Washington County, Oregon

Washington County, Oregon commissioners adopted a Resolution and Order addressing data center development, responding to community concerns over energy and environmental impacts. The county currently has no standalone data centers and no pending applications, with few available industrial parcels. The resolution backs the state's Data Center Advisory Committee, formed by Governor Tina Kotek, and supports local moratoriums where development pressure exists. It stops short of endorsing large-scale standalone data centers or financial incentives to attract them, and directs staff to study a dedicated "data-center task" for the 2027-2029 Planning Work Program.

The move follows Kotek's recent pause on environmental permits for new or expanded data centers and passage of Oregon's Power Act, both aimed at managing rapid AI-driven data center growth and its effect on consumer energy rates.

A viral clip showing Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai speaking in Somali before an inverted U.S. flag sparked accusations of a racist deepfake after a right-wing X account shared it to millions of followers. Democrats, including the Oregon Democratic Party and U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, condemned the video as AI-generated misinformation and called for AI regulation. But the Oregon Journalism Project's report citing a screenshot showing the flag right-side up was retracted after the image's authenticity couldn't be verified, and Fai's campaign backtracked on claims it could confirm the original footage. The source event's host organization has not produced the original video, leaving the dispute unresolved amid heightened scrutiny of Somali American political figures.

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.

Washington County, Oregon Chair Kathryn Harrington announced she is stepping back from her responsibilities after facing calls to resign over her conduct at a Board of Commissioners meeting. Video from the Tuesday session showed Harrington growing visibly angry during an exchange with Commissioner Jason Snider, slamming her hands on the desk before giving Commissioner Nafisa Fai the middle finger after asking Fai to stop blocking her sight line.

Fai called the gesture disrespectful to constituents, and a group of Tigard-area elected officials, along with the Multnomah County Democrats chair, publicly demanded Harrington's resignation despite her apology. On Thursday, Harrington's office said she would step back from chair duties to focus on her mental health, citing past openness about her struggles and calling the outburst a signal she needs support. She will remain a county commissioner through the end of her term, with Commissioner Jason Snider serving as chair pro-tem when Vice-Chair Jerry Willey is unavailable.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has directed all state agencies to immediately pause unapproved requests from data center companies for easements, right-of-way, leases, rentals, land-use permits, and sales or transfers of state property. The pause runs through July 1, 2027, or until the Governor's Office or legislature acts otherwise.

Kotek said the state needs to better understand data centers' impacts on water, energy, infrastructure, and natural resources before approving further projects on public land. The order follows her earlier decision to halt a planned sale of roughly 32 acres at Salem's Mill Creek Corporate Center for a data center, and her August call for local jurisdictions to adopt their own moratoriums, since she lacks authority for a statewide ban. Oregon previously passed the POWER Act, creating separate electricity pricing for large power users, which the governor's office says raised data center companies' rates while lowering costs for other customers. An advisory committee is expected to deliver policy recommendations by the end of 2026 ahead of the 2027 legislative session. Several Oregon cities and counties have already enacted or considered similar moratoriums.