Latest Kate Brown News

Oregon primaries set up competitive governor's race
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Gubernatorial elections in Oregon usually result in victories for the Democrats, but this November's contest is setting up to be a competitive and contentious three-way race. Former Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek won the Democratic nomination for Oregon...

Midterm updates | Idaho attorney general loses GOP primary
BOISE, Idaho — Former U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador has won Idaho’s Republican attorney general primary, beating a longtime incumbent who had been criticized by the far right for not taking a more activist role. Labrador prevailed over Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, who was backed...

Kotek wins Democratic nod in Oregon governor's race
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Former Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek on Tuesday won the Democratic gubernatorial primary, beating state Treasurer Tobias Read in a victory for the party’s progressive wing. With current Gov. Kate Brown, a progressive Democrat, term limited the state's...
Oregon leaders warn of difficult wildfire season; urge prep
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon remains poised to see a potentially “challenging” wildfire season this summer, despite a wet and cool spring in much of western Oregon, one of the state’s top fire watchers said Monday. The rain and snow have helped to push back a fire season that...
GOP hopes to end 35-year Oregon gubernatorial losing streak
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — It’s been 35 years since there was a GOP governor in Oregon, but political experts say this year the party has a rare opportunity to possibly win the state’s highest elected position. Oregonians are frustrated with the state of the state under Democratic...

'Outsider' looks to prevail in OR Democratic gov primary
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Months ahead of Oregon's Democratic primary, many believed the race was former House Speaker Tina Kotek's to lose. The progressive's political resume, leadership experience and support from colleagues had the Portland lawmaker in an enviable position. ...

Democrats face progressive test in Oregon governor's race
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — For a record nine years, Tina Kotek sat at the front of Oregon’s House of Representatives, wielding the speaker’s gavel as the Democratic Party increased its power in the Legislature. Now the staunch liberal is seeking the state’s highest position —...

Oregon governor's clemency of murderer unleashes criticism
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — In 1994, Kyle Hedquist led a teenager down a remote logging road, then shot her in the back of the head because he feared she might tell police about burglaries he'd committed. This month, Oregon. Gov. Kate Brown granted clemency to Hedquist, who was serving a...
Oregon Gov. Brown signs farmworker overtime pay bill
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed a bill into law that phases out the state’s agricultural overtime pay exemption. The Capital Press reported Brown wrote in a letter Friday to Senate President Peter Courtney and Speaker of the House Dan Rayfield that she views...
Judge grants class-action status to COVID-sickened prisoners
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge has certified a class-action lawsuit in Oregon over state leaders’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic inside its prisons. A group of adults in custody who contracted COVID-19 first sued the state in April 2020, alleging culpability by Gov....
