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Good morning, Northwest.
Polling shows a tight race for Oregon governor, as Republican Christine Drazan seeks to unseat incumbent Democrat Tina Kotek. Also hoping to be a factor in the race is Brett Smith of the Pacific Green Party.
Third-party candidates, including Betsy Johnson in 2022, have a history of racking up meaningful vote counts in Oregon. To begin today’s newsletter, OPB’s Dirk VanderHart explores whether Smith can make a similar impact this year.
In other news, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said yesterday he would consider it a “failure” if the Blazers left Portland.
Here’s your First Look at Wednesday’s news.
— Bradley W. Parks
Top story
Left: Christine Drazan at her election night party in May. Center: Gov. Tina Kotek at a Labor Day event in September. Right: Provided photo of Brett Smith.
First and second images: Saskia Hatvany. Third image: Courtesy of the campaign / OPB
‘Spoilers’ happen in Oregon. Will this year’s race for governor join the list?
November’s rematch between Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and GOP state Sen. Christine Drazan features just one other name on the ballot: Brett Smith, a nominee of the left-leaning Pacific Green Party.
Smith’s potential impact in the race has divided political observers. Some Democrats privately acknowledge being concerned he could siphon away votes Kotek needs if the race is tight. Republicans and other conservative-minded Oregonians would welcome that possibility.
Polling released yesterday suggests Smith could attract as much as 4% of the vote, though few of those respondents said they were definitely planning on filling out the ballot for him.
But Kotek’s campaign and the Democratic Party of Oregon suggest they’re not sweating Smith, who has yet to report raising any money. They point out Kotek prevailed four years ago despite Betsy Johnson’s well-heeled presence in the race. (Dirk VanderHart)
3 things to know
A water tower near a train track in Woodburn, Ore., Jan. 15, 2025.
Alejandro Figueroa / OPB
- Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison told OPB’s “All Things Considered” he felt relieved when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against a Trump administration effort to restrict vote by mail. (Geoff Norcross)
- Farmers who already often find themselves at the whim of Mother Nature are now facing what could be the strongest El Niño weather system on record, bringing continued uncertainty to Pacific Northwest growers on the heels of an already challenging season. (Alejandro Figueroa)
- The Woodburn City Council has enacted a 120-day moratorium on the development of data centers, one of the most contentious political flashpoints in the country. Officials say the city might not be able to accommodate the potentially large amount of water that data centers often require. (Joni Auden Land)
Northwest headlines
Coquille Chief Justin Futch visits the Nasomah Memorial.
Theo Greenly/JPR
- New poll shows Christine Drazan with narrow lead in Oregon governor’s race (Dirk VanderHart)
- Adam Silver would consider it a ‘failure’ if NBA lets Blazers leave Portland (Alex Zielinski)
- Providence announces $1.1 billion pledge from Phil and Penny Knight (Amelia Templeton)
- Washington lawmakers face another $1 billion decision on lawsuit payouts (Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard)
- Trump nominates Pete Serrano for US attorney in western Washington (Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard)
- Port of Bandon returns memorial site to Coquille Indian Tribe (Theo Greenly, JPR)
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):
- Portland State University hosts first Indigenous Foods Summit
- Oregon conservationist on steps to prevent community loss during wildfire season
One more look
A fishing vessel working with NOAA Fisheries travels through lingering sea ice in the eastern Bering Sea.
Courtesy of NOAA Fisheries
Gray whales connect Oregon’s coast to a changing Bering Sea
Gray whales were once considered a conservation success after the end of commercial whaling.
The North Pacific population peaked at an estimated 27,000 whales in 2016, but has since fallen as low as 13,000 in 2025. While the estimate has increased this year, scientists from around the world who gathered at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport recently say the whales are not in the clear.
Changing conditions on the Bering Sea between Russia and Alaska, including shrinking sea ice, have emerged as a leading explanation for the struggles befalling gray whales. (Brianna Bowman, KLCC)
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