Who Will Win Oregon’s 2026 U.S. Senate Race

Sen. Jeff Merkley held one of three Oregon town halls Thursday, this one in Portland, where he warned of "the entrenchment of an authoritarian state" and urged constituents to organize and vote. Attendees ranked free speech, Supreme Court ethics, and presidential profiteering from office as top concerns, with several framing them as part of a broader erosion of democratic institutions and checks and balances. Many also criticized Democrats and federal prosecutors under President Biden for failing to hold Trump accountable.

Concerns about the 2026 elections featured prominently, including fears that Trump's mail-in voting executive order could disrupt Oregon's vote-by-mail system. Merkley and Rep. Maxine Dexter said states retain authority over elections and that Oregon has contingency plans to ensure ballots are counted.

Merkley outlined proposed reforms, including stronger anti-corruption penalties, banning officials from stock trading, and regulating prediction markets to prevent officials from profiting off inside knowledge of political outcomes. He also called for Supreme Court ethics rules, term limits, and greater disclosure of political spending.

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read, joined by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, held a press conference opposing the Trump administration's efforts to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the 2026 elections. Oregon has conducted elections by mail for decades and views the federal push as a direct threat to its voting system.

The dispute stems from a March executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to compile lists of eligible voters in every state and instructing the U.S. Postal Service to deliver ballots only to those on the lists, citing voter fraud concerns. USPS subsequently required states to register mail voters and compile state-specific lists. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined a coalition of states in challenging the rule, and a federal judge recently granted a motion temporarily blocking it from taking effect while litigation continues. The Trump administration is seeking to appeal to the Supreme Court, but time is limited before ballots must be sent to voters ahead of Election Day.

U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) has introduced the Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). The bill would create a $2 billion competitive grant program helping school districts cap kindergarten through third-grade class sizes at 18 students in low-income public elementary schools. Funds could go toward hiring teachers, expanding facilities, or professional development. Brown cites research linking smaller classes to better student outcomes amid ongoing teacher shortages and budget constraints. The bill has additional Senate Democratic cosponsors and backing from major education organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association.

A bipartisan bill aimed at preventing presidents from demolishing presidential memorials, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, was blocked in the Senate on Monday after Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, objected to a unanimous consent request, offering no public explanation. The bill, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and co-sponsored by Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse and Chris Van Hollen, would have required congressional approval before demolishing any presidential memorial designated by Congress. On the floor, Merkley accused Trump of wanting the building destroyed if he could not rename it after himself, framing the bill as a defense of the rule of law and separation of powers.

The effort follows weeks of turmoil at the Kennedy Center after a judge ruled twice that Trump could not attach his name to the building, prompting a brief closure and renewed demolition threats from Trump, who cited disrepair. A leaked photo showed Trump holding a sign reading "Kennedy Center DEMOLISH." A judge has since ordered any changes to the center be disclosed to the court 30 days in advance. Trump has floated replacing the venue with an outdoor amphitheater, while Rep. Joyce Beatty's lawsuit against renaming or destroying the center continues.

Automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), widely deployed by companies like Flock Safety, are facing growing federal scrutiny even as local law enforcement officials continue to back the technology. U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Jeff Merkley, along with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, recently introduced legislation that would ban federal agencies from using ALPRs, halt federal grant funding tied to ALPR contracts, and let Americans sue the federal government over their use. A separate bill, Rep. Thomas Massie's Flock-Off Act, would block municipalities from purchasing, installing, or upgrading ALPR and biometric surveillance systems.

In Tennessee, Dickson County Sheriff Tim Eads defended the tool as a "force multiplier" for catching wanted individuals, stolen vehicles, and Amber Alert subjects, citing safeguards like required case numbers for data access. Mt. Juliet's police chief similarly pointed to regular audits. Still, some communities, including Coopertown, have dropped Flock contracts amid privacy concerns, highlighting a widening divide over surveillance technology's role in policing.

