OPB Politics Now

Keith Wilson will be Portland’s next mayor. And the 12 person city council is coming into focus. I’m Andrew Theen. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we talk about Wilson’s victory, the new faces coming to city council and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts

Democrats nationally are in disarray – but here in Oregon – the party appears poised for another cycle of big victories. On the next episode of OPB Politics Now, we discuss what to make of the local versus national disconnect and other major takeaways from statewide races. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

The Portland area found itself in the national spotlight this week for a not particularly flattering reason: Repeated arson attacks on ballot boxes. We’ll be going over what we know about those attacks, but first we’re going to take a close look at the many races this year for a spot in Portland City Hall. A massive governance shift approved by voters two years ago has upended how campaigning for city council and mayor works – with some pretty interesting results. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

The Legislature doesn’t get as much attention in this hotly-contested election cycle, but there are a number of key races and candidates are making their final arguments to voters. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart delve into the legislative races to watch and what Democrats may do if they land a supermajority in both chambers in Salem. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Central Oregon will be decisive in the state’s most competitive congressional race this year, but there’s a lot more political intrigue just east of the Cascades. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, we check in on the most dramatic and notable races in Bend and beyond. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

On this special live episode, OPB's political team runs through the biggest items on Oregon and Southwest Washington ballots.

It has been a long time since Oregon voters have elected a Republican to a statewide office. But this election cycle, voters will pick a new secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer. Will voters finally choose a Republican to serve in the upper echelons of state government? We’ll discuss on the latest episode of OPB Politics Now. Reporters Lauren Dake, Conrad Wilson and Kyra Buckley analyze the races. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Oregon is home to one of the nation’s most consequential Congressional races. OPB’s Bryce Dole took a deep dive – and drive – through the district in recent weeks where he visited the fire-ravaged Santiam Canyon, talked housing in Deschutes County and delved into the issues on the urban/rural divide in Clackamas County.  On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now we take a deeper dive into the 5th Congressional District and what voters say are their top issues. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

In Oregon, we’ve been using vote-by-mail for more than 20 years without evidence of systemic fraud. So, it’s been easy for Democrats to dismiss conservatives who have been raising questions about the system. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart discuss the history of Oregon’s voting system and its various tweaks, the revelation that hundreds of people were automatically registered to vote who shouldn’t have been and what the political fallout may be. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Greg Walden has been a major feature of Oregon politics for decades. Now the former congressman has emerged as the most-influential figure in helping Republicans win back power in the state Capitol. 

On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Alex Zielinski discuss the state of Republican fundraising in Oregon, Walden’s influence and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.