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Salem is abuzz these days over possible challenges to House Speaker Julie Fahey (D-West Eugene), who’s held the speaker’s gavel since 2024 but has taken heat for recent legislative disappointments, such as the failure over the past two years to enact a comprehensive transportation funding package.
Aspirants include Rep. Daniel Nguyen (D-Lake Oswego), who confirmed his intention to run for speaker to WW.
“We are at an inflection point that requires bold leadership,” Nguyen writes. “Oregon’s revenue system is held together by Band-Aids, and I think we are overdue for a comprehensive, public discussion on how to modernize our tax structure if we want to make progress in education, health care, economic development, transportation, housing and all our shared priorities.”
Also in the mix are Majority Leader Ben Bowman (D-Tigard) and Rep. Thuy Tran (D-Northeast Portland), as first reported by the newsletter of lobbyist and former Oregon lawmaker Rick Metsger. Oregon Public Broadcasting previously reported on the aspirants Metsger surfaced.
The Dems of the lower house will vote on leadership positions, including speaker, in two weeks at their biennial retreat. With the 2027 legislative session set to start in January, hopes are high the party can find cohesion on a number of substantive issues like expanding mental health treatment capacity and improving K–12 student success. The Dems picked up two seats in this month’s midterms to claim 39 of 60 seats in the House of Representatives—but those gains are thought to have had more to do with nationwide distaste for the MAGA brand than an endorsement of Oregon’s Democratic lawmakers.
Asked at a recent press conference whether Fahey should continue as speaker, Gov. Tina Kotek declined to comment.
Fahey, for her part, says she hopes to retain the position.
“I’m confident that I am still the right choice for Speaker because of my vision to capitalize on this historic moment in time,” Fahey writes to WW. “Oregonians are waking up every day thinking about how they’re going to afford gas, groceries and health care, and we need to deliver real progress for them next year. I’m ready to hit the ground running in the upcoming session fighting to keep Oregonians insured, making sure data centers are paying their fair share, and improving our schools.”
