May Election - 2026

Federal Elections State Elections Local Elections Ballot Measures

Democratic and non-partisan candidates who will appear on HR County ballots 5/2026 are listed below.

Federal Elections

US Senator

Jeff Merkely‍ ‍ENDORSED
Website | Filing Bio
Facebook | Instagram | BlueSky

Paul Damian Wells‍ ‍
Filing Bio

U.S. Representative, 3rd District

Andrew Castilleja‍ ‍
Filing Bio

Jessica Salas‍ ‍
Website | Filing Bio
Facebook | Instagram

State Elections

Governor

Tina Kotek‍ ‍ENDORSED
Website | Endorsements | Filing Bio
Facebook | Instagram

James Atkinson IV‍ ‍
Filing Bio
Facebook | Instagram

Donnie M. Beckwith‍ ‍
Filing Bio

David W. Beem‍ ‍
Filing Bio

Brittany Jones‍ ‍
Website | Filing Bio
Facebook | Instagram

Cal Kishawi‍ ‍
Filing Bio

Steve William Laible‍ ‍
Website | Filing Bio

Tristan Sheppard‍ ‍
Filing Bio
Facebook

Miranda Weigler‍ ‍
Website | Filing Bio

Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor & Industry (Labor Commissioner)

Christina E. Stephenson‍ ‍ENDORSED
Website | Filing Bio
Facebook | Instagram

Chris Lynch‍ ‍
Website | Filing Bio
Instagram

State Senator, 26th District

Nicole Bassett‍‍ ‍ENDORSED ‍
Website | Filing Bio | Candidate Statement

Matthew Favro‍ ‍
Filing Bio | Candidate Statement
Facebook

State Representative, 52nd District

No single candidate endorsed. There are several good candidates for the position:

David Osborn‍ ‍
Website | Endorsements | Filing Bio | Candidate Statement
Facebook | Instagram

Bernard R. Seeger‍ ‍
Website | Filing Bio | Candidate Statement
Facebook

Nick Walden Poublon‍ ‍
Website | Filing Bio | Candidate Statement
Facebook | Threads

Judge of the Supreme Court, Position 4

Christopher L. Garrett‍ ‍Official Bio | Filing Bio‍ ‍ENDORSED

Judge of the Court of Appeals, Position 1

Ryan T. O’Connor‍ ‍Official Bio | Filing Bio‍ ‍ENDORSED

Judge of the Court of Appeals, Position 9

Jacqueline Kamins‍ ‍Official Bio | Filing Bio‍ ‍ENDORSED

Judge of the Court of Appeals, Position 12

Erin C. Lagesen‍ ‍Official Bio | Filing Bio‍ ‍ENDORSED

Judge of the Court of Appeals, Position 13

Doug Tookey‍ ‍Official Bio | Filing Bio‍ ‍ENDORSED

Judge of the Circuit Court, 7th District, Position 3

Karen Ostrye‍ ‍Filing Bio‍ ‍ENDORSED

Local Elections

Hood River County Commission

Chair
Jennifer Euwer‍ ‍ENDORSED
Website

District 1
Leti Valle Moretti‍ ‍ENDORSED
Candidate Statement
Facebook

District 3
Ed Weathers‍ ‍INCUMBENT

Ballot Measures

State of Oregon

Measure 120: Increases fuel taxes, registration/title fees for roads, tax on wages for public transportation services

Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote increases fuel taxes, certain vehicle registration/title fees for state, local road construction, maintenance, improvements; increases tax on wages for public transportation services.

Result of "No" Vote: "No" vote retains fuel taxes at 40 cents per gallon, rejects increases to vehicle registration and title fees, tax on wages for public transportation services.

Summary: Measure increases motor vehicle fuel and use fuel taxes 6 cents per gallon, increases annual registration fees from $43 to $85 for passenger vehicles; from $63 to $105 for utility and light trailers, low-speed vehicles and medium-speed electric vehicles; from $44 to $86 for mopeds and motorcycles. Measure increases passenger vehicle title fees from $77 to $216. Revenues from tax/fee increases distributed: 50% to Department of Transportation, 30% to counties, 20% to cities. Revenues used for state and local road construction, maintenance, and improvements. Measure increases tax on wages for public transportation services to two-tenths of one percent; applies to wages of employee who is a state resident, regardless of where services performed, or non-resident for services performed in this state.

For additional Measure 120 information, including -

Financial Impact
Text of Measure
Explanatory Statement
Arguments in Favor
Arguments in Opposition

click here, then click "Measures" (in left column), then click “Measure 120.”

Local

Measure 14-83: Bonds to Construct a Rebuilt Aquatic Center (Hood River Valley Parks & Recreation District)

If this measure is approved, Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District will use bond proceeds for capital costs related to the construction of a similar-sized replacement aquatic center. Bond proceeds shall be expended in the following phases to ensure responsible planning.
Phase I – Final Design, Cost Verification, Sitework, Permitting, and Demolition
Phase II – Construction
The rebuilt facility is anticipated to include:

• Permanent roof
• Updated to be compliant with current building codes and include energy-efficient improvements
• Redesigned pool layout for safety, accessibility, and crowd circulation
• Competition pool for lap swimming and teams
• Warm pool for swim lessons, therapy, fitness, and recreation
• Family changing rooms
• Modernized mechanical systems
• District maintenance space
• Site improvements, furnishing, and equipment

The District would establish a citizen oversight committee.
Bonds would mature in not to exceed 25 years from issuance and may be issued in multiple series. The estimated annual average tax rate is approximately $0.64 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The actual levy rate may differ due to final interest rates and changes in assessed value.

Background Information | Proposal Development & Timeline

How will the bond measure affect YOUR HOUSEOLD’s property taxes? Go here to see.

Measure 14-84: Five-year Levy for Park Maintenance, Operations, and Recreation Services (Hood River Valley Parks & Recreation District)

Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District (HRVPRD) is facing a budget shortfall due to revenues not keeping pace with inflation, rising costs, increasing responsibilities, and no change to the tax rate. This measure would preserve current service levels and programming.

Without additional funding, HRVPRD will:

• Reduce parks maintenance (less restroom cleaning, garbage pickup)
• Reduce pool days
• Cut community recreation and layoff staff (youth sports, enrichment, adult programming)

If approved, the five-year local option levy would fund:

• Improved parks and trails maintenance (vegetation management, playground improvements)
• Sustaining pool programs and hours (swim lessons, family swims, water fitness)
• Continuing to provide community recreation
• Proactive replacement of worn-out equipment, such as playgrounds, court surfaces, pumps, and HVAC,
to avoid emergency failures and unplanned closures
• Adequate staffing for parks maintenance, district operations, and recreation

Funds would be subject to annual audits and District Board oversight.
The maximum rate of $0.33 per thousand would cost approximately $82 per year for the median Hood River County Residence property with an assessed value of $249,435.

The measure would provide for a local option operating levy at a rate not to exceed $0.33 per $1,000 of taxable assessed property value within the District for five years, beginning July 1, 2026. The proposed rate will raise approximately $1,064,052 in 2026-27; $1,095,974 in 2027-28; $1,128,853 in 2028-29; $1,162,718 in 2029-30; $1,197,600 in 2030-31; for a total of $5,649,196.