OPB Politics Now

Oregon voters face big decisions this election on abortion, immigration and tax policy. In this special episode, OPB reporters explain the history and ramifications of four measures on the Nov. 6 ballot. Measures 103 and 104 have to do with tax policy – should grocery taxes be banned and should it be harder for legislators to raise revenue. Measure 105 would overturn the state’s 30-year-old sanctuary state law, which limits how much local police can aid federal immigration enforcement. Measure 106 would bar public money from being used to pay for abortion, essentially barring women using Oregon’s version of Medicaid and many government workers from paying for abortions with their health insurance.

Ballots have hit the mail in Oregon. On this live episode of OPB Politics Now, the team breaks down the big issues on Oregon and Southwest Washington ballots, including all five statewide Oregon measures, the governor’s race, Congressional races in Washington and Southern Oregon and the Portland City Council race. No matter your politics, this wide-ranging conversation between OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and political reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart will help you figure out your ballot. News director Anna Griffin hosts.

Democrats are trying to take back control of the US House. Two of the Republican incumbents they’re targeting are in the Pacific Northwest. We discuss hot Congressional races in Southwest Washington and Southern Oregon.

Hear from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kate Brown in this special episode of OPB Politics now.

Hear from Republican gubernatorial candidate Knute Buehler in this special episode of OPB Politics now.

Hear from Independent gubernatorial candidate Patrick Starnes in this special episode of OPB Politics now.

We discuss the historic runoff election for the open Portland City Council seat.

Oregon voters have two tax measures to consider when ballots arrive later this month. One would ban taxes on groceries. Another would make it harder for legislators to raise revenue.

Oregon is a consistently liberal state. Yet conservative activists have succeeded in putting measures on the November ballot that would change state law on abortion and immigration. On this week’s OPB Politics Now, OPB news director Anna Griffin, senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and reporters Dirk VanderHart and Conrad Wilson break down Measures 105 and 106.

Portland City Council candidate JoAnn Hardesty is facing some big questions about her financial past. We’ll discuss that, along with the ins and outs of a regional housing measure and a proposed Portland clean energy tax.