In just over six weeks, voters in Washington County will choose their next county chair in a runoff race, triggered after no candidate cleared the 50% threshold in May's primary.

Sitting commissioners Nafisa Fai and Pam Treece advanced to the runoff, and they each were a guest on this week's episode of Straight Talk as they make their cases to voters in an election where a booming tech-forward economy, immigration enforcement and land use issues are major topics in the county.

Portland Police Chief Bob Day came out of retirement nearly three years ago to take the helm of a police bureau and a city facing some significant challenges. Since then, Portland has seen progress in some key areas like crime and public safety, but the bureau continues to struggle with staffing, response times and other issues. Day was a guest on this week's episode of Straight Talk to discuss his priorities and how his tenure has gone so far.

For more than four decades, Metro has played a key role in how the Portland metro area grows and plans for the future. It’s the only directly elected regional government in the country, and its work crosses city and county lines.

Back in June, Metro Council President Juan Carlos Gonzalez told KGW’s Blair Best he wanted to get the region back on track, and a few months later, he was a guest on this week’s episode of Straight Talk to check in on how it’s going.

Gonzalez was first elected in 2018, becoming the first Latino and youngest person to serve on the Metro Council. This past May, voters elected him council president, and less than a month later, he was appointed to fill out the remainder of the former president's term.

A PSU political science professor breaks down why the five-month Iran war has stalled — and what it could take to finally bring it to an end.

Tim Gordon speaks with state Sen. Kate Lieber, a supporter of the proposed public funding for Moda Center renovations, and Edan Krolewicz, a critic of the plan.

Washington's 3rd District's "purple" reputation makes it one of the most closely watched House races as parties fight for control of Congress.

In a little over two weeks, voters in Southwest Washington will select the top two candidates they want to represent them in the U.S. House, with the winner to be decided in a General Election runoff in November. The race for the state's 3rd Congressional District is drawing national attention, and is shaping up to be one of the most competitive House races this year.

The district covers much of Southwest Washington, stretching across six counties from the coast to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. It's been represented for the past four years by Democrat Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who is facing both a Republican candidate, State Sen. John Braun, and a challenger from within her own party in the primary: Brent Hennrich.

Gluesenkamp Perez and Hennrich were guests on this week's episode of Straight Talk to discuss the race and how they're making their cases to voters.