Six people and organizations earned positive scores for actions that improved government accountability, environmental restoration, public infrastructure, and fiscal responsibility.
The Klamath Drainage District and Yurok Tribe advanced plans to restore wetlands along the Klamath River. Two Oregon judges moved accountability efforts forward, one ordering ICE