OPB politics and government reporters Dirk VanderHart, left, and Lauren Dake speak at a live taping of OPB’s weekly podcast, “Politics Now,” held at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton, Sept. 30, 2026.
Sarah Arnoff Yeoman for OPB / OPB
Ballots are going out in a couple weeks. Campaigns are ramping up. Tensions are rising. On the latest episode of “OPB Politics Now,” we hosted a live taping from the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton.
We dove deep into the Oregon governor’s race with reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake. Is this the year that Republicans break through and win the governor’s office for the first time since 1982? Or will this be more of the same as the past few races, where it really won’t be that close after all? We discussed.
The nation’s political eyes are once again trained on a key House race in Southwest Washington — where a moderate Democrat is hoping to hold her seat — this time facing a more conventional politician than in her past two races. Southwest Washington reporter Elena Neale-Sacks broke down that race for us.
But we began our conversation with a deep dive into Washington County politics. We talked about ICE, data centers, democratic socialists, bird watching of a certain kind and much more with OPB suburban communities reporter Holly Bartholomew and OPB politics reporter Bryce Dole.
(Left to right) OPB’s Politics & Government Editor Andrew Theen, left, alongside political and regional reporters, Bryce Dole, Elena Neale-Sacks, Holly Bartholomew, Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake at a live taping of OPB’s weekly podcast, “Politics Now,” held at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton, Sept. 30, 2026.
Sarah Arnoff Yeoman for OPB / OPB
Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts, and join us in Corvallis Oct. 20 for a second live taping of the podcast. We will be on the campus of Oregon State University at the PRAx. Find more details at OPB.org/events.
