Oregon

Oregon lawmakers pass bill authorizing governor to fill US Senate vacancies

Published

5 months ago

June 3, 2025

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Oregon lawmakers pass bill authorizing governor to fill US Senate vacancies

The Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 952 on June 3, which would allow the governor to appoint a replacement for a vacant U.S. Senate seat.
The bill requires the governor to appoint someone of the same political party as the previous senator within 30 days and a special election within 150 days of the vacancy.
Supporters say the bill ensures Oregon has full representation, but opponents argue it diminishes voters’ power.

The Oregon Legislature passed a bill on June 3 that would allow the governor of Oregon to appoint a U.S. senator to represent the state temporarily in the event of a vacancy.

Under current state law, vacancies in the U.S. Senate are filled by a special election, and the seat remains empty until the special election is held.

If Kotek signs Senate Bill 952, Oregon would become the 47th state to grant the governor the authority to fill a vacancy. North Dakota, Rhode Island and Wisconsin do not allow temporary appointments before a special election is held, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

SB 952 would require the governor to appoint within 30 days of a vacancy an individual qualified to hold office who is affiliated with the same political party as the previous senator.

A special election would be required within 150 days of the vacancy.

SB 952 passed by a vote of 31-24 on June 3 in the Oregon House and passed on a 16-13 vote in the Oregon Senate on April 28.

Why advocates for Oregon Senate Bill 952 say it is necessary

“Senate Bill 952A is a safeguard,” said Rep. Hai Pham, D-Hillsboro. “It ensures that Oregonians are always represented and never left without a voice in the U.S. Senate during critical moments.”

Oregon U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley submitted letters in support of SB 952. Wyden stated in his testimony that collaboration between two senators is crucial to making the state a better place to work and live.

“Oregonians would have only half a voice in the U.S. Senate if our state lacked a senator because of death or injury for a prolonged period. And that in turn could hurt our state significantly,” Wyden wrote.

Merkley echoed Wyden’s testimony in a letter he submitted to the Legislature, saying both voices matter for the state.

“If Oregon is left without a Senator for several months because a vacancy occurs and current law does not provide for an appointment, then that critical work will not happen, and it could have significant repercussions for the people of Oregon,” Merkley wrote.

What opponents said about authorizing Oregon governor to appoint a US senator

Opponents who spoke on the floor included Republicans and Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth, who expressed concerns that the measure would erode voters’ power.

“It takes a step closer to centralizing control and a step away from democratic values,” said Rep. Dwayne Yunker, R-Grants Pass.

House Republican Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, said the bill was unnecessary. She recalled her campaign for governor and said appointees should not be allowed to represent without undergoing a similar process.

“[Campaigning] is grueling, it is humbling, it is demanding, and it is appropriate that it be so,” Drazan said. “It demands more than policy knowledge or just political connections … Senate Bill 952 hands power to insiders and it takes it from the people. That is always a mistake.”

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on X @DianneLugo

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Oregon

5 things we learned from Minnesota’s beatdown loss at Oregon

Published

10 hours ago

November 15, 2025

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5 things we learned from Minnesota’s beatdown loss at Oregon

Gophers’ opening drive sequence / Picture via: Statbroadcast

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Oregon

Watch live: Lakeridge vs. Nelson in Oregon high school football 6A playoffs Round 2/state quarterfinals (11/14/2025)

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2025

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Watch live: Lakeridge vs. Nelson in Oregon high school football 6A playoffs Round 2/state quarterfinals (11/14/2025)

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The second-seeded Nelson Hawks (9-1) play host to the No. 10 Lakeridge Pacers (6-4) on Friday night in a 6A Oregon high school football playoffs Round 2/state quarterfinals matchup.

Coach Aaron Hazel’s Hawks are coming off a 35-12 first-round victory against West Salem. They are undefeated this season against Oregon opponents.

The Pacers, coached by Spencer Phillips, defeated Glencoe 35-21 in Round 1. Their record might be a bit misleading — they have four losses, but they were against the Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5 seeds in the bracket.

Nelson defeated Lakeridge 26-21 on Aug. 29.

Opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT on Friday, November 14, with a live TV broadcast on NFHS Network.

• WATCH: Nelson vs. Lakeridge football is livestreaming on NFHS Network

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How to watch Nelson vs. Lakeridge football livestream

What: The second-seeded Nelson Hawks play host to the No. 10 Lakeridge Pacers in a 6A Oregon high school football playoffs quarterfinal matchup.

When: Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT on Friday, November 14.

Where: Nelson High School | Happy Valley, Oregon

Watch live: Watch Nelson vs. Lakeridge live on the NFHS Network

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Oregon

Know the (possible) Oregon State football coaching candidate: Ed Orgeron

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2025

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Know the (possible) Oregon State football coaching candidate: Ed Orgeron

The Oregon State football coaching search is underway, and several names have been floated as potential candidates for the job. It is early in the process as the coaching carousel continues to spin across college football.

As the search rolls on, barring a major announcement or change in the search dynamics, The Oregonian/OregonLive will examine some of the potential candidates for OSU’s next head coach.

Next up is a national championship-winning coach who reportedly showed interest early on:

Ed Orgeron

Most recent job: HC, LSU

Age: 64

Head coaching record: 67-47

Why it works

Coach O is a big name with an even bigger personality, and would bring a flurry of media attention to Oregon State (or “Orgeron State”). The branding and merchandise opportunities alone are immense, and the hire would put the Beavers in the national spotlight.

Orgeron’s tenure at LSU ended on a low note in 2021, but he won a national championship with the Tigers in 2019 while coaching one of the greatest college football teams ever. He would likely elevate Oregon State’s recruiting success significantly from where it is now.

Entertainment factor and all the potential risks aside, this would be the kind of splash hire that injects some life into a downtrodden football program. At least temporarily. Fans have been all over this idea on social media.

Why it might not work

There is also a real chance hiring Orgeron would end up being a flash in the pan, or worse: a failed gimmick. Orgeron struggled through two straight .500 seasons before his dismissal at LSU and comes with some off-field baggage to answer for.

He’s also been out of coaching for four years. If he couldn’t make it work in the early days of NIL, at LSU of all places, who’s to say his name recognition alone is going to make up for the experience gap now? The last thing OSU needs is someone who doesn’t fully grasp the modern landscape, so the question would be whether Orgeron has both done his homework and can build a staff around him that makes up for potential shortcomings.

There is a fine line between an exciting risk and an off-the-rails sideshow. Other programs have sought the former and ended up with the latter (see: Arizona State under Herm Edwards). OSU is in a precarious place with its football program and has far less runway to recover from that level of possible failure.

Is he interested in Oregon State?

It seems like he is, but things might have changed. Early on in the process, Orgeron was one of the first names we heard. Credible reports indicated he was interested in the OSU job and would take it if offered.

But better jobs have opened up since then, including at LSU, where Orgeron has since publicly stated he’d be glad to return. That doesn’t exactly scream “all in” on the Beavers.

Whether OSU is even interested in taking this gamble in the first place is another matter. But Beavers fans have to be wary of the possibility that Orgeron is simply desperate for a return to coaching and using their situation as a springboard.

Know the other (possible) candidates:

Brent Vigen

Paul Chryst

Brennan Marion

JaMarcus Shephard

Kevin Cummings

Nick Rolovich

Oregon State (2-8) at Tulsa (2-7)

When: Saturday, Nov. 15
Time: 10:00 a.m. PT
Where: H.A. Chapman Stadium — Tulsa, OK
TV Channel: None
Stream: ESPN+

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