Move up. Move out. Move over. Move away.

Oregon politicians are deciding which direction to go in advance of redistricting, an open governor’s office and a new congressional seat.

Trifecta of seats in northwest up for grabs

The 2022 election will likely feature a trio of seats in the Legislature up for grabs in the far northwest of Oregon.

Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, has announced she will run as an independent for governor.

Freshman Rep. Suzanne Weber, R-Tillamook, says will give up her House District 32 seat to run for Johnson’s vacated spot in Senate District 16. 

Rep. Brad Witt, D-Clatskanie, cited unfavorable partisan splits under redistricting to announce he won’t seek re-election in House District 31.

Brian Stout, a Republican businessman from St. Helens, narrowly lost to Witt last year. He has amended his dormant 2020 campaign finance committee to raise funds for a 2022 bid for the seat.

No re-runs

Witt is not the only lawmaker calling it quits, and many say its because of the new redistricting maps that will likely go into effect in 2022. Rep. Brian Clem, D-Salem, says he won’t be back in Salem. Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, said he didn’t want to run against his friend Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, who now live in the same district. 

Lee Beyer

Wilde supports lawsuit: “The only logical inference from the facts… is that the Senate leadership wanted to protect Senator Prozanski from my primary challenge,” he wrote. 

Clarno was joined by fellow former House speaker Larry Campbell, ex- House GOP leader Gary Wilhelms, and former Dallas Mayor James Wilcox.