Current News

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. ...

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...]

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- People Not Politicians announced Wednesday that they have filed with the Oregon Secretary of State a proposed initiative petition for the November 2024 ballot to reform what it calls "Oregon’s dysfunctional and partisan redistricting process, and to replace it with an independent citizens’ commission for fair representation." Here's the rest of the

Letter to the editor

Voters may get the chance to decide whether an independent commission should redraw the state’s legislative and congressional districts after a proposed ballot measure cleared a significant hurdle.   People Not Politicians, the group seeking to end legislative control of redistricting, announced Monday that a deadline for legal challenges to the proposed initiative passed last week, clearing the way for supporters to begin collecting the roughly 150,000 signatures needed to put a measure before voters in November 2024.  The group is […]

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.

Some 15 states, including New York and Texas that are home to a combined total of 64 seats, face ongoing litigation over congressional lines.

“Sadly, City Club’s partisan email demonstrates that ideological advocacy has become more important than a debate on the merits."

Amid deepening dissatisfaction with how Portland runs, or too often fails to, a proposed measure to transform city government is among the most consequential to appear on ballots in recent memory.

The political campaign promoting a contested ballot measure to change Portland’s form of government and election system continues to draw big bucks from a small cluster of non-profit advocacy groups and wealthy backers.

The political campaign promoting a contested ballot measure to change Portland’s form of government and election system continues to draw big bucks from a small cluster of non-profit advocacy groups and wealthy backers.

A measure on the November ballot that would radically transform Portland city government would install a City Council structure unused by any city in the nation, make it harder to hold City Council members accountable and open the door for fringe candidates to win a seat, the editorial board writes. Voters should vote no on Measure 26-228 and look to an alternative from Commissioner Mingus Mapps next year.

It’s on the ballot in Nevada, and it may be coming soon to a state near you.

The group gave more than $131,000 to the largest committee opposing the Measure 26-228 between Nov. 1 and Nov. 7, constituting nearly 40% of the total $332,000 the committee raised.

They include provisions that would require the city to consider the environmental impact of all municipal decisions, allow Portland residents to decide how to spend millions of city dollars each year and potentially expand voting rights to noncitizens.

As our representative system has become less democratic and more oligarchical, ballot initiatives have become more important to passing majoritarian legislation. The Left should take note and proceed accordingly.

Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan is seeking more money to hire more staff dedicated to election security and oversight.

Signature matching—which one expert described as “witchcraft”—could lead to thousands of legitimate ballots being thrown out.