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An email from a state division director asking customers to advocate for the agency’s budget raised eyebrows.

The secretary of state says she made clear to staff in February that she could no longer be involved in the audit, due to an impending contract with a couple whose business practices have since come into question.

Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, a Democrat, has been consulting since February for a cannabis company with strong political ties to elected Democrats — and large sums of unpaid taxes.

Records obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive show the performance audit was all but finalized by the time Fagan pulled out of the audit.

The Oregon Secretary of State’s office audited cannabis regulation as the agency’s head worked as a paid consultant in the industry.

Drama surrounding the secretary of state's role with a private cannabis company overshadowed a report about how the state is handling pot businesses.

Justice Clarence Thomas might be the most egregious when it comes to taking gifts and not disclosing them, but he’s not alone. His colleagues on the U.S. Supreme Court also haven’t been shy about taking fancy freebies from rich people — many of whom have an interest in the actions of the court. The justices […]

Former State Sen. Betsy Johnson is running for governor and Aumsville Mayor Derek Clevenger is running for state representative without a party.

At unpublicized meetings in May, June and July, members of the party’s steering committee nominated candidates for Congress, governor and the Legislature

Betsy Johnson paid a Washington-based signature gathering firm more than $200,000 to collect signatures for her campaign.

Betsy Johnson, the unaffiliated candidate for Oregon governor, spent two decades as a Democrat in the Legislature and even longer as a powerful presence in local politics.

Third parties have long struggled to break through a political system that is explicitly designed to benefit the Republican and Democratic Parties. However, the Forward Party is taking an unprecedented approach to tear down the duopoly’s barriers.

For Republican-backed legislation that would raise the barriers of entry for third parties in Montana’s elections, the third time was a charm on Thursday.

Oregon is one of nine states in the U.S. with completely closed primaries. A proposed measure would open primaries to 1 million non-affiliated voters.

The ballot measure process has been critical to the success of nonpartisan reforms across the country. However, according to new research by RepresentUs, 11 states have proposed over 60 laws to make i

The rising cost of paying people to gather signatures is a challenge.

Are legislatures rejecting the “will of the people” or fixing their unworkable laws?

The 2024 campaign has begun for a constitutional amendment that would change the state’s primary election of 2026.

The rise in homelessness in the United States, especially since the housing crisis of 2008, is one of the most frustrating issues I have ever had to work on as a policymaker. In ...

The latest scheme to launch a centrist, third-party “unity” ticket comes from a dark money front for corporate interests.

The proposal is among seven changes to the county charter that the volunteer charter review commission will put before voters this fall.

The Portland Charter Commission aims to bring city in line with how other major U.S. cities do local governance.

Multnomah Circuit Court Judge Stephen Bushong disclosed the self-imposed deadline Thursday during a hearing on a lawsuit filed by the Portland Business Alliance.

The leader who brought the suit, James Posey, failed to notify the city’s elections officer in writing that he’d filed a court petition seeking the rewording, as required by law.

It’s been nearly five months since Portland voters approved substantial changes to the city’s government. With a long list of critical tasks to complete by next fall, it begs the question: Can they get it all accomplished in time? Here's what's happened so far.

The GOP is almost certain to eat into Democratic supermajorities this year. The question is by how much.