Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

Those who know me know that I am a bit of a political junkie.

So it was that I read with interest a story on the Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) website.  It appeared under this headline: “Many of the biggest political stories from 2025 are not going away.”

Here is the introduction to the story:

“It was a turbulent year in Oregon politics.

“Portland drudged through its first year under a new government and mayor.

“President Donald Trump’s return to the White House brought major changes to the federal government, an immigration crackdown and widespread protests.

“Democrats held majority power in the state but struggled to make headway on some of Oregon’s top issues:  Education, housing and transportation.”

OPB suggested that the same issues will percolate into 2026.  So, it reported briefly on five political issues for 2026, as follows:

• Oregon governor’s race:  “Oregonians will pick their next governor in 2026.

“Governor Tina Kotek is running for another term. The former House speaker’s bid comes on the heels of a high-profile court fight over the Trump administration’s attempts to deploy the National Guard to Portland.

“At the same time, the state has reported high housing costs, dismal school rankings and rising unemployment under her leadership.  Kotek is pitching herself as the right candidate to stand up to Trump, and contends Oregon is on the cusp of progress if they continue following her lead.”

Kotek could face a rematch with Republican state Senator Christine Drazan, who is also running.  The former House Republican leader lost the 2022 election by less than 4 per cent.  

• Transportation Funding:  “Oregon lawmakers tried for months to pass a bill to fund the state’s roads and prevent layoffs at state and local transportation agencies.  Democrats eventually reached a deal, capping off a legislative process that featured extensive political dysfunction.

“But the issue isn’t going away in 2026.”

Kotek signed the bill in November.  Since then, a Republican-led effort to refer the bill to voters has submitted enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot.  And, Kotek now says she will propose repeal of the measure when legislators return to the Capitol for the short session in February.

But the State Attorney General just said “no.”  He ruled that it will not be possible to pull a transportation tax increase off the ballot because, once here, voters deserve to have their say. 

• Portland’s new government:  “Portland’s city government went through a massive overhaul in 2025.  With new council responsibilities, expanded district representation, more meetings, a new administrative branch, and different mayoral powers, there was a lot to figure out.

“Twelve months in, and some uncertainty remains.  But much of the dust of those big changes has settled.  Now, city leaders have a chance to truly explore the limits of the new governance structure.

• Oregon’s budget quandary:   “Oregon lawmakers passed a two-year state budget in June, only to see some of its underpinnings crumble weeks later.

“When President Trump signed his massive tax-cut-and-spending bill July 4, Oregon policymakers knew a spending reckoning was coming.  Some of it will play out in the year ahead.

“Because of how the federal tax cuts interact with Oregon’s tax code, the bill is expected to reduce income flowing into the state general fund this budget cycle by $890 million — blowing a hole in the state budget.

• Mid-term election:  “Much of 2026 will build up to the November general election.

“The balance of power in Congress will be at stake as Trump’s term hits the halfway mark.  Most of Oregon’s congressional delegation will be up for re-election, including U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and all six members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee has listed Representative Janelle Bynum as a potentially vulnerable candidate.

“In addition to the gubernatorial race, half of Oregon’s state senators and all of its state representatives will be up for re-election. Democrats are in the supermajority in both chambers, with 37-23 in the state house and 18-12 in the state senate.

“Republicans, always itching to cut into the Democrat margin, once again have Oregon’s richest person as an ally.  Nike co-founder Phil Knight has donated $3 million to a committee that supports GOP legislative candidates.”

So, there you have it.  In 2026, more of the same politics that occurred in 2025.

Thanks to OPB for this story.  I am biased toward the organization for at least two reasons:  First, it has increased its regional fundraising to offset public broadcasting cuts from the federal government under Trump; and, second, I and my firm represented OPB when I was a lobbyist and we were proud to do so.

It was a pleasure to represent an organization that practices very well the art of solid journalism.