Candidates for Oregon governor are set for a series of fall debates, but for the first time in decades, none will take place in Portland. Incumbent Democratic Governor Tina Kotek and Republican Senator Christine Drazan have both said they are willing to debate in Portland, but they could not agree on a venue or host TV station. Kotek accepted an invitation from KOIN, while Drazan declined; Drazan accepted offers from two competing stations, which Kotek turned down.

Both candidates have agreed to debate in Eugene, Bend, and Medford next month, and will appear together Thursday at an Oregon Business and Industry forum hosted by the Portland Business Journal. Some of the out-of-market debates will be broadcast or streamed to Portland audiences, though questions are expected to focus on those local communities rather than the Portland metro area, home to the largest share of Oregon voters. The race is considered close, with recent polling showing Drazan holding a narrow edge over Kotek.

Oregon's gubernatorial race took center stage over Labor Day, as incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and Republican challenger Christine Drazan both courted worker support ahead of the November election. Kotek attended the Northwest Oregon Labor Council's annual Labor Day picnic at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, telling thousands of union members she would back them at the bargaining table. Attendees included members of AFSCME, SEIU, Teamsters and UFCW, along with other Democratic officials such as Secretary of State Tobias Read.

Drazan, who did not attend a Labor Day event, posted a pro-worker video pledging to bring jobs and investment back to Oregon and reverse business relocations out of the state. The contest comes as Oregon faces a rising cost of living and unemployment ticking above the national rate. Oregon has a strong union tradition, with unionization rates well above the national average, and labor groups have historically leaned Democratic, though both parties are working to win worker votes this cycle.

Oregon's 2026 governor's race between Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan remains a toss-up, polling similarly tight to their 2022 contest, when Kotek won narrowly. A Drazan victory would be historic: Oregon hasn't elected a Republican governor in 44 years. Kotek has leaned heavily on tying Drazan to President Trump's unpopularity in the state, while Drazan has distanced herself from Trump and shifted toward working-class, bio-focused messaging after a divided GOP primary win.

Interviews with voters in Sherwood, a Portland suburb that nearly perfectly mirrors Oregon's statewide party registration and split three votes between the candidates in 2022, show ambivalence rather than enthusiasm on either side. Many voters say they are motivated more by fear of the alternative than support for their chosen candidate — concerns about housing costs, jobs, taxes, and Trump-era politics are driving decisions. Analysts say this anxiety-driven dynamic could determine turnout and ultimately decide the outcome of a race both candidates have framed as existential for Oregon's future.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, a Democrat, and Republican state Senator Christine Drazan met Thursday in Eugene for the first televised debate of the gubernatorial race, with election day about a month away. The two sparred over affordability, abortion rights, federal enforcement and data centers, trading pointed criticisms throughout the exchange.

Reaction from voters afterward was mixed. Some said Drazan struggled to counter her legislative record, while others felt both candidates leaned heavily on attacking each other rather than laying out clear plans. Several undecided voters said the debate did little to sway them, describing it as contentious without a clear winner.

Kotek and Drazan are scheduled to debate twice more, in Bend and Medford, but will not hold a televised debate in Portland before the election. The race is one of the most closely watched gubernatorial contests this cycle, with control of Oregon's executive branch at stake.

Oregon Democrats criticized Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan after she appeared alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the Oregon Republican Party's Reagan Dinner in Hillsboro. The Latino Network Action Fund and the Democratic Party of Oregon held a rally condemning the appearance, citing DeSantis' record on immigration and LGBTQ+ issues. Democratic Party of Oregon chair Nathan Soltz argued that DeSantis' values, and those of former President Trump, do not align with Oregon values, framing Drazan's association with DeSantis as inconsistent with her campaign's moderate positioning.

Drazan and DeSantis did not respond to requests for comment. Oregon Republican Party Chair Connie Whelchel defended the visit, calling it "especially meaningful" and noting the party welcomes peaceful protest while pointing to state rankings favoring Florida over Oregon. The episode underscores how national political figures and messaging are shaping the closely watched Oregon governor's race.