Rep Ed Diehl talks lawsuit against Oregon over moving gas tax vote
Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, a leader of the Oregon gas tax referendum, talks about a lawsuit against the state over moving the date of the referendum vote.
Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read will not have to accept arguments on the gas tax referendum that were not submitted by the state’s March 12 deadline, a federal judge decided.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon’s March 20 ruling is a second blow to the referendum’s chief petitioners: Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, gubernatorial candidate Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, and Jason Williams, founder of the Taxpayers Association of Oregon, whose attempt to keep the vote in November was shot down in Marion County District Court.
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The litigation by supporters of the gas tax referendum began after Democratic lawmakers passed, and Gov. Tina Kotek signed, Senate Bill 1599 to move the vote on the gas tax and other transportation costs from the November election to May.
Submitting arguments for the voters’ pamphlet required paying $1,200 or the collection of 500 signatures.
The gas tax referendum leaders’ federal suit, joined by four individuals and unidentified people whose signature submissions were not accepted for the ballot, argued Read violated the First and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution and the Americans with Disabilities Act by enforcing the deadline for voters’ pamphlet submissions.
The lawsuit mirrors another suit Simon heard March 11. In those arguments, ahead of the deadline, Simon found there was a potential ADA problem because someone without disabilities would have two pathways to submit signatures, where someone who could not physically collect signatures would only have one.
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Simon allowed Mary Martin, a disabled and low-income woman, to submit her argument without the signatures or paying the fee, but noted she must still meet the deadline.
The ruling has no effect on the 35 arguments that are already included in the voters’ pamphlet.
Simon declined to allow the submissions that missed the deadline to be added to the pamphlet in part because only one plaintiff stated they were disabled and none, he said, clearly outlined the extent of their financial situations.
“The Legislature interfered with the referendum process, changed the rules midstream, and 52 Oregonians lost their voice. And today, the court sided with the political class over the people,” Diehl told the Statesman Journal.
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In a statement, Read expressed appreciation for the speed of the decision and urged Oregon voters to be on the lookout for voters’ pamphlets and ballots in the mail.
Voters will weigh in on whether to increase the gas tax and other transportation costs in the May 19 election.
A written decision from Simon was expected later on March 20.
Anastasia Mason covers state government for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at acmason@statesmanjournal.com or 971-208-5615.
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Heater Allen American Zoigl (traditional American lager), 5.5%, 30 IBUs. American amber lager made with corn adjunct Oregon-grown Goschie Farms Promise malt.
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Sunriver Green Label, Deep Cut Version (American pale ale) 5.6%, 40 IBUs. Classic APA with Crosby Deep Cut Cascade T-90 and NUVO CGX, including Oregon-grown Goschie Promise malt for a clean and balanced palate with grapefruit, pine, floral, and citrus.
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Where to Find Them: Tap Takeover Events
Oregon Homegrown beers will be featured at five tap takeover events across the state, giving drinkers the chance to try multiple collaboration beers side by side:
• The BeerMongers — Portland, May 27
• Bridge & Tunnel — Astoria, May 29
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• TopWire Hop Project — Woodburn, June 6
• Bier Stein — Eugene, June 12
• River’s Place — Bend, June 16
More information at celebrateoregonbeer.com.
About Crosby Hops
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Crosby Hops is a family-owned and vertically integrated hop grower, processor, and merchant based in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Sourcing from their fifth-generation farm with Estate Grown varieties and longstanding independent growers across the globe, the company provides discerning brewers access to a diverse selection of the finest hops on Earth.
About Imperial Yeast
Imperial Yeast was founded in 2014 with the goal to support brewers worldwide. Their passion for yeast and fermentation has only grown since they opened their doors in Portland, Oregon and in 2020, they opened our production facility in Philadelphia, PA to better serve East Coast customers.
About Celebrate Oregon Beer
Celebrate Oregon Beer is dedicated to establishing Oregon’s reputation as one of the world’s premier beer regions. Founded in 2024, the organization is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit. The organization has the support of the Oregon Brewers Guild and Oregon Hop Commission, and its Board of Directors is composed of brewery owners and hop growers.
