OPB Politics Now

It’s a new era at Portland City Hall as Commissioner Jo An Hardesty replaces Dan Saltzman, one of the longest-serving city officials ever. We’ll look at what this big change says about Portland politics. And we’ll examine the aftermath of the Oregon labor department’s scathing report on work conditions at the state legislature.

In June, Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson announced he had brain cancer. In this week’s OPB Politics Now, we’ll discuss the delicate balance between a person’s right to privacy and the public’s right to know how an elected official is doing.

Legislators in Oregon and Washington promise to clean up their act next year when it comes to combating sexual harassment in their own ranks. In this episode, we look at what’s changing and whether it will really make a difference.

We take a look at the political ramification of three works in progress: The push to toll several roads in the Portland region, the pursuit of Major League Baseball for Oregon and the Bureau of Labor and Industries’ investigation of sexual harassment at the state Legislature.

The economy is buzzing. Unemployment rates are low. Yet, the state of Oregon is facing a budget shortfall. In this week’s OPB Politics Now, we dig into the governor’s $23.6 billion budget proposal and discuss how a tax hike could be in Oregonian’s future.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler had perhaps the worst week of his tenure. First, his colleagues on the Portland City Council refused to give him more power over where and when political protests can be held. Then, after a forum on homelessness, he was heard muttering a suggestion that he may not want another term in office. Is the problem this particular mayor or Portland’s unique form of government? We dissect Wheeler’s very bad week and the city’s legacy of one-term mayors.

Next year, Oregon lawmakers plan to take up gun control and climate change. And coincidentally, Washington voters just considered the same issues. We’ll look at the Evergreen State’s recent fights over guns and carbon, and what they can tell us about Oregon’s future.

It’s Finally Election Day, And We Have Winners — And Losers. In this special late-night edition of OPB Politics Now, our team of reporters breaks down the results in the Oregon governor’s race, Portland City Council and state and local ballot measures and talk about what it means for the 2019 Legislature and beyond.

We’ve talked a lot about national politics this year, but local races matter too. Oregon voters are deciding whether Democrats will take back a supermajority -- and face an easier path to raising taxes -- in the state legislature. And in 10 counties, they’re considering whether to give sheriffs more power when it comes to the second amendment.

This year’s campaign for Oregon governor is the most expensive in state history. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, we compare Governor Kate Brown and Republican challenger Knute Buehler on the issues— and look at what they both need to do to win.