OPB’s First Look: Corporate money in Oregon politics

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Good morning, Northwest.

People seeking to limit corporate money in Oregon elections could test a new legal theory to get around a long-standing Supreme Court ruling.

OPB politics reporter Dirk VanderHart explains what is sometimes called the “corporate power reset” to start this morning’s newsletter.

In other news, the Lake Oswego school district is moving toward acquiring a church property through eminent domain.

Here’s your First Look at Wednesday’s news.

— Bradley W. Parks

Top story

Oregon ballot initiative would skirt Citizens United, ban corporate money from elections

For the first time in three decades, Oregon will place limits on political donations beginning in January.

But months before that change, the next tussle over Oregon campaign finance laws is already getting underway — and could land Oregon in the vanguard of states pursuing a novel legal theory that aims to radically change state politics.

Reformers plan to file ballot proposals this month that, if passed in 2028, would usher in the kind of system they believe Oregonians want.

Perhaps most notably, the group Honest Elections Oregon plans to pursue a future in which some of the state’s biggest political spenders — businesses and labor unions — are banned from cutting checks altogether. (Dirk VanderHart)

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3 things to know

• The Grasshopper Fire burning east of Mount Hood grew rapidly overnight Monday, prompting fresh evacuation orders yesterday. (Courtney Sherwood)
• A Portland City Council committee unanimously advanced a proposal to develop land adjacent to the Moda Center and kick off negotiations with Albina Vision Trust. (Alex Zielinski)
• The Lake Oswego School Board took the first step Monday toward condemning property recently acquired by a local church. Land condemnation, also known as eminent domain, is a legal tool governments can use to procure land deemed necessary. (Holly Bartholomew)

Northwest headlines

• After pushing Black families out of North Portland, effort to welcome them back continues (Lauren Dake)
• For Washington GOP, a tough primary delivers alarming results (Aspen Ford and Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard)
• Washington state gun law could be rewritten after Seattle Center shooting (Sarah Mizes-Tan, KUOW & KNKX)

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):

• Rage rooms: where customers pay money to smash bottles, electronics and more
• How Oregonians can stay safe from wildfire smoke

One more look

Portland Art Museum names new director after 9-month search

Michael J. Anderson, currently president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, will soon lead the Portland Art Museum as its new director, PAM announced Tuesday morning. His tenure begins Oct. 12, 2026.

Anderson’s appointment comes after the museum’s previous director of nearly 20 years, Brian Ferriso, left the institution after spearheading the $111 million renovation and expansion of its downtown Portland campus. Ferriso now directs the Dallas Museum of Art.

After Ferriso’s departure, a trio of co-interim directors was appointed to lead the museum while it searched for a new permanent director.

The nine-month search chose Anderson, a former teacher who’s since become an established curator and museum executive. (Riley Martinez)

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Subscribe to OPB’s First Look to receive Northwest news in your inbox six days a week.