Dirk VanderHart
Reporter | Oregon State Capitol CorrespondentDirk VanderHart is JPR's Salem correspondent reporting from the Oregon State Capitol. His reporting is funded through a collaboration between public radio stations around the Northwest called the Northwest News Network. Before barging onto the radio in 2018, he spent more than a decade as a newspaper reporter—much of that time reporting on city government for the Portland Mercury. He’s also had stints covering chicanery in Southwest Missouri, the wilds of Ohio in Ohio, and all things Texas on Capitol Hill.
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For a second time, Oregon judges have found a former Gresham bakery could not refuse service to a same-sex couple on religious grounds. But the court found problems with a $135,000 ruling. -
The Democratic candidate is asking the state's high court to act with speed, and force elections officials to reverse a decision that he doesn't qualify for the ballot.
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The unexpected move leaves a leadership vacuum in the Capitol as lawmakers prepare to meet next month. Kotek is the longest-tenured House Speaker in state history.
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After months of speculation that leadership of the Senate may come up for grabs in 2023, Courtney informed colleagues shortly after 2 p.m. on Wednesday he would not seek re-election this year.
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In a letter to Nick Kristof, the Secretary of State's office says it needs more information to determine whether the former New York Times journalist meets a three-year residency standard.
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After talks between left-leaning organizations broke down, three groups have filed competing proposals for reining in political spending.
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Johnson is hoping to do what no one has done in nearly a century: Win the governor's office as an independent candidate.
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Following months of negotiations, labor unions and advocacy groups did not sign onto a plan for creating new campaign regulations.
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DeFazio is Oregon's longest-tenured member of Congress. He leaves just as his Fourth District seat becomes more friendly for Democrats.
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State Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson will lead the caucus as it tries to reclaim ground from majority Democrats in next year's elections.
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Republicans who'd argued the map was a blatant Democratic gerrymander elected not to appeal their case to the Oregon Supreme Court.
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The announcement resolves one of the last lingering questions about an already packed field of candidates.
