficiency and accountability – regardless of whatever new crisis comes our way, the editorial board writes. Among the priorities that Oregon should have for the new year are ensuring strong executive leadership at all levels of government, keeping schools open and better preparing Oregon for climate disasters.

From COVID-19 to the historic expulsion of an Oregon House member, 2021 politics never stopped being interesting.

The voters of Oregon want campaign finance limits so much that 78 percent voted to amend the state Constitution last year to expressly allow them (Measure 107). So where are they? The Legislature s…

Billion-dollar donations would be legal under one of the proposals.

After talks between left-leaning organizations broke down, three groups have filed competing proposals for reining in political spending.

Citing The Oregonian/OregonLive's reporting, a U.S. senator questioned Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler about the influence of corporate money on environmental policy. Hear what the mayor said.

Campaigns in Oregon during the 2018 election cycle were funded largely by a few individuals and groups concentrated in the greater Portland area.

Reforming Oregon's campaign finance laws was a priority heading into the 2019 Legislature, but some advocates are underwhelmed by the proposals.

Oregon voters could weigh in on political contribution limits and disclosure mandates in 2022, if campaign finance reformers succeed in getting an initiative on the ballot.

Following months of negotiations, labor unions and advocacy groups did not sign onto a plan for creating new campaign regulations.

A coalition of campaign-finance-reform-minded groups have filed three ballot initiatives with the secretary of state’s office that they want to put before Oregon voters next year. Honest Elections Oregon says its initiatives will help reduce the “perception and reality of corruption” in campaigns, increase transparency and elevate more voices in elections.

The largest and fastest growing segment of the electorate is now independent voters — but pollsters and political scientists haven’t caught up.

Please visit mcelections.org for detailed information on campaign finance provisions.

Without immediate income and spending disclosure in all political races, our brave new world will look a lot like the one reformers say they are trying to fix.

The staff of the Alaska Public Offices Commission is set the campaign contribution limit at $1,500 from an individual to a candidate, now that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has thrown out the previous $500 limit, which was in statute. The Ninth Circuit and the Supreme Court said the $500 limit is unreasonable, and […]