Oregon

Oregon lawmakers pass bill authorizing governor to fill US Senate vacancies

Published

1 month 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

Oregon State football early opponent preview: Houston

Published

10 hours ago

July 11, 2025

Press Room

Oregon State football early opponent preview: Houston

The Oregon State Beavers will have a short week following their matchup with rival Oregon, returning home to face Houston on a Friday night in the fifth game of the 2025 season.

The Cougars went 4-8 in 2024 but pulled some upsets in the Big 12, including wins over Kansas State and TCU. Their strength was their defense, which allowed just under 23 points per game while playing in a conference known for high-flying offenses.

For the Beavers, it could be an opportunity to get back on track: The road trips to Texas Tech and Oregon are likely to be steep challenges for Trent Bray’s squad. Their schedule becomes significantly easier, at least on paper, from the Houston game onward.

Game 5: Houston at Oregon State

Date: Friday, Sep. 26

Time: 7:30 p.m. PT

Location: Reser Stadium

TV: ESPN

Houston offense preview:

Dual threat junior Zeon Chriss will compete with Texas A&M transfer Conner Weigman for the starting quarterback job. Chriss appeared in 11 of 12 games last season for the Cougars, leading the team with four rushing touchdowns and tied for the team lead with four passing touchdowns.

Needless to say, those numbers indicate a Houston offense that was prone to struggle — second-worst in the nation in scoring at just 14 points per game. But regardless of whether or not he wins the starting job, Chriss should be a factor again for Houston as a different and more athletic look under center.

The team’s top three running backs return, as do two of their three top receivers. But this will still be a “prove it” game for the OSU defense after whatever happens against the far more dynamic playmakers of Texas Tech and Oregon.

Houston defense preview:

The Cougars ranked 25th in the country in total defense, and second in the Big 12 in scoring defense behind BYU. But they lost their defensive coordinator, Shiel Wood, to Texas Tech.

If this is the year Houston turns things around under third-year head coach Willie Fritz, it will start with defense — even if the woeful offense does make strides.

Several key linebackers return, including Jalen Garner and Brandon Mack, and the Cougars added the productive Carmycah Glass from Louisiana in the transfer portal. The defensive line was also shored up with transfers Joshua Donald (Appalachian State) and Khalil Laufau (Washington State).

The biggest question is Houston’s secondary: two portal departures — Jeremiah Wilson and A.J. Haulcy — combined for nine interceptions in 2024. Can Maalik Murphy take advantage and sling it in the Beavers’ return home?

More OSU early opponent previews:

Game 1: California

Game 2: Fresno State

Game 3: Texas Tech

— Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X: @RyanTClarke. Find him on Bluesky: @ryantclarke.bsky.social.

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Oregon

Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley says he’s running for reelection

Published

1 day ago

July 10, 2025

Press Room

Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley says he’s running for reelection

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon said Thursday that he will run for reelection next year to seek a fourth term in Congress.

In a statement, the 68-year-old denounced the Trump administration and described efforts to stand against growing threats to democracy as “the fight of our lives, and I’m not backing down.”

“This is a dark and dangerous time for our democracy, and the only way through it is together,” he said.

Merkley is the top Democrat on the powerful Senate Budget Committee. His most recent reelection to the Senate was in 2020, with nearly 57% of the vote.

Merkley has served in Congress since 2009. Before that, he served roughly a decade in the Oregon House of Representatives.

Oregon’s other Democratic senator, Ron Wyden, isn’t up for reelection until 2028.

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Oregon

Oregon State football early opponent preview: California

Published

3 days ago

July 8, 2025

Press Room

Oregon State football early opponent preview: California

With 53 days until kickoff, the Oregon State Beavers likely have redemption on the mind.

If the cliché of “one game at a time” is indeed how the Beavers will approach fall camp, then one game from last season will be front of mind: a 44-7 drubbing on the road at California. The Beavers open up their 2025 campaign against the Golden Bears on Aug. 30.

Last time out was the worst loss of the Trent Bray era, a turning point in OSU’s 1-6 finish to 2024. But the Beavers (5-7 last season) retooled their roster and are hosting this time around, and transfer portal churn has the Bears (6-7 last season) looking different at key positions on both sides of the ball in their second season in the ACC.

Game 1: California at Oregon State

Date: Aug. 30

Time: 7:30 p.m. PT

Location: Reser Stadium

TV: ESPN

Early odds: Oregon State -3.5; O/U 51.5

California offense preview:

Like so many middling programs across the country, Cal’s best offensive players were poached in the transfer portal by other programs.

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is now at Indiana, and running backs Jadyn Ott and Jaivian Thomas are at Oklahoma and UCLA, respectively. Top receiver Nyziah Hunter also left for Nebraska, and tight end Jack Endries is at Texas.

The Bears were busy in the portal, though, nabbing a total of 30 players including Ohio State backup quarterback Devin Brown and former Oregon early enrollee Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele. Those two will compete for the starting job in Berkeley.

Whoever is under center, this is not the same Bears offense that hung 44 on the Beavers last year, even with other playmaking additions in the portal. Still, Cal has an accomplished new offensive coordinator in Bryan Harsin, the former Boise State coach who originally got his start at Eastern Oregon.

California defense preview:

However mediocre the Justin Wilcox tenure has been at Cal, his teams have had stingy defenses. Last season, the Bears were No. 36 in the country in total defense and No. 20 in third down conversion percentage allowed (.333).

For an Oregon State offense likely to lean on Anthony Hankerson in the backfield, Cal’s ability to maintain its strong rushing defense (No. 14, 109.8 YPG last season) could pose problems. But the difference this time around could be Maalik Murphy at quarterback, adding a dimension through the air that the Beavers simply didn’t have against Cal last year.

The Bears have also lost multiple players from a talented secondary including cornerback Marcus Harris, who left for the NFL. Will the Beavers’ new signal-caller have more room to air it out, as we saw him do plenty of in the 2025 spring game?

He will have to do so against former Oregon State defensive coordinator Keith Heyward, now coaching the defensive backs for the Bears following a short break from coaching.

Either way, OSU will want to get off on the right foot offensively in its opener. The Cal defense has multiple question marks at each level which may allow for that.

With a pair of home games against Cal and Fresno State to begin the season, the Beavers need a solid offensive foundation on which to compete in challenging road games at Texas Tech and Oregon.

— Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X: @RyanTClarke. Find him on Bluesky: @ryantclarke.bsky.social.

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