Oregon Republicans walk out of Senate ahead of vote on transportation referendum

Republicans in the Oregon Senate staged a walkout Wednesday afternoon ahead of a scheduled vote on a bill to reschedule a referendum on controversial transportation tax and fee increases from November to May.

Senators were scheduled to meet at 1:30 p.m., but no Republicans were present during roll call, prompting Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, to adjourn until Thursday morning. Senate Bill 1599, the proposal to move the date of the referendum, has since been listed on Thursday’s Senate agenda. While the House came to a brief standstill at the same time, four Republicans showed up, allowing lawmakers in that chamber to reach a quorum.

A spokesperson for Wagner did not immediately offer any comment, and Senate Republicans did not specifically attribute their absence to the transportation vote.

“Senate Republicans paused the process so there could be more meaningful discussions between the majority and the minority,” Ashley Kuenzi, a spokesperson for Senate Republicans, wrote in an email.



https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/18/oregon-republicans-walk-out-of-senate-ahead-of-vote-on-transportation-referendum/