Elections
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Kotek Takes Commanding Lead Over Drazan in Early Election Returns

The governor appears poised to overcome a low popularity rating in a rematch of 2022 nominees
by Nigel Jaquiss, Oregon Journalism Project and Grace Benninghoff Oregon Journalism Project

The mood Tuesday night at the Hilton Portland Downtown, where Democrats gathered for their election night party, was giddy as two massive televisions in the basement ballroom flashed result after result confirming a national blue wave.  “People are jubilant,” said Chris Pair, a Democratic political strategist. Oregon Democrats gathered at the Portland hotel, hoping that […]

Posted inNews

Redmond Mayoral Race Set to Go to Incumbent While City Council Seats Up for Grabs 

Mayor Ed Fitch appears to land his fourth term in office, while winner of at least one City Council seat is still up in the air
Avatar photo by Dallas Finn Calvert

*This story was updated Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 3:35pm. It was a busy night on Tuesday, Nov. 3, aka general-election day, for Redmond city politics as three candidates battled it out in the Redmond mayoral race, while five residents competed for three open spots on the City Council.  Incumbent Mayor Ed Fitch appeared to secure […]

Posted inNews

Incumbents Set to Hold onto Oregon House District 53 and 54 Seats

Democrats score key wins as Emerson Levy holds onto District 53, and Jason Kropf wins an uncontested race for District 54
Avatar photo by Dallas Finn Calvert

*This story was updated Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 3:30pm. The blue tsunami has hit the high desert as Democrats won both area state representative races. Emerson Levy (D/I) appeared poised to win her third House District 53 term with 57.63% of the vote as of 3:15pm on Wednesday, Nov. 4, while Jason Kropf (D) ran […]

Posted inNews

Central Oregon Votes: Tuesday Night Election Results

Outcomes from city, county, state races for Bend, Redmond and Central Oregon
by The Source Staff

The 2026 midterm elections are behind us, and while Democrats’ decisive control of both chambers of Congress is the story on the national stage, the stories in Central Oregon include the apparent defeat of a controversial district map, the return of both mayors in Bend and Redmond, and the shift on the Deschutes County Board […]

Posted inElections

In the Swirl of the Week, Your Ballot Arrived

While the Central Oregon community reels, Election Day is still ahead. These are our Editorial Board’s endorsements in local races.
by The Source Editorial Board

See the videos of our interviews with the candidates on our Elections page at bendsource.com. City Elections Redmond City Council Our picks: Tobias Colvin, Kathryn Osborne, Barbara Tate Five people are in the running for three seats on the Redmond City Council, including Tobias Colvin, the manager of the SCP Redmond Hotel and a former […]

Posted inElections

Vote Ty Rupert for Deschutes County Sheriff

Our choice is Rupert, but whoever you decide to vote for in this race, do it in the spirit of having skin in the game
by The Source Editorial Board

We don’t fault anyone who harbors doubt, or even downright disdain about the state of things at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. A culture of retaliation and dishonesty has pervaded the office for years. While they may or may not have taken part in all of it, the two people running to be the next […]

Posted inElections

Vote Chris Beck for Oregon’s Congressional District 2

Oregon’s rural voters deserve more than they’re getting
by The Source Editorial Board

Beyond the talk of flipping the U.S. House or sticking it to the Trump regime, the facts are plain: Cliff Bentz doesn’t seem to care much about the people of his district. The Oregon Health Plan covered some 70% of kids in Oregon’s large 2nd Congressional district in 2025. Over 40% of people in the […]

Posted inElections

Watch: Sheriff Candidates Ty Rupert and James McLaughlin ▶ with video

Our interview with the two candidates in the contentious race for Deschutes County Sheriff
by The Source Staff

Next month, voters in Deschutes County will decide whether to elect Interim Sheriff Ty Rupert to continue in his position as the top law enforcement officer in the County, or whether to promote DCSO Lieutenant James “Mac” McLaughlin to the post instead. The race is arguably the most contentious of the local races in this […]

Posted inElections

Vote Lauren Connally for Deschutes County Commissioner, Pos. 3 ▶ with video

Both candidates have strengths that would serve them well on this commission; however, our endorsement goes to Connally
by The Source Editorial Board

Deschutes County voters have some big decisions to make this time around — including deciding on a controversial district map proposal and the addition of two more commissioners to the Board of County Commissioners. This race doesn’t make decision-making much easier, as the two candidates on the ballot for Position 3 this November are both […]

Posted inElections

Vote Melanie Kebler for Mayor of Bend ▶ with video

We would relish some hearty debates between two well-prepared candidates for Bend mayor — but unfortunately, this race is not that
by The Source Editorial Board

Imagine you’re applying for a job. You submit your resume; you get the interview. During said interview, you extol the values of listening and having good information to inform you as you go about your work; only, as the interview goes on, it becomes clear that you have neither listened nor gathered much information — […]

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