<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3IWKli_1Gujav2000" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3IWKli_1Gujav2000" width="1200" height="721" ><figcaption>Voting booths line a window inside the Lane County Elections office. The Lane County Elections office at 275 W. 10th Ave. in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 30, 2026. (Owen Burriss/Emerald)</figcaption></figure>It’s been roughly one week since the 2026 midterm election, in which Democrats gained control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. In Oregon, ballot measures and key races for governor and federal government were called. Several local races, including the Eugene City Council, remained undecided at the time of publication. Oregon GovernorDemocratic Incumbent Gov. Tina Kotek won reelection in Oregon’s gubernatorial race, defeating Republican challenger state Sen. Christine Drazan. Kotek’s victory over Drazan will continue a 40-year run of Democratic governors in Oregon. During their first debate on Oct. 1, Kotek said she passed the Protecting Oregonians With Energy Responsibility Act, legislation requiring data centers and other high energy-consuming facilities to pay their share of electricity use and costs. She also emphasized standing up to the current federal administration and protecting Oregon residents.Kotek also looked to address challenges surrounding higher education, homelessness and protecting abortion access. Going into the election, Kotek had received one of the lowest approval ratings among United States governors, according to polling from Morning Consult. Kotek’s unpopularity among residents and voters stems from critiques over her housing and education policies, taxes and homelessness, among other concerns.Drazan said Kotek addressed every problem with a “new tax” and is the primary driver of high costs in Oregon. Drazan also called Kotek’s handling of the housing shortage an “abysmal failure.”Kotek has garnered support from the Oregon Nurses Association, the American Federation of Teachers and Service Employees International Union. She is endorsed by former President Barack Obama, Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and more.Kotek will begin her second term in January 2027. U.S. Senate race for OregonIncumbent U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley secured reelection to the Senate by defeating state Senator David Brock Smith by more than 15% of the vote.Merkley won the Democratic primary election in May by securing 93.2% of the vote. Merkley has held this seat since 2009 and has served alongside U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. According to the voters’ pamphlet, Merkley will look to address climate change, housing, education and health. He is also looking to end “Trump’s strongman state” and “political corruption.” Merkley said he will continue to ensure that “families thrive, and the rich pay their fair share.”<h2>U.S. House of Representatives </h2>4th district:Incumbent Val Hoyle secured reelection for Oregon’s fourth congressional district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating challenger Monique DeSpain. The Associated Press called the race in Hoyle’s favor.Hoyle has served as a representative since 2023 and said she is dedicated to protecting Social Security, defending reproductive health care, fighting against President Donald Trump’s agenda and more, according to the voters’ pamphlet.Hoyle was endorsed by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, the Oregon Nurses Association and the Service Employees International Union. DeSpain campaigned for the seat against Hoyle in 2024, but lost with 43.9% of the vote to Hoyle’s 51.7%.DeSpain was endorsed by small independent business owners, farmers, veterans and local law enforcement, including county sheriffs.<h2>State Representatives</h2>7th district:Democrat Kori Rodley is projected to win the Oregon House District 7 representative race over Republican Adam Wilson. As of the most recent results, Rodley is leading the race with 56.88% of the vote to Wilson’s 42.70% of the vote. Rodley served on the Springfield City Council, Springfield Budget Committee, Springfield Economic Development Agency and Eugene-Springfield Fire Governance. She’s the director of a local food pantry and advocates for people with developmental disabilities.Rodley was endorsed by Congresswoman Val Hoyle, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, Oregon Senator James Manning Jr., Oregon Nurses Association, Oregon Working Families Party and more.8th district:Incumbent Rep. Lisa Fragala secured reelection in the Oregon House District 8 representative race over challenger Bill Vivian by roughly 70% of the vote.Fragala has served on the Lane Community College Board of Education, the City of Eugene Planning Commission and as a state representative. She has also worked as an elementary educator and a higher education program coordinator. Fragala was endorsed by Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson, state Senators James Manning Jr. and Floyd Prozanski, Lane Professional Firefighters, Young Democrats of Oregon and Planned Parenthood Action Oregon. 13th district:Incumbent Rep. Nancy Nathanson secured reelection in the Oregon House District 13 representative race over challenger Jonathan Abrahamsen by around 40% of the vote.Nathanson worked as a library program manager and has served with the Lane Council of Governments Board, Eugene Planning Commission and Eugene City Council. She looks to prioritize building more affordable housing, increasing access to affordable prescription drugs and urgent health care and building Oregon for the future, among other focuses. Nathanson was endorsed by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, Oregon Senator James Manning Jr., Sheriffs of Oregon, Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Oregon Education Association and more.14th district:Incumbent Rep. Julie Fahey secured reelection in the Oregon House District 14 representative race over challenger Kevin Burton by around 29% of the vote. Fahey has served as the speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives since 2024. She has worked as a business and nonprofit consultant and has served as an Oregon House majority leader. According to the voters’ pamphlet, Fahey looks to continue supporting affordability, a fair economy, quality education and homelessness solutions. Fahey is endorsed by the Oregon School Employees Association, the Oregon State Fire Fighters Council, Oregon Nurses Association, Planned Parenthood Action Oregon and more.