The blue wave that washed over the nation also kept the region’s Democratic leaders in power. 

Gov. Tina Kotek was reelected to a second four-year term. U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle easily won another term against Republican challenger Monique DeSpain. 

Lookout reporters fanned across the region to track races, talk with candidates and get reactions on Election Day. To catch the latest on the elections, you can read all our coverage here, where stories are free as a public service. 

For election workers — and journalists — the work doesn’t stop on election night. Ballots continue to arrive, and we track close races — like the contest between Lane County Commissioner Heather Buch and challenger Jake Pelroy. Buch has maintained a slim lead over Pelroy, according to the latest results, which were released Friday.

We also keep readers updated on system snags. Lane County was delayed in processing ballots when an inkjet line clogged.

The elections office’s next step is processing cured ballots. These are ballots that officials have notified voters about, with questions such as a signature that doesn’t appear to match.

Another round of results, including cured ballots and more postmarked ballots, will be released at lanecounty.org/elections by 5 p.m. this coming Friday, Nov. 13.

Yes, you read that right: Friday the 13th. (And no, we aren’t cracking any jokes about the date.) 

Do you have any tips or suggestions on how we can improve election coverage? Drop us a line at news@lookoutlocal.com.

Housing series, McKenzie-Willamette hospital bonds, LCC budget shortfall

Even without elections, the news never slows. Last week was no exception.

Housing series: The Lookout Eugene-Springfield Editorial Board launched a five-part series today about housing in Lane County, examining interconnected issues like affordability, land use, production and jobs. Here’s our first installment. 

Hospital going nonprofit: We break down McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center’s efforts to get financing in a complex deal to exit private-equity ownership and become nonprofit. Lane County commissioners will play a role. 

Lane Community College budget woes: College officials face an estimated $3.5 million budget shortfall due to increased pension payments.  

— Ben Botkin

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Inside Eugene City hall with Grace chinowsky

Election results: Following Tuesday’s election, first-time candidate Athena Aguiar has maintained her lead over incumbent Mike Clark in the Eugene City Council race for Ward 5.  

‘I’ve still got that in me’: Eugene Springfield Fire Chief Mike Caven is training to climb Seattle’s Columbia Tower in March for a fundraiser for blood cancer research. He told Lookout he was diagnosed last year with a rare form of the cancer. As of Monday, Caven has raised more than $14,000.

Red light cameras? The city of Eugene is eyeing technology to assist with traffic enforcement. Public feedback is encouraged. 

And just a friendly reminder: If you have a tip or a question about City Hall, email me: grace@lookoutlocal.com.

Checking in on Springfield With lillian Schrock-Clevenger

Council changes: Callee Ackland has a wide lead in the race for Springfield City Council Ward 4, and would unseat interim councilor Jill Cuadros, according to the latest unofficial returns.

The council will see many changes over the next month. Councilor Kori Rodley is ahead in the race for the Oregon House of Representatives 7th District, which includes Springfield. And in May, Mayor Sean VanGordon won the race for Lane County Commissioner for Springfield, a term that begins in January.

Annexation: The audience at last week’s council meeting broke into applause after councilors unanimously voted to approve a land annexation that paves the way for the state’s first behavioral health campus. 

Plans for the campus, which will be about a mile from RiverBend hospital in northwest Springfield, include a PeaceHealth psychiatric hospital for patients requiring inpatient care and a Lane County stabilization center for individuals experiencing mental health crises.

beyond lane county

Kotek’s next term: The Oregon Capital Chronicle has a roundup of Gov. Tina Kotek’s priorities for her next term. On the list: a statewide preschool program, data center regulations and more time in school.

Oregon sues Trump administration: Oregon and three other states — Minnesota, New Mexico and Washington — sued the Trump administration over Medicaid work requirements. The Oregon Capital Chronicle lays out the details. 

Public Meetings this week

Monday

  • Eugene City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. for a work session on the city’s priorities in the 2027 legislative session and its next steps on the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase initiative. (The city manager recommended the council table the idea.)
  • Springfield City Council meets in executive session at 5:30 p.m. to discuss Glenwood property and review a council-appointed employee.
  • Eugene City Council reconvenes at 7:30 p.m. for a regular meeting.
  • Springfield Economic Development Agency holds a regular meeting at 7 p.m. to discuss funding requests for downtown projects and other items. 

Tuesday

  • Springfield Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee holds a special meeting at 5:30 p.m.
  • Lane County commissioners do not meet.
  • Springfield Utility Board Budget Committee meets at 4 p.m. to review the proposed 2027 budget.
  • Springfield Utility Board directors meet at 6 p.m. for public hearings on the proposed budget and proposed 2027 rates. 
  • Willamalane board of directors meets at 6 p.m. for a staff presentation on a GIS plan, among other items.
  • The Eugene Planning Commission and Lane County Planning Commission hold a joint meeting at 6 p.m. on adoption of Urban Growth Strategies Package 2.

Wednesday

  • Veterans Day: no meetings

Thursday

Friday

  • Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission meets at 7:30 a.m.

Do you have story ideas or tips? Send them our way: ben@lookoutlocal.com | grace@lookoutlocal.com | lilliansc@lookoutlocal.com

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Ben Botkin covers politics and policy in Lane County. He has worked as a journalist since 2003, most recently at the Oregon Capital Chronicle, where he covered justice, health and human services and documented regional efforts to combat fentanyl addiction. Botkin has worked in statehouses in Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma and, of course, Oregon. When he's not working, you'll find him road tripping across the West, hiking or surfing along the Oregon Coast.

Grace Chinowsky graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in journalism. She served as editor-in-chief of the university’s independent student newspaper, The GW Hatchet, and interned at CNN and MSNBC. Grace covers Eugene’s city government and the University of Oregon.