The 2027 Legislative Session calendar is now officially available. The session will begin on Tuesday, January 19. View the full session calendar here.

Legislative concepts under consideration will be addressed in future updates.

2026 General Election

Legislative Races

Several closely watched legislative races are drawing substantial campaign spending as Election Day approaches. Southern Oregon’s Senate District 3 leads the field, with combined candidate expenditures exceeding $3.2 million. Contests in Salem/Keizer, the North Coast and the Columbia River Gorge are also attracting significant investment, with Republicans outspending Democrats by wide margins in most of these races.

The surge in spending follows polling from several weeks ago that reportedly showed Republican candidates trailing by five to seven percentage points in almost every targeted race. Those numbers are attributed, in part, to President Trump’s low approval ratings and their broader impact on the Republican brand. The findings help explain the influx of Republican campaign dollars aimed at preventing Democratic gains and keeping Democrats from approaching quorum-proof majorities of 40 House seats and 20 Senate seats. At those thresholds, Democrats could establish a quorum and conduct legislative business without Republican members present. Whether those late investments can offset Democratic momentum remains uncertain, with voter turnout likely to determine the outcome.

Gubernatorial Race

The Republican Governors Association made its largest-ever contribution to Christine Drazan’s Oregon gubernatorial campaign this week, as the November election approaches. The contribution could help narrow Drazan’s cash advantage gap with Democratic Governor Tina Kotek, who has $3.4 million on hand compared with Drazan’s $2.1 million. The candidates are facing off in a rematch, with multiple polls showing a close race. State campaign finance filings show Drazan has raised about $14.8 million since January 2025, compared with Kotek’s $16.8 million. Drazan, however, faced a competitive primary and spent significantly before the May election.

Voter perceptions of the candidates and national political conditions remain important factors in the election. Kotek’s campaign has emphasized opposition to President Donald Trump, while Drazan’s campaign has focused on concerns about Oregon’s housing affordability, educational outcomes, and economic conditions. A GBAO survey reported Trump’s approval rating at 29%, while an earlier OPB survey found his favorability rating at 37% and Kotek’s at 38%.The election also presents similarities to the 2022 gubernatorial contest, when Kotek and Drazan competed alongside nonaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson. Polling during much of October 2022 showed Drazan ahead before shifting toward Kotek late in the campaign. Kotek ultimately won that election by approximately 3.5 percentage points. With the November 3 election approaching, the latest polling underscores the competitive nature of the race and the potential importance of undecided voters, voter turnout, and late campaign developments. 

Voter Turnout

The Secretary of State’s latest unofficial report, issued October 29 at 8:50 a.m., shows 971,812 ballots returned, representing 31.17% of active registered voters. Registered Democrats have returned 112,470 more ballots than registered Republicans, although those figures reflect voter registration rather than votes for either candidate. Democrats typically return ballots earlier. Election analyst John Horvick expects the remaining returns to become more Republican as Election Day approaches, meaning a narrowing Democratic advantage would not necessarily signal a late Republican surge. Geographic differences also bear watching. Multnomah County’s turnout stands at 23.92%, below the statewide average, compared with 30.32% in Washington County, 32.24% in Clackamas County and 33.16% in Republican-leaning Douglas County. If turnout in heavily Democratic Multnomah County continues to lag through Election Day, it could strengthen Christine Drazan’s prospects.

Caucus Leadership

Kayse Jama Officially Steps Down Oregon Senate Majority Leader, Opening Spot for New Caucus Leader:

As Senate Democrats consider who will lead their caucus through next year’s long legislative session, Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama (D-Portland), has withdrawn from consideration for another term due to personal reasons. Jama, who became majority leader in November 2024, made history as the first former refugee and Muslim American to serve in the Oregon Senate. After fleeing Somalia and arriving in Portland in 1998, he became an advocate for social services and affordable housing. 

Jama’s withdrawal opens a key leadership position as Democrats prepare to enter the session with a Senate majority. The caucus will elect its full leadership team on November 13.

December Legislative Days

December 1-3 will be the final Legislative Days before the 2027 Legislative Session begins. While the schedule is still being finalized, you can find the current committee schedule here.