<h2>Eugene City Council:</h2>Ward 5:Athena Aguiar has a strong lead against incumbent Mike Clark to win the Eugene City Council Ward 5 position. Aguiar’s victory would end Clark’s 20-year tenure on the Ward 5 seat, which encompasses Cal Young Road and Northeast Eugene.The young politician has said she is focused on safety, affordability and inclusivity. If elected, she said she hopes to address public safety issues after the closure of White Bird Clinic’s CAHOOTS, support new and affordable housing, create an inclusive community environment, support the prohibition of ICE activity in Eugene and address Eugene’s housing crisis. Aguiar has worked at Environment Oregon, the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group and the Fund for Public Interest. She is currently on the city’s Library Advisory Board.Aguiar was endorsed by city councilor Matt Keating, former Eugene mayors Lucy Vinis and Kitty Piercy, state senator James Manning Jr. and members of the 4J School Board. She is also endorsed by the Democratic Party of Lane County, Service Employees International Union 503, Oregon Working Families Party and the Eugene Tenant Alliance.“I just would love to thank all those supporters, volunteers, my staff member, Ethan Smith, and also our donors,” Aguiar said after the first results rolled in.Mike Clark, 62, has represented Ward 5 for five terms, equating to roughly 20 years on the council. Clark graduated from the University of Oregon and is a mortgage specialist with prior involvement in multiple commissions and committees within the city of Eugene. He previously served as a member of the City of Eugene Human Rights Commission, the Budget Committee and the Capital Improvement Program Subcommittee. Clark was also a board member for the Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County, Lane Metro Partnership, Kids FIRST and a member of the Pearl Buck Center Resource Development and Marketing Committee. In his reelection campaign, Clark looks to improve housing affordability by supporting the removal of unnecessary barriers or regulations for construction and building a larger housing supply, rather than increasing taxes or fees and asking residents to pay more money to fund the costs. He also hopes to build a stronger economy by growing jobs and businesses. With two decades on the council, Clark looks to continue representing areas of the Cal Young, Goodpasture Island, North Gilham and Santa Clara neighborhoods in North Eugene. <h2>Springfield City Council:</h2>Ward 4:Callee Ackland is projected to secure her election for the Springfield City Council’s Ward 4 position, defeating incumbent Jill Cuadros by approximately 15% of the vote. Ackland’s victory marks the end of Cuadros’s short-lived time on the council, as Cuadros was appointed interim Ward 4 city councilor in April 2026 after the then-councilor Beth Blackwell resigned in December 2025. Ackland is a tenant support specialist at the Springfield Eugene Tenant Association. She has served on the Springfield Planning Commission, Lane County Community Health Improvement Coalition and at the Springfield Public Library. She also served in the U.S. Navy for four years. As councilor, Ackland said she will prioritize affordability, livability and sustainability. She hopes to reduce grocery costs, limit rental application fees and security deposits, highlight street maintenance and pothole repair, improve traffic calming and pedestrian safety, prioritize wildfire preparation and more. Ackland was endorsed by former Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, Oregon State Senator James Manning Jr., SETA Executive Director Tim Morris, Service Employees International Union Oregon, Oregon Working Families Party, Democratic Party of Lane County and more.<h2>Lane County Commissioners:</h2>East Commissioner:At the time of publication, the race between incumbent Heather Buch and Jake Pelroy for the East Lane Commissioner seat on the Board of County Commissioners is too close to call. Buch is narrowly leading the race over challenger Jake Pelroy. Buch is seeking her third term on the county board. She has served on the Oregon Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council, Lane Council of Governments Board of Directors and the Homes For Good agency. Buch would look to continue advocating for small businesses, wildfire first responders, increasing affordability and basic healthcare services.Pelroy worked as an intelligence analyst in the U.S. Marine Corps and became a small business owner and policy analyst. He advocates for better strategies against homelessness, local business expansion and law enforcement funding.The race for the East Lane Commissioner seat has been a battle of campaign finances. At the time of publication, Buch’s total expenditures for 2026 are reported at $511,068, and Pelroy’s are $620,852.42, according to the Oregon Elections System for Tracking and Reporting.<h2>Ballot Measures:</h2>Eugene Clean Energy Fund passesVoters approved the Eugene Clean Energy Fund, which will bring a 2% tax on businesses generating $1 billion in gross profits nationally and $500,000 in Eugene. The tax will support renewable energy programming, clean energy jobs and environmentally friendly infrastructure.The tax’s funds will be used for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, clean energy jobs training, apprenticeships, contractor support and green infrastructure programs that result in carbon gas sequestration.Several campus groups supported the measure, including Climate Justice League, Graduate Teachers Fellows Federation, Service Employees International Union and the UO Student Workers Union. Jack Dodson, co-director of UO’s Climate Justice League, said the coalition is hopeful about the fund passing. “We’re incredibly excited,” Dodson said. “This is a huge step forward for Eugene. ECEF will be able to fund so many clean energy projects.”Opponents of the measure included the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, the Oregon Bankers Association and the Northwest Grocery Retailers Association. Campaign leaders have said there would be tax exemptions for grocery sales, utility sales, pharmaceuticals and construction. Dodson hopes the funds will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the UO heating system and help Eugene meet its climate goals.For a full list of ballot measures and statewide results, visit dailyemerald.com</div></body>

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It’s been roughly one week since the 2026 midterm election, in which Democrats gained control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. In Oregon, ballot measures and key races for governor and federal government were called. Several local races, including the Eugene City Council, remained undecided at the time of publication.

Oregon’s midterm election roundup

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It’s been roughly one week since the 2026 midterm election, in which Democrats gained control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. In Oregon, b

Oregon’s midterm election roundup

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