Oregon redistricting talks adjourn early over COVID-19 case at Capitol

By SARA CLINE
Associated Press/Report for America

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Following reports of a positive COVID-19 case in the Oregon Capitol, legislators have been sent home early on the second day of talks to redraw political maps.

The House is in the midst of the once-a-decade task of redistricting, which determines how voters will pick state representatives, state senators and members of Congress for the next five election cycles.

House Speaker Tina Kotek came to the podium briefly Tuesday morning to say both she and House Republican Leader Christine Drazan were eager to take up congressional and legislative redistricting plans.

When Kotek returned to the podium again in the afternoon, she informed lawmakers that the session would be adjourned until Wednesday, as someone in the Capitol the day before had tested positive for COVID-19. Officials were conducting contact tracing and said they would be testing those who had been around the infected person.

But whether Republicans attend Wednesday's 9 a.m. floor session or stage a walkout continues to be unsaid. If Republicans don’t go to the floor of the House the chamber won’t have a quorum - meaning lawmakers wouldn’t be able to proceed with business. Oregon gained a sixth U.S. House seat following the latest census, and the stakes are high for both parties with this round of redistricting.

State Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, who is now the sole Republican on the three-person House congressional redistricting committee, told The Oregonian/Oregon Live on Monday evening that “all tools are on the table” when asked if Republicans would stage a walkout. As of Tuesday morning, Republican lawmakers were not seen on the House floor and were noticeably missing from the hallways of the Capitol.

The looming deadline to pass new political boundaries — including a new, sixth U.S. House seat for Oregon — is Sept. 27.

Read more at: https://apnews.com/article/oregon-redistricting-house-elections-90332de02ece8752296b604a924db3a4

News release from the Office of the House Speaker:

COVID-19 Exposure Delays

Redistricting Special Session

SALEM – The Oregon Legislature learned today that an individual who was present at the Capitol tested positive for COVID-19.

The individual who tested positive was last in the building Monday, September 20, 2021. Close contacts of this person have already been notified individually. The Speaker’s office is working with the Governor’s Office and the Oregon Health Authority to make sure testing is available to the individuals who were close contacts.

The House recognizes that this special session is being conducted during a global pandemic. Building procedures have been modified in adherence to OSHA rules and OHA guidance. It is the Speaker’s goal, as always, to preserve health and safety while continuing to fulfill the Legislature’s constitutional duty of redistricting.

The priority for the session continues to be keeping people safe and doing the people’s work. More updates will be provided as soon as they are available.