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Good morning, Northwest.

Democratic candidates appear to have won the Oregon governorship, expanded supermajorities in the Oregon Legislature, and wrested control of both chambers of Congress.

Today’s newsletter features our latest coverage of the 2026 midterm election from Oregon and Southwest Washington.

You can find up-to-date results from notable races here. Stay with OPB on air and online throughout the day as local, statewide and national results continue to trickle in.

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

— Bradley W. Parks

Top story

5 takeaways for Oregon and Washington after Tuesday’s election

Oregon Democrats appear to have retained their four-decade hold on the governor’s mansion. A national “Blue Wave” seems to have held in Southwest Washington.

Catch up on the key takeaways from yesterday’s elections. (Courtney Sherwood)

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3 things to know

• Gov. Tina Kotek appears on track to win a second term, a result that suggests Oregon voters opted for the certainty of an unpopular Democratic governor over a rightward shift in one of the nation’s most enduringly blue states. (Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake)
• Democratic incumbent Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez leads her race against Republican state Sen. John Braun for a key U.S. House district in Southwest Washington, part of a triumphant night for Democrats nationwide. (Elena Neale-Sacks)
• Jeff Merkley was reelected to the U.S. Senate, securing his fourth term after nearly 18 years in Congress. Rep. Janelle Bynum of Oregon’s 5th Congressional District was reelected to the House, and Democratic incumbent Rep. Val Hoyle of the state’s 4th district led her race. (Bryce Dole, OPB, and Rebecca Hansen-White, KLCC)

Northwest headlines

Multnomah County

• Shannon Singleton leads Multnomah County chair’s race (Alex Zielinski)
• Bri Williams leads in race for Multnomah County Commission (Alex Zielinski)

Portland

• Incumbents leading in Portland City Council District 3 race (Alex Zielinski)
• Incumbents leading in Portland City Council District 4 race (Alex Zielinski)
• Portland ‘participatory budget’ ballot measure failing in early returns (Alex Zielinski)

Washington County

• Pam Treece leading in race for Washington County chair (Holly Bartholomew)

Clackamas County

• Initial returns show incumbents leading in Clackamas County Commission races (Holly Bartholomew)
• Rhodes leads in race for Clackamas County sheriff (Holly Bartholomew)

Deschutes County

• Interim Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert leads (Jen Baires and Troy Brynelson)
• Democrat-backed candidates lead Deschutes County Commission races (Jen Baires)

Oregon statewide

• Oregon Democrats appear on track to expand supermajority in Legislature (Bryce Dole)

Willamette Valley

• Eugene voters handily approve Eugene Clean Energy Fund initiative (Nathan Wilk, KLCC)

Clark County, Washington

• After 3 losses, Battle Ground approves school district funding (Erik Neumann)
• Democratic candidates leading in 4 races in Southwest Washington’s competitive 17th and 18th Legislative Districts (Erik Neumann)
• Kelly leading in Clark County auditor’s race (Erik Neumann)

Washington statewide

• Washington voters likely to keep ‘millionaires tax’ (Scott Greenstone, KUOW)
• Washington initiative to ban trans students from girls’ sports ahead (Sarah Mizes-Tan, KUOW)

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):

• First-ever Eagle Cap Film Festival opens in Wallowa County

One more look

Adventure cats blaze new trails in Oregon’s great outdoors

You’ve made it to the end of a very long newsletter filled with election coverage. How about something a little lighter?

In 2024, OPB’s “Oregon Field Guide” profiled Northwesterners who take their cats on outdoor adventures, like hiking on Mount Hood or paddleboarding the Willamette.

Take a few minutes to enjoy this video from the OPB archive after a long campaign season. (Noah Thomas)

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/11/04/election-results-oregon-washington-first-look/