Key Portland issues we're watching in 2026
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
It's 2026 and we're already looking ahead at what's to come on a variety of issues at the local, state and federal level.
The big picture: We've got our hometown hero back on our team, transportation bill part deux and yet another election cycle — all of which could impact the lives of Oregonians in ways big and small.
Here's our shortlist.
🏡 Housing: After declaring victory on opening 1,500 new shelter beds in December, Mayor Keith Wilson said he's shifting his focus to developing 1,200 new housing units in Portland's urban core by 2030.
- Whether or not the mayor's decision to waive fees for developers ushers in a building boom remains to be seen. Plus, nearly 1,900 affordable apartments were empty as of last month, driven largely by administrative delays.
🚗 Transportation: Déjà vu! The $4.3 billion transportation funding bill approved by lawmakers last session is heading to voters before any of its new taxes are enacted.
- That means a fix for the underfunded agency remains in limbo and could lead to road maintenance delays and layoffs.
😬 Economic uncertainty: Oregon has a myriad of factors working against it. Unemployment reached 5% last year while major industries — like manufacturing, semiconductors and agriculture — faced layoffs and slow growth.
- Gov. Tina Kotek aims to tackle the permitting hurdles and regulatory burdens that make doing business in Oregon so difficult.
🏀 Sports: Professional women's hoops returns to Portland as the Fire tip off as the WNBA's newest franchise, assuming the players' union and the league can come to a collective bargaining agreement.
- Plus: We get a new women's soccer team and Dame will be back in a Blazers jersey.
🗳️ Midterm elections: The governor, all six congressional members and one of our two senators will be up for reelection.
- Six of Portland's 12 city councilors will also face voters after serving two-year terms in our new form of city government.
🌡️ Climate: Kotek signed an executive order last year aimed at speeding up siting and permitting for clean energy projects, but the state faces a federal government that has a decidedly anti-climate agenda.