Top legislative leaders headed for the exits this week as the election year further scrambled the Oregon political scene.

The 2020 election of U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, was the first change in Oregon’s congressional delegation since 2009. With a new seat and the retirement of U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, half of the U.S. House members from Oregon will be freshmen or sophomores.

Salem will see a lot of new faces in new places as well. The governorship is up for grabs and legislative seats have opened with a wave of retirements following redistricting that goes into effect this year.

A sample of the action this week: 

Kotek’s streak ends: Friday marked the end of the record-setting tenure of House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland. The chamber’s top officer since 2013, Kotek stepped down from office and out of the Legislature. She’ll concentrate on her campaign for governor. The early departure means she won’t have to worry about House rules barring fundraising while the Legislature is in session in February and March.

Drazan going too: Former House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, said Friday that she will give up her seat on Jan. 31 to concentrate on her Republican primary race for governor.

Like Kotek, Drazan will be free to pass the political hat while her former House colleagues meet. Her seat will be filled by a GOP appointee prior to the start of the new session.

New tenants at the top: Democrats will nominate Rep. Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, as the new speaker. With Democrats holding a 37-23 majority in the House, Rayfield is all but assured the job.

Rayfield has moved to solidify the top House spots around him, with Rep. Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, set to become House majority leader. Rayfield announced Friday that Rep. Tawna Sanchez, D-Portland, would be his choice as co-chair of the Joint Ways & Means Committee, the powerful budget-writing panel from the House and Senate. The move was another disappointment for Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Portland, who had sought the speakership and wanted the top spot on Ways & Means Committee.

Legislature vs. omicron: Oregon Health & Science University issued a forecast Thursday that the number of severe cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19 would peak on Feb. 1. That’s the day the Legislature is scheduled to open the 2022 session, which would run for 35 days, ending March 7.

The House and Senate must come to Salem to formally open the session, then can have committee meetings online. But lawmakers would have to return to the capitol for the final passage on legislation.

Earlier sessions of the Legislature have been disrupted by positive tests among lawmakers and staff, while Sen. Dallas Heard, R-Roseburg, has refused to wear a mask and was removed by Courtney’s order from the floor of the Senate during the last special session.

Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state’s infectious disease expert, said Friday that the Oregon Health Authority has advised legislative leaders on the omicron situation.

“They have a strong plan in place to protect their members, staff and public,” Sidelinger said.

Incumbent’s coffers bulge: U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby, finished 2021 with just over $1 million in the bank for his 2022 re-election bid in the 5th Congressional District.

Redistricting has shifted his district to the east, including a segment that crosses the Cascades to take in most of Bend and Redmond. He’s drawing challengers on his left and right.

Jamie McLeod-Skinner of Crooked River Ranch has filed to challenge Schrader in the Democratic primary. She’s previously run for Congress and secretary of state.

The victor would face the winner of the GOP primary. The Republican race so far includes former Happy Valley Mayor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Tualatin orthopedic surgeon John DiPaola, and two Bend residents, Jimmy Crumpacker and Madison Oatman. 

Crowded congressional field: Rep. Teresa Alonso León, D-Woodburn is at least the 14th candidate to jump into the race for the newly created 6th Congressional District seat. She made the announcement Thursday.

Oregon’s population growth in the 2020 U.S. Census led to the state receiving a sixth seat. The Legislature approved new maps in September that center the 6th district around Salem, including a large Hispanic population. The Democratic primary already includes Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Lake Oswego. 

Hoyle needs new money: Val Hoyle, the current state labor commissioner, planned to run for re-election, but switched to the 4th Congressional District race when incumbent Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield, announced plans to retire.

The move created a financial headache for Hoyle and her backers. The $532,000 that Hoyle raised in 2021 can’t be shifted to the congressional race, which falls under the significantly tighter Federal Election Commission financing rules. 

Contributors to congressional candidates can give a maximum of $3,000. In Oregon state races, there’s no limit. Hoyle’s first refund was $50,000 given by New York investor Bradley Tusk. Since Dec. 13 of last year, Hoyle has issued 43 contribution refunds. 

Kulla pivots to BOLI: Yamhill County Commissioner Casey Kulla went from election underdog to top dog by shifting his 2022 election goal. Kulla announced he’d “pivot” from running in the Democratic primary for governor to the suddenly open office of Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries.

“When I learned that Commissioner Hoyle would be stepping down to run for Congress, I realized that Oregon needs a strong leader in this important position,” Kulla said.

Kulla said he would promote apprenticeships and ensure workers’ civil rights are protected on the job.

Kulla struggled to get attention in the Democratic primary for governor, which includes Treasurer Tobias Read and Kotek.

More to come next week: The list of Democratic candidates may or may not include former New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, who now lives in Yamhill County. The question of whether he has lived there long enough will highlight next week’s political merry-go-round.

The Oregon Supreme Court is expected to announce its decision on Kristof’s appeal of Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s ruling that he does not meet the residency requirement required to run for governor.