Watch the sights and sounds from past Oregon State Fairs
The 160th Oregon State Fair runs from Friday, Aug. 22, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1.
The Oregon State Fair has added more big names to its 2026 Columbia Bank Concert Series lineup.
The newly announced performers include country singer Nate Smith on Aug. 28, legendary surf rock group The Beach Boys on Aug. 29 and country artist Jo Dee Messina on Sept. 4.
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The lineup joins other acts previously announced, including BigXThaPlug, who performs Aug. 31, and R&B singer Black, who performs on Sept. 1.
The 2026 headliner will be comedy musician “Weird Al” Yankovic, who will close out the concert series Sept. 7 as part of his “Bigger & Weirder” 2026 tour.
Most concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Weird Al’s Labor Day performance is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Oregon State Fair said additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks that will take place during this year’s 11-day event in Salem.
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How can Oregonians purchase concert tickets?
Concert tickets are available only through the official state fair website via FunCard at https://oregon.funcardapp.com/. Fair organizers warned visitors to avoid unauthorized sellers and scam ticket websites.
Officials also reminded fairgoers that concerts are held rain or shine. Umbrellas are not allowed inside the L.B. Day Amphitheater, though ponchos and blankets are permitted.
The fair runs from Friday, Aug. 28, through Labor Day, Sept. 7, at the Oregon State Fairgrounds.
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval is a lifelong Oregonian who covers trending news, entertainment, food and outdoors. She can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.
May 20, 2026 5:59 a.m. Updated: May 20, 2026 6:04 a.m.
Nordyke took a notable lead, particularly in Marion County, in the race to run Oregon’s capital city Tuesday.
Julie Hoy, left, has served as Salem’s mayor since 2024. Hoy is challenged by Vanessa Nordyke, a Salem city councilor and lawyer who previously worked for the Oregon Department of Justice.
Courtesy of the candidates
Salem voters are deciding who they want to lead Oregon’s capital and second-largest city.
Early returns Tuesday night show Vanessa Nordyke, a current city councilor and former lawyer at the Oregon Department of Justice, in the lead, roughly 14 percentage points ahead in Marion County and seven points ahead across the Willamette River in Polk County.
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She’s competing against incumbent Julie Hoy, a restaurant owner who previously served on the Salem City Council.
Hoy’s campaign team, after the 8 p.m. returns, told OPB “the night isn’t over,” as they waited to see where things would land.
Following the 10 p.m. updates, Nordyke said, “This campaign is proof that grassroots candidates can beat big money.”
Hoy promised voters safer neighborhoods, cleaner public spaces, more housing and homelessness services, and no new taxes without voter approval, among her campaign priorities.
Meanwhile, Nordyke promised to expand mental health services, open a sobering center, push for affordable housing options, and support library funding and youth-friendly programs.
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That’s just one race in a busy election night in the capital.
Four of Salem’s eight city council positions are up for election.
Preliminary results showed two incumbents leading, including Linda Nishioka with the largest lead of any of the council races — about 30 percentage points — against Manny Martinez for Ward 2 in central Salem.
Micki Varney was narrowly ahead, holding on against challenger Chris Cummings for Ward 8 in West Salem.
Incumbents were losing in races for two other council seats. Dave Inbody was leading against incumbent Deanna Gwyn for Ward 4 in South Salem. And for Northeast Salem’s Ward 6, Betsy Vega took a roughly six-point lead against incumbent Mai Vang.
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As for Marion County commissioners, incumbent Republican Kevin Cameron and Democrat Sara Duncan are the two candidates for Position 1.
Incumbent Republican Colm Willis and Democrat Maria Hinojos Pressey are running for Position 2.
Each ran unopposed in their party for the May primary. As reported by the Statesman Journal, a Democrat hasn’t won an election to the Marion County board since 1979.
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