Oregonians headed to the polls on Tuesday for a primary election dominated by a contentious referendum on a recently enacted gas tax increase. Measure 120 seeks to overturn legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled state assembly last autumn, which raised the state gas tax from 40 cents to 46 cents per gallon, along with various fees. The revenue was intended to bolster Oregon's transportation budget in anticipation of declining gas tax revenue from the shift to fuel-efficient, electric, and hybrid vehicles.
The referendum appears on the ballot as fuel prices surge nationwide, exacerbated by the war in Iran. Democratic Governor Tina Kotek and other lawmakers have acknowledged the difficulty the measure faces. A 'yes' vote approves the tax increase; a 'no' vote rejects it. State Representative Paul Evans predicted voters would reject the hike, stating, 'It’s going to lose, so we might as well get on to the work of finding alternatives.'
Republicans began circulating a petition to repeal the tax and fee increases soon after the governor signed the legislation, gathering more than three times the required signatures to place the measure on the ballot. Republican state Senator Bruce Starr, who helped lead the referendum campaign, said, 'Oregonians are paying more today and not getting more in return. So are they going to, at the polls, vote to increase the price of gas another six cents? I doubt it.'
Beyond the gas tax, the ballot features primaries for governor, U.S. Senate, and the state's six U.S. House seats. Governor Kotek faces nine little-known challengers in the Democratic primary. The Republican field includes state Senator Christine Drazan, who lost to Kotek in the 2022 general election; former NBA player Chris Dudley, who received a $1 million contribution from Nike co-founder Phil Knight; and David Medina, a conservative influencer charged after the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and later pardoned by President Donald Trump.
Whoever emerges from the Republican primary faces a difficult path in November, as Oregon has not elected a Republican governor in over 40 years. Voters are also casting ballots in primaries for the U.S. Senate and House.
