Copyright The Oregonian
Portland-area voters mostly said yes to levies and bond measures meant to support parks, libraries, public safety and schools Tuesday night. In Portland, voters agreed to hike the city’s current parks levy by 75% to maintain existing parks and recreation services. City officials had said the Parks Bureau would have to slash operations by up to 50% if the levy failed. In Washington County, voters approved increases to property taxes funding public safety and libraries. Elsewhere, two Portland-area schools bonds appeared headed for approval, while voters shot down another. Voters in the Lake Oswego School District approved a construction bond that will preserve a tax of 90 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to replace two aging elementary buildings. Voters in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District appeared to say yes to a $190 million general obligation bond that would maintain, repair and upgrade school buildings, improve accessibility and repair sports fields. But in the Oregon Trail School District, voters rejected a facilities bond that would have raised the taxes paid by property owners from $1.66 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $2.78 per $1,000. Just 17 of Oregon’s 36 counties held elections Tuesday, allowing voters a chance to weigh in on everything from fire department levies to bonds for recreation facilities and whether citizens should be able to veto expensive public projects. Nationally, Democrats won big Tuesday in races across the country. Democrats won governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey and also swept a trio of state Supreme Court races in Pennsylvania. And in New York City, Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old state legislator and self-described democratic socialist, cruised to victory. Read more about all the election results: Portland voters poised to approve pricey new parks levy Washington County levy funding local libraries appears headed for approval Washington County voters appear to approve property tax increase to fund public safety Sandy-area voters reject construction bond for Oregon Trail School District West Linn-Wilsonville vote on school construction bond too close to call Lake Oswego voters approve school construction bond Democrats take Virginia, N.J. governor races; Mamdani cruises in NYC California voters approve new US House map to boost Democrats in 2026 Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayor’s race, capping a stunning ascent Democrat Mikie Sherrill elected governor of New Jersey, defeating opponent who aligned with Trump
