By Julia Shumway | Editor
Good morning! A jaw-dropping night of election results across the nation had few ripples in deep-blue Oregon, where voters chose to return Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek, all members of the state’s congressional delegation and most legislators to their current jobs. Democrats are poised to grow their legislative supermajorities by flipping two House seats and one Senate seat, though they’ll still be one seat shy of the two-thirds majority they’d need to negate the threat of Republican walkouts.
Our team of three reporters and one editor was on top of all the congressional, statewide and legislative races, with assistance last night from freelance photographers Jordan Gale, Rian Dundon and Laura Tesler and astute analysis by Randy Stapilus. Your support helps us pay pros like Jordan, Rian and Laura, cover mileage costs when our reporters are in the field, and keep the Capital Chronicle running as we transition from covering the election to covering its impacts.
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By Julia Shumway
Multnomah County election officials sort through submitted election ballots at the county election office in Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Photo by Jordan Gale/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
Nationally, the electoral blue wave Democrats hoped for turned out to be more of a tsunami, washing away longtime Republican strongholds.
In Oregon, where Democrats have been in the majority for decades, Democratic gains were more modest. The state will send U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and its six incumbent members of Congress — five Democrats and one Republican — back to Washington, D.C., and give Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek another four years in Mahonia Hall.
By Shaanth Nanguneri
Gov. Tina Kotek speaks to supporters at a watch party for Democrats in Portland on Tuesday, November. 3. (Photo by Jordan Gale/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
PORTLAND — Democratic incumbent Gov. Tina Kotek will get another four years in office after convincing voters she was the only viable candidate who would challenge the Trump administration.
By Alex Baumhardt
If current leads hold, Oregon Democrats are on track to hold a record number of seats in the Oregon House in 2027.
By Alex Baumhardt
Democrats held significant leads in two competitive Oregon Senate districts, while Republicans led by slim margins in two others Tuesday night.
By Mia Maldonado
Oregonians voted to send all six of the state’s U.S. representatives and Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley back to Washington, D.C. for another term.
By Jordan Gale, Rian Dundon and Laura Tesler
Supporters cheer as Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek speaks at the Oregon Democratic Party’s election night watch party in Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Photo by Jordan Gale/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
Commentary: Amid big changes, Oregon goes steady-state
By Randy Stapilus
Across red and purple states, the election news Tuesday was big: Massive changes in places where few would have expected them, flips of control of both sides of the Congress.
As for Oregon, well, it went along its usual path.
FROM OUR D.C. BUREAU
Democrats win sizable US House majority amid sweep of close races | Jennifer Shutt and Ariana Figueroa
Democrats score control of US Senate in stunning midterm victory | Ashley Murray and Shauneen Miranda
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