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Good morning, Northwest.
Today is Election Day in Oregon, and the ballot is packed with important races.
Notably, Beaver State Republicans are choosing their nominee for governor, who will likely face incumbent Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, in this fall’s midterm.
Today’s newsletter starts with a look at what’s on the ballot as Oregonians cast their votes.
Here’s your First Look at Tuesday’s news.
— Bradley W. Parks
Top story
A volunteer stands by a ballot drop-off location in Salem, Ore., on May 18, 2026.
Saskia Hatvany / OPB
Primary election 2026: Oregonians head to the ballot box
It’s Election Day, and Oregonians are primed to vote on everything from school bonds to fire districts to the state’s new labor boss.
Among the measures is a proposal, Measure 120, to fund road and bridge maintenance statewide. But with gas prices soaring due to the war in Iran, Oregonians are already feeling the pinch.
There are also gubernatorial primaries and seats up for grabs in many cities around the state.
Here’s what you need to know about this year’s primary election. (Bryce Dole)
3 things to know
FILE - The Sports Bra, a Northeast Portland bar that only plays women’s sports on the screens, March 27, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
- The Sports Bra, Portland’s famous sports bar that only plays women’s sports on its televisions, is seeking to crowdfund $1.2 million to expand locally and nationally. (Kyra Buckley)
- Fatal drug overdoses in Oregon fell in 2024, the first year-over-year drop since 2016. The reversal is consistent with national trends. (Amelia Templeton)
- Firefighters say setting fires on purpose is one of the best ways to protect against massive wildfires later. But the Trump administration is banning or stalling preventative burning across the U.S. (Chiara Eisner, NPR)
Northwest headlines
FILE - Hundreds of Seattle students from various schools gather for an "ICE Out of Seattle Schools" rally on Feb. 5, 2026, at Seattle City Hall.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
- Washington state doesn’t do enough to help undocumented kids in foster care, lawsuit says (Gustavo Segrero Álvarez, KUOW)
- Theo Angelis sworn in as Washington state Supreme Court justice (Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard)
- Questions about federal permit hang over commercial crab fishery (Katie Frankowicz, KMUN)
- Sug Sutton makes go-ahead floater to help the Fire beat the Sun 83-82 (AP)
Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation
“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):
- BizTown gives Portland-area kids a glimpse into adulthood
One more look
A Little Free Library box that has been repurposed as a Little Free Pantry at Pine and NE 27th Avenue in Seattle.
Paige Browning / KUOW
Measuring goodwill: Why UW researchers are watching Little Free Pantries
Little Free Pantries are not a new phenomenon.
There are many in Seattle, throughout western Washington and across the United States. You can even find online maps to locate them.
But a new map put together by UW researchers takes it a step further.
Their site, PantryMap.org, lists micropantries in Seattle and several outlying communities in the metro area.
In some cases, the researchers have equipped the pantries with sensors to learn more about how they’re being used.
“We’re trying to measure and quantify goodwill,” researcher Dalla Chiara said. ”If we can understand that system better, we can support it better.” (Dyer Oxley and Anna Marie Yanny, KUOW)
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