Former school superintendent, nurse from King City tapped for vacant House District 26 seat
The Oregon House of Representatives on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. Former school superintendent Sue Rieke Smith of King City joined the body as a representative following a Friday vote by three county commissions. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
After nearly a month without representation in the Oregon House, Oregonians in Clackamas, Washington and Yamhill counties have a new state representative: former nurse and school district superintendent Sue Rieke Smith.
Rieke Smith, of King City, will begin immediately in the Oregon Legislature following her appointment Friday in a 10-1 vote at a joint session of the three county commissions. She fills the seat vacated by former state Rep. Courtney Neron, a Democrat, who was appointed in early May to the Oregon Senate after the death of state Sen. Aaron Woods, also a Democrat, who represented the three counties.
Oregon law requires county commissioners within a legislative district boundary to appoint a new representative within 30 days of an unexpected vacancy. The appointee must be from the same political party as the outgoing legislator.
Rieke Smith's appointment to represent the more than 70,000 Oregonians in the district of mostly non affiliated voters lasts until January 2027, but she has the option of running for the seat in 2026 for a full two-year term.
'I'm a third-generation Oregonian, a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. I assure you that if I'm selected, this Oregonian is ready to go to work,' Rieke Smith told commissioners Friday in her opening remarks.
Prior to her appointment, she spent 25 years as a teacher, administrator and superintendent in public schools in Springfield and Tigard-Tualatin. She retired as superintendent of Tigard-Tualatin schools in 2024 after six years leading the district, among the largest in Oregon. The departure came amid growing strife over student behavior and tardiness.
Before working in education, Rieke Smith was a travel nurse and public health professional, working in intensive care units. She's a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, in Tacoma, Washington, and holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from the University of Oregon.
Rieke Smith was one of three candidates nominated by the Oregon Democratic Party. Other nominees included Chelsea King, executive director of the Wilsonville-based nonprofit Oregon Health and Education Collaborative, and Mary Pettenger, a professor of politics, policy and administration at Western Oregon University.
At the joint session of the county commissions, Rieke Smith answered questions about her positions on issues related to public education, senior citizens, civil liberties, housing, public safety and the justice system.
She expressed support for several bills currently being considered in the current legislative session. Among them was Senate Bill 974, which would hasten housing efforts and ease some residential development and land use regulations. In response to concerns about a bill lawmakers are considering that would extend unemployment benefits to striking workers, Senate Bill 916, Rieke Smith said she recognized workers' right to strike and acknowledged potential challenges the bill could pose, vowing to seek further information about the bill's fiscal impact.
'I will not be a flamethrower, I will not engage in name-calling or finger-pointing or demonizing at someone's position,' she said in her closing remarks at the Friday meeting. 'I will be intellectually curious and seek to understand and reach across the aisle to make better policy for all.'
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More arrests as LA extends curfews and other cities brace for protest, too
June 11 (UPI) -- The second night of curfew took place in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, as local law enforcement, backed by several thousand members of the National Guard, attempted to restrain violent protests and prevent vandalism. Meanwhile, a group of protesters were in a standoff with law enforcement officers outside a federal courthouse in Santa Ana, about 32 miles south of Los Angeles, in Orange County. Military-style vehicles and National Guards troops blocked a portion of a street in front of the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse and in front of a federal building a couple blocks away. And protests also are occurring in other major U.S. cities,, including New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. The downtown Los Angeles curfew will remain in effect between 8 a.m. and 6 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department's Central Division. Ramps onto and off the 101 freeway also will continue to be closed, police said. The curfew zone covers about 1 square mile and affects about 100,000 of Los Angeles' 10 million residents. Limited exceptions include law enforcement, emergency and medical personnel, residents, people traveling to and from work and credentialed news media representatives. The White House confirmed Wednesday that 330 people were taken into custody by federal authorities since immigration sweeps by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement began last week in Los Angeles. Mayor Karen Bass said the number of people arrested from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning was "minor." About 225 were made, including 203 for failure to disperse. One person was arrested after an assault of a police officer with a weapon. "If there are raids that continue, if there are soldiers marching up and down our street, I would imagine that the curfew will continue," the mayor said. During a news conference, Bass said she is trying to set up a call with President Donald Trump for him "to understand the significance of what is happening here." Court case The Trump administration is asking a federal judge to reject California's emergency court order request to limit how federal officials can use Marines and members of the state's National Guard in and around Los Angeles. The Guardsmen "are not performing law enforcement or any other functions," Army Maj. General Niave F. Knell said in a declaration submitted to federal court Wednesday. Justice Department lawyers responded to San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer on Wednesday seeking briefs. The 32-page filing notes that it is entirely within Trump's authority as commander-in-chief, and is not reviewable by the court. Federal law generally bars the military from enforcing domestic laws, but Trump invoked a provision to protect federal property and personnel when there is a "rebellion" or "danger of rebellion." The brief suggests that Gov. Gavin Newsom broke the law by failing to pass on Trump's order to activate the guard. They said he might be "unwilling" to put a stop to the violence. The judge, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, initially rejected an immediate order and has scheduled a hearing for Thursday. "The federal government is now turning the military against American citizens," Newsom said in a news release Tuesday announcing the lawsuit. "Sending trained warfighters onto the streets is unprecedented and threatens the very core of our democracy. "Donald Trump is behaving like a tyrant, not a President. We ask the court to immediately block these unlawful actions." 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Embattled DNC vice chair decides not to run after diversity re-vote called
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Democrats' Vice Chair Gets Ultimatum: Stay Neutral In Primaries Or Step Down From Party Leadership With Hogg's withdrawal, Kenyatta is now the only candidate for the male vice chair slot. The DNC's decision is the latest political blow to Hogg, who stirred up intraparty divisions this year for his $20 million pledge to primary-challenge older Democrats in safe blue districts he said are "asleep at the wheel" through his outside political action group, Leaders We Deserve. Read On The Fox News App "I came into this role to play a positive role in creating the change our party needs," Hogg wrote in a statement to the New York Times. "It is clear that there is a fundamental disagreement about the role of a Vice Chair — and it's OK to have disagreements. What isn't OK is allowing this to remain our focus when there is so much more we need to be focused on." "Ultimately, I have decided to not run in this upcoming election so the party can focus on what really matters," Hogg added. 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So it's really frustrating," But the criticism didn't stop Hogg from defying advice and wading into additional Democrat primaries by endorsing Virginia state Del. Irene Shin in the special election to replace the late Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va. Dnc Chair Ripped David Hogg Over Party Infighting In Leaked Meeting Audio: 'Really Frustrating' Martin affirmed the DNC would stay neutral in Democratic primaries following Hogg's multimillion-dollar announcement. And the DNC chair gave Hogg the ultimatum to either rescind his vice-chair position or forego his political influence through his PAC. "I commend David for his years of activism, organizing, and fighting for his generation, and while I continue to believe he is a powerful voice for this party, I respect his decision to step back from his post as Vice Chair," Martin said in a statement following Hogg's announcement he would not seek reelection as DNC vice chair. "I have no doubt that he will remain an important advocate for Democrats across the map. I appreciate his service as an officer, his hard work, and his dedication to the party." While DNC officials, past and present, said the vote to host vice chair re-elections had nothing to do with Hogg personally, the progressive Gan Z activist framed the DNC's vote as an expedited plan to remove him as vice chair. Hogg said Martin's newly proposed "neutrality pledge" was "trying to change the rules because I'm not currently breaking them." David Hogg Slams 'Fast-track' Effort To Oust Him As Dnc Vice Chair "While this vote was based on how the DNC conducted its officers' elections, which I had nothing to do with, it is also impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party which loomed large over this vote," Hogg said after the Credentials Committee voted to elevate Free's complaint before the full committee. Free submitted her complaint following the DNC's Feb. 1 officer elections, in which Hogg and Kenyatta were elected vice chairs. Free claimed the DNC's tabulation method violated the charter's provision and parliamentary procedure and "discriminated against three women of color candidates." Last month, the Credentials Committee found the vice-chair officer elections violated parliamentary procedure and voted to recommend the DNC conduct a new election for the two vice-chair positions. Now that the full DNC has called for a new vote, they will conduct a re-election from June 12-17. One vice-chair position may be filled by a male and one may be a candidate of any gender, according to the DNC. Only the candidates who were eligible for the third ballot during the Feb. 1 election qualify for the re-election, which includes Kenyatta, Free, Jeanna Repass and Shasti Conrad. Kenyatta is reportedly the only male. "This was never about Malcolm Kenyatta or David Hogg," Free told Fox News Digital after the Credentials Committee elevated her complaint. "For me, this was about ensuring that the Democratic Party lives up to our ideals as the only political party to believe in and stand up for election integrity and a free and fair democracy." But Kenyatta, who picked up the most votes during the Feb. 1 election, has criticized Hogg for playing "fast and loose with the facts without rebuttal." "Any story about this that neatly places this into a narrative about David Hogg is wrong," Kenyatta said of the re-election buzz. "I worked my a-- off to get this role and have done the job every day since I've held it. This story is complex, and I'm frustrated — but it's not about @davidhogg111. Even though he clearly wants it to be."Original article source: Embattled DNC vice chair decides not to run after diversity re-vote called
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Primaries topple at least two Assembly incumbents — and more could follow
Assembly candidate Katie Brennan celebrates with running mate Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, center, and Jersey City Councilman James Solmon after Brennan declared victory in the 32nd District's Assembly race on June 10, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Ben Ackman/Jersey City Times) At least two sitting members of the Assembly appear to have lost their reelection campaigns Tuesday, though it may take days yet to determine which lawmakers will see their tenures end in January. Democratic incumbents face defeat in the 28th and 31st districts, with the chance of another loss in the 32nd, according to election results that remain preliminary. So far, only one incumbent, Assemblywoman Garnett Hall (D-Essex), appears certain to lose her seat in the 28th District after a single term in office. Three Democrats vied for two spots on the November ballot in this largely Democratic district. Hall sought a second term under gubernatorial hopeful Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop's 'Democrats for Change' slogan after Essex County Democrats backed Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (D-Essex) and former assistant community affairs commissioner Chigozie Onyem over Hall. Hall trails Onyem by 3,563 votes, about 12 points, with nearly 98% of the 28th District's votes reported. The gap between Hall and the two candidates currently in the lead is insurmountable. In the Hudson County-based 31st District, four Democrats vied for two slots, with the incumbent Assembly members — William Sampson and Barbara McCann Stamato — running against one another on opposite slates. Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker, who ran with Sampson, appears certain to ascend to the Legislature, running in first place with 8,453 votes with about 96% of the district's votes counted. And Sampson narrowly leads McCann Stamato 7,161 to 6,853, with Bayonne Councilwoman Jacqueline Weimmer trailing the pack with 6,853 votes. 'We still have an election to go on in November, and we want to wipe Republicans out,' Walker said at a victory party Tuesday. 'And look, I'm happy to say this right here: Steven Fulop, you lost.' Walker and Sampson had the backing of the Hudson County Democratic Party. McCann Stamato and Weimmer ran under a ticket backed by Fulop. Whoever ends up in second place in this contest, one of the 31st District's incumbents won't return to Trenton next year. In the Hudson-based 32nd District, six Democrats vying for two seats were on Tuesday's ballot. Two candidates ran with the backing of Hudson's Democratic Party, two ran on Fulop's slate, and two ran solo. Former New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency chief of staff Katie Brennan leads the pack with 6,762 votes. Her running mate, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, has a narrow edge over Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-Hudson), leading Ramirez 6,535 to 6,462. 'We did it. We really did it. We just showed the whole state that the people can beat the party bosses,' Brennan said in a statement Tuesday night. 'This is what democracy looks like when it's not rigged by political machines.' The district also hosts what appears to be the roundest defeat of party-backed Assembly candidates in the state. The Associated Press has not declared a winner in that contest yet. Hoboken Public Library director Jennie Pu and Jersey City buildings director Crystal Fonseca — who were backed by Hudson Democrats — are in fifth and sixth place with 5,152 and 4,964 votes, respectively. Jersey City Councilman Yousef Saleh, who ran with Ramirez on Fulop's slate, is in fourth place with 5,165 votes. Pu, Fonseca, and Saleh face insurmountable gaps. In the 35th District, which represents parts of Bergen and Passaic counties, independent Democrat Newark Corporation Counsel Kenyatta Stewart appears to have won the nomination with 7,298 votes due to a groundswell of support in the Passaic County portions of the district. 'Thank you to every single person who showed up, supported, and believed in this movement,' Stewart said on Facebook. 'We did this together, and I am deeply humbled by your trust. Now it's time to get to work — and I promise to make you proud every step of the way.' He leads Assemblyman Al Abdelaziz (D-Passaic), who won 5,997 votes, and Passaic County Commissioner Orlando Cruz, who nabbed 5,736 votes. Romi Herrera, the district's only Fulop-backed candidate, has about half as many votes as Herrera and is well out of the running. Officials are still counting votes, and they'll continue to receive mail ballots postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day until Monday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
