A desk in the Oregon House of Representatives ahead of the 2022 Legislative session (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) A flying pig, a gnome, baby Yoda, and a large bottle of pain medication are among the items found on desks in the Oregon House of Representatives. The sixty representatives all have the exact same[Read More…]

Casey Kulla, a Yamhill County farmer, dropped his gubernatorial bid on Wednesday to run for labor commissioner. (Casey Kulla photo) Casey Kulla decided to run for governor of Oregon a year ago, motivated by the Jan. 6 insurrection against the U.S. Capitol.  He believed that as a Yamhill County commissioner[Read More…]

State Rep. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, speaks during a legislative special session on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Canby Republican Christine Drazan announced Friday that she will resign from the state House, becoming the latest candidate for governor to leave the Legislature to campaign.  Drazan’s last day will[Read More…]

Nick Kristof (Kristof campaign photo) Gubernatorial hopeful Nick Kristof on Friday asked the Oregon Supreme Court to force Secretary of State Shemia Fagan to return his name to the May ballot, just one day after Fagan’s office announced the former New York Times columnist wasn’t qualified to run. The state[Read More…]

Sen. Peter Courtney, D-Salem and House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland listen during a joint-committee work session at the Oregon State Capitol on Monday, August 10, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, announced Thursday that she is stepping down from the Legislature and ending her tenure as[Read More…]

Nick Kristof (Kristof campaign photo) Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan said Thursday that deciding former New York Times columnist Nick Kristof didn’t qualify to run for governor “wasn’t even a close call.” Fagan’s staff notified Kristof’s campaign on Thursday morning that he didn’t meet a constitutional requirement to be[Read More…]

Jessica George (left) and Scott Guptill respond to questions from county commissioners on Friday, Dec. 10 (Joey Cappelletti/Keizertimes) County commissioners from Marion, Yamhill and Washington counties voted Friday afternoon to appoint Jessica George as the next state representative for House District 25. George will replace Bill Post, who resigned in October after seven[Read More…]

Salem City Councilor Chris Hoy. (Courtesy/ Chris Hoy) The Marion County Board of Commissioners in a split vote Wednesday afternoon selected Salem City Councilor Chris Hoy to fill a vacant seat in the state Legislature. The House District 21 seat, which represents central and east Salem, was vacated after Rep.[Read More…]

Oregon state Sen. Kathleen Taylor, D-Milwaukie, chairs a Senate committee meeting on redistricting on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Oregon’s new legislative boundaries are set for the next 10 years after the Oregon Supreme Court on Monday dismissed two challenges to the maps approved by legislative Democrats.[Read More…]

The historic Crook County Courthouse in Prineville, a landmark for travelers, will be replaced after voters on Tuesday, Nov. 2 approved a bond measure. (Creative Commons) Prineville will get a new courthouse, Mill City will allow marijuana sales and Harney County becomes the latest county to take on the idea[Read More…]