The Excellent

edented in Oregon’s lily-white history, with record numbers of women and people of color winning seats.

Former Sen. Rick Metsger (D-Welches), who served in the Senate from 1999 to 2011, returned to the Capitol this session as a lobbyist. He found lawmakers struggling to adjust to all the changes—including in-person meetings—amid the jackhammering, pounding and general cacophony of a $500 million renovation that closed many public and meeting areas.

“ Whether you are an advocate or a lawmaker, success in the legislative process hinges greatly on building relationships,” he says. “With two-thirds of the legislators serving only their first or second sessions, that is a challenging task.”

Thanks to the longest walkout in Oregon history—43 days—far fewer bills than normal got robust debate in both chambers. The Republicans’ June 15 return created a mad rush to catch up ahead of the session’s scheduled June 25 conclusion.

And while GOP senators deployed their nuclear option, Oregonians should also know that Democrats failed to solve the walkout problem with 2022’s Measure 113.

Instead of changing the definition of a quorum—the number of lawmakers who must be present in a chamber to pass bills—from two-thirds to a simple majority, the rule in 45 states, Oregon chose to be exceptional. That cost lawmakers and, more importantly, harmed the general public that depends on them to do their jobs.

“The learning curve is steep under the best of circumstances,” Metsger says. “But with the walkout, everyone seems to be making up plays as they go without a clear idea of where the goal posts are or how to get there.”

With so many new names and such dysfunction, it would be understandable if our jurors admitted to being baffled. But some clear themes emerged: Housing and homelessness and the related issues of mental illness and addiction are top of mind. In fact, they are of such importance that Oregon’s vaunted land use system faces its greatest threat in 50 years, as lawmakers confront the difficult balance between protecting what makes Oregon special and providing the most basic human services.

Let’s hope they are up to the task. Our respondents had thoughts on that.

Some new names rose to the top of this year’s rankings. Rep. Dacia Grayer (D-Southwest Portland) is hardly well known, but those we surveyed think she should be. Sen. Kate Lieber (D-Southwest Portland) also scored highly. Meanwhile, two of the three GOP House members in our survey, Reps. Brian Stout (R-Columbia City) and James Hieb (R-Canby) racked up historically abysmal scores.

Here’s how they and the rest of the metro-area lawmakers scored this year:

Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber

D-SOUTHWEST PORTLAND

Overall Rating

8.26

8.31 INTEGRITY

8.78 BRAINS

7.7 EFFECTIVENESS

Lieber, 56, a former prosecutor turned community college instructor, brings the skills both those jobs require: She’s capable of busting heads but also of herding cats. “She’s the future, and we are lucky for that,” says a health care lobbyist.

In a hidebound chamber where the average member is eligible for Social Security, Lieber’s energy and her sense of humor set her apart. No surprise that she rose to Senate majority leader in her first term and would be a good bet to replace Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) if his colleagues decide his first term should also be his last.