Jeff Mapes

As polls have started to turn against U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton), the Rothenberg Report has reclassified Oregon’s senate race as a “lean takeover” race.

The Oregonian's Jeff Mapes has a must read Q&A with Jeff Merkley campaign manager Jon Isaacs on how Merkley beat Steve Novick in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary.  CLICK HERE TO READ

Just when we thought the GOP list of candidates was beginning to narrow Jeff Mapes is now reporting that yet one more Republican might enter the hypothetically crowded race to replace retiring Rep. Darlene Hooley. Pixelworks co-founder and Kulongoski Aide Allen Alley is now contemplating a bid for the seat.

The Oregonian’s Jeff Mapes has some fresh reporting on Mary Starrett, the 2006 gubernatorial candidate who is pondering a run for U.S. Senate on the Constitution Party ticket.  read more »

Sen. Gordon’s Smith’s re-election campaign has been reluctant to directly engage one his possible Democratic opponents, House Speaker Jeff Merkley, but now it looks like Smith is starting to fight back – just a bit.  The Oregonian’s Jeff Mapes is reporting on a Smith fundraising email highlighting the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s financial support for Merkley.

The Oregonian’s Jeff Mapes has a must-read rundown of the top legislative races.  read more »

The Oregonian’s Harry Esteve and Jeff Mapes take a another look at the Oregonian/KGW public opinion poll – and what they report probably won’t please the state’s top lawmakers.  read more »

The Oregonian’s Jeff Mapes and Harry Esteve have a must-read story today looking at the new Oregonian/KGW survey. The key finding: “Overall, Oregonians are more optimistic about the state's direction than they are about the course the nation is on. And they have a more upbeat view of the state's economy than Americans have about the country as a whole.

“Still, Oregonians have clear worries about a range of issues -- both economic and not.”

The Oregonian's Jeff Mapes is reporting that Salem lobbyist Craig Campbell is pondering a campaign for state treasurer.

"It's really a fascinating job," Campbell tells Mapes. "It has a tremendous amount of responsibility."

Mark HaasThe Oregonian's Jeff Mapes has a must-read post on the newly re-inaugurated State Sen. Mark Hass. Hass's "speedy swearing-in capped an unusual - and intensely personal - political comeback," Mapes writes.