November 3rd, 2026 Election

Federal Elections

US Senator

Jeff Merkely ‍ RECOMMENDED
Website | Filing Bio / Voters' Pamphlet Statement
Facebook | Instagram | BlueSky

U.S. Representative, 3rd District

Maxine Dexter ‍RECOMMENDED ‍
Website | Filing Bio | Voters' Pamphlet Statement
Facebook | Instagram | Threads | BlueSky

State Elections

Governor

Tina Kotek ‍ RECOMMENDED
Website | Endorsements | Filing Bio | Voters' Pamphlet Statement
Facebook | Instagram

State Senator, 26th District

Nicole Bassett‍ ‍RECOMMENDED ‍
Website | Filing Bio | Voters' Pamphlet Statement
Facebook | Instagram

State Representative, 52nd District

Hank Sanders‍‍ ‍RECOMMENDED ‍
Website | Endorsements | Filing Bio | Voters' Pamphlet Statement
Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Local Elections

City of Cascade Locks

Mayor (No candidate requested endorsement.)
‍ ‍Ashleigh Wajtyna
‍ ‍Filing Form
‍ ‍Brenda Wood INCUMBENT‍
‍ ‍Filing Form

City Council (No candidate requested endorsement.)
‍ ‍Brian High
‍ ‍Filing Form
‍ ‍Courtnee Keilman INCUMBENT ‍
‍ ‍Filing Form
‍ ‍Shirelle Price INCUMBENT‍ ‍ ‍
‍ ‍Filing Form
‍ ‍Jaime Rivera
‍ ‍Filing Form

City of Hood River

Mayor
‍ ‍Gladys Rivera‍ RECOMMENDED
‍ ‍Filing form

City Council
Kate Hoffman RECOMMENDED ‍
‍ ‍Candidate Questionnaire
‍ ‍Ben Mitchell RECOMMENDED‍ ‍INCUMBENT‍ ‍
‍ ‍Candidate Questionnaire
‍ ‍Doug Stepina RECOMMENDED‍ ‍INCUMBENT‍ ‍
‍ ‍Candidate Questionnaire | Facebook‍ ‍

The midterm general election is November 3, 2026. The Trump administration is attempting to restrict mail-in voting prior to the election (Executive Order 14399). Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read has said that Oregon’s vote-by-mail election will proceed as planned. All eligible Oregonians will receive their ballots by mail. We urge voters to USE DROP BOXES if at all possible to return your ballot. If using the US Postal Service, mail ballots back AT LEAST 1 week prior (2 weeks is even better), and don’t rely on timely mail delivery.

Ballot Measures

Local

Measure 14-85: City of Hood River bonds to fund affordable housing (City of Hood River)
Vote NO *

Shall the City issue bonds, fund affordable housing for local workers, children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities; require public oversight? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution.

Summary
Bonds will be used to finance capital costs of affordable housing, including to build new housing, purchase, rehabilitate, and preserve affordability of existing housing, buy land; help prevent displacement. Housing will prioritize Hood River workers and those with historical ties to the community to the extent allowed by law.

Affordable housing means land and improvements for residential units affordable to households earning 0% to 120% of area median income. Area median income is defined as the midpoint of a specific area's income distribution; improvements may include a mix of unit sizes, spaces for community and resident needs and services. Some units will be accessible for people with disabilities; flexibility for existing tenants and hardship.

General obligation bonds would be issued in principal amount not to exceed $8.7 million, potentially in multiple series, each maturing within 20 years. The estimated annual tax rate is $0.39 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual rates may vary due to changes in interest rates and assessed value.

An independent oversight committee will review bond expenditures; provide annual reports.

Explanatory Statement
Background Information
Housing Bonds Town Hall video / Hood River Needs Affordable Homes video

Levy rate analysis for City of Hood River General Obligation Bonds
Go here to see how the bond measure will affect YOUR HOUSEHOLD’s property taxes.

* Explanation of Vote NO:

The leadership team of the Hood River County Democrats voted NO [not to endorse] on Measure 14-85, City of Hood River bonds to fund affordable housing . We recognize the great need for affordable housing in the City of Hood River, and commend the City both for its current project, Mariposa Village, and for its intent to further address our housing needs.

The reasons we chose to NOT ENDORSE the Measure are:

• there are no specific housing deliverables (i.e. a project planned, or a specific goal such as X # of housing units)

• there are no specific due dates for deliverables (i.e. dates when X project and/or X # units would be started or completed)

• there is no estimate of the proportion of the intended housing that will be HUD-subsidized

• there is no assurance that the housing created will not be bought or rented by second-home seekers or investors

• there is no project-related financial rationale for the $8.7 million amount requested. The figure was chosen simply to mirror the police facility bond request (which DOES have specific deliverables and costs).

Measure 14-86: Bonds to renovate and expand public safety facility (City of Hood River)
Vote YES

Shall the City issue bonds, renovate and expand existing public safety facility to address health and safety hazards and increase accessibility? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution.

Summary
Bonds will be used to finance capital costs to renovate and expand the City’s Police Station and is expected to include:

• Expansion for future staffing growth and American with Disabilities Act improvements.

• Mitigation of mold and water intrusion.

• Ventilated evidence processing facilities for handling dangerous substances like fentanyl, and methamphetamine.

• Seismic retrofitting to essential public safety facility standards.

• Emergency power back-up.

• Secure interview rooms to support officer safety and high-quality evidence gathering.

• Adequate restrooms for staff and visitors.

• Covered parking and access improvements for quicker and safer responses to calls during inclement weather.

• Modern evidence and filing systems.

• Professional offices, meeting spaces, and public areas.

• Furnishing, equipment, and related improvements.

General obligation bonds would be issued in an amount not to exceed $8.7 million, potentially in multiple series, each maturing within 20 years. The estimated annual tax rate is $0.34 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual levy rate may differ due to changes in interest rates and assessed value. Requires independent annual audits.

Explanatory Statement
Background Information
Proposed Public Safety Bond video / Support Local Public Safety video / Upgrade Our Safety Facilities video

Levy rate analysis for City of Hood River General Obligation Bonds
Go here to see how the bond measure will affect YOUR HOUSEHOLD’s property taxes.

Measure 14-87: Tax on prepared food and beverages to fund EMS Services (City of Cascade Locks)
Vote YES

Shall the City of Cascade Locks impose a 5% tax on the purchase of prepared food and beverages?

Summary
This measure would impose a 5% tax on the purchase of prepared food items and non alcoholic beverages ready for immediate consumption from businesses in Cascade Locks. The tax would be collected at the point of sale, and remitted to the City by the business. The revenue would be used to help fund the Cascade Locks Fire/EMS Department and its capital equipment needs.

The City currently provides emergency medical services within a local Ambulance Service Area which includes areas outside the City limits. The costs of providing these services are rising resulting in declining revenue in the City's EMS fund. In recognition that many emergency medical services are provided to people who do not reside in the City, and many people who patronize City restaurants also do not reside in the City, this tax will primarily be paid by tourists visiting the City. lt will provide a support mechanism whereby those who benefit from the emergency medical services, but evade supporting such services through local taxes, will provide revenue for the services.

Background Information