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Good morning, Northwest.

Elections in Washington County this fall could be a harbinger for the future of the Democratic Party.

OPB’s Bryce Dole and Holly Bartholomew start off First Look today with a report on the race to represent Portland’s populous suburbs.

Also this morning, Hawaiians grow and harvest kalo in the Pacific Northwest.

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

— Bradley W. Parks

Top story

Data centers, ICE and the DSA: Election tensions rise in Washington County

This year’s election could reshape Washington County’s political leadership. Whoever wins will help govern Oregon’s second-most populous county and some of the state’s largest cities.

For years, Republicans or moderate Democrats have led the region. But now the local Democratic Party is backing a slate of progressive candidates, including many who align themselves with the Democratic Socialists of America, or DSA.

Election tensions are especially potent in Washington County. It’s home to dozens of data centers and has been the epicenter of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Oregon.

The election mirrors a theme playing out nationwide. The results could foreshadow the broader direction of the Democratic Party, serving as a test for how the progressive message is resonating with voters. (Bryce Dole and Holly Bartholomew)

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3 things to know

• Pacific Northwest Amtrak Cascades passengers will be the first in the country to ride the railroad’s new Airo trains when they debut on Wednesday, Sept. 30. (Lillian Karabaic)
• The “millionaires tax” in Washington state could bring in hundreds of millions more than previously projected, if it isn’t repealed first. But the state’s latest revenue forecast still projects a massive budget shortfall. (Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard)
• Southern California linebacker Desman Stephens was suspended for one game on Sunday for his dangerous late hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and his celebration afterward. (Greg Beacham, AP)

A love letter to an Oregon mercado

Imagine a place where the smells of barbacoa and leather from cowboy boots waft through the air, where the sounds of cumbia playing, vendors making aguas frescas and conversations in Spanish carry through the aisles. In this week’s episode, we explore the meaning of home, how we find it in unexpected places, and how it helps us stay resilient — all within the grounds of an Oregon mercado. (Mía Estrada)

Listen Here

Northwest headlines

• University of Washington study suggests more coyotes are living in cities (Bellamy Pailthorp, KNKX)
• UO researchers: CAHOOTS call diversion rate ‘substantially greater’ than first estimated (Brian Bull, KLCC)
• Oregon and Coos County officials push drop boxes amid mail delays (Theo Greenly, JPR)
• World Cup generated $889 million for Seattle and King County (Freddy Monares, 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):

• Salem-Keizer and Evergreen school districts considering school closures

One more look

Hawaiians nurture community by harvesting kalo in the Pacific Northwest

The plot of land is no bigger than 400 square feet, tucked behind the Oregon Food Bank on an acre of land known as Unity Farms. Despite its modest size, this garden has yielded over 300 pounds of leaves from its crop of kalo — the Hawaiian name for the taro plant — this year.

On a cold morning in late September, dozens of volunteers with the Ka ʻAha Lāhui O ʻOlekona Hawaiian Civic Club sliced the stems of the tropical root vegetables, harvesting their arrow-shaped leaves to be consumed.

This was a special barbecue and potluck celebration before the kalo would enter hibernation for the winter.

Growing kalo in the Pacific Northwest began as an experiment three years ago, according to Anita Keā’lani Yap, one of the unofficial “official” aunties of the garden — or māla as it’s called in Hawaiian.

They found that kalo is hardy enough to survive outdoors in Pacific Northwest winters. This year’s harvest has now fed dozens of families, grounding the rapidly increasing diaspora of Native Hawaiians living in Oregon thousands of miles away from their homeland. (Jireh Deng)

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/09/28/election-washington-county-oregon-first-look/