By Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle Opponents of gas tax hikes are once again suing the state of Oregon over a law that rescheduled the date of a gas tax referendum from November to May. The Right to Vote on the Gas Tax Political Action Committee — organized by Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Dundee; Rep. Ed
Continue ReadingBy Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon’s top election official and senior U.S. senator warned Friday that congressional Republicans’ efforts to end mail-in voting and impose strict voter ID requirements are voter suppression tactics disguised as election integrity. At a news conference in North Portland’s Albina Library, Sen. Ron Wyden and Secretary
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Partners for Affordable Housing announced a four-part nonpartisan candidate forum series. It’s titled “Housing is a Math Problem” and addresses the affordability crisis in Central Oregon. The series will run from April through September 2026. The forum will feature feature candidates in several of the region’s most consequential races, starting with
Continue ReadingBEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The stage is set for a busy Central Oregon campaign season leading up to the May 19 primary election, with dozens of incumbents and challengers vying for new and existing positions, and several funding measures sharing the ballot. Now that Tuesday’s filing deadline has passed, here’s a look at who’s seeking what positions. KTVZ News will have complete Decision 2026 coverage throughout the spring and fall election
Continue ReadingBy Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — A recently passed law that moves a citizen vote on new taxes and fees to pay for transportation to the May primary instead of the November general election does not violate the Oregon Constitution, a judge ruled Wednesday. Marion County Circuit Court Senior Judge David
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SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Sisters Mayor Jennifer Letz announced her candidacy for seat 5 of the Deschutes County Commission on Tuesday. Letz, who has served on the Sisters City Council since 2021, is running for a position that county voters recently designated as nonpartisan. The announcement comes ahead of the May 19 primary election. Letz,
Continue ReadingBy Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. (Oregon Capital Chronicle) — A Marion County Circuit Court judge said he will rule quickly on a case brought against the Oregon Secretary of State by GOP lawmakers and voters over the timing of a gas tax referendum. Senior Judge David Leith on Tuesday heard roughly an
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SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Dudley held a campaign stop in Sisters on Monday to present his platform to local voters. The event focused on three primary pillars of his campaign: education, the economy and livability. The campaign stop attracted community members of all ages who gathered to hear the candidate’s message
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After months of discussion, negotiations and a referendum, Oregonians may be heading to the ballot box in May to vote on whether to scrap gas tax and vehicle fee increases that aimed to cover an ODOT budget shortfall. But opponents are going to court to keep it on the November election
Continue ReadingThree fire districts around Deschutes County plan to ask voters for new or higher five-year tax levies in measures on the May 19 primary election ballot to add wildfire risk reduction and firefighter-EMT staff, deal with rising costs and cut response times.
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By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. — Members of Oregon’s largest teachers union and the liberal Working Families Party will not endorse any of the current candidates for governor, including incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek. That’s despite both groups supporting Kotek in her 2022 run for governor and in past legislative races. The
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The League of Women Voters will host a public presentation in Bend on Thursday focused on the implementation of open primaries in Oregon. Speakers Andrew Kaza and former Rep. Cheri Helt will discuss the potential for allowing all voters to participate in all elections regardless of party affiliation. The event, titled
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State Senator David Brock Smith officially launched his campaign for the United States Senate on Tuesday, March 3rd. Sen. Smith is a third-generation resident of Southwest Oregon who has served in the state legislature and multiple local government roles. Sen. Smith brings 45 years of experience as a former restaurateur
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WASHINGTON D.C. (KTVZ) — President Donald Trump used his State of the Union address Tuesday night to declare that “America’s back,” highlighting what he called economic and national security successes during his first year back in office. The remarks came amid slipping approval ratings and growing voter concerns about inflation and household costs. The president
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Republican gubernatorial candidate David Medina visited Central Oregon this week as the latest stop on his campaign trail ahead of the May 19 primary election. Medina, a Portland native and small business owner, addressed a variety of topics ranging from the state’s energy crisis to his involvement in the Jan. 6
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Community disability rights advocate Andrew Caruana has filed to run for House District 54 against incumbent Rep. Jason Kropf in the Democratic Primary. The district encompasses large portions of Bend. Caruana, an active member of several local and state committees, is running on a platform focused on the affordability crisis and
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MEDFORD, Ore. (KTVZ) — Medford City Councilor and U.S. Navy veteran Kevin Stine filed for the Democratic nomination for Oregon State Senate District 3 on Monday. Stine’s campaign centers on steady leadership, educational improvement and long-term economic opportunity for the Rogue Valley. Stine has served on the Medford City Council for 11 years and spent
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By Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — A bill to reschedule the date for a controversial transportation tax referendum from November to May is headed to the Oregon Senate for a vote. Senate Bill 1599 is a Democratic-led attempt to move the date that Oregon voters can approve or reject parts of a
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Rob Imhoff, a candidate for Deschutes County Commissioner, has proposed that the county purchase Mount Bachelor to ensure the ski resort remains a community asset. Imhoff suggested the acquisition would help maintain affordability for residents instead of catering primarily to tourists and shareholders. The proposal follows a brief period last year
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After hearing from another packed meeting room that again voiced divided opinions, DeschutesCounty commissioners voted 2-1 Wednesday to send a proposed five-district map to county voters – and in another 2-1 vote to put it on the November, not May ballot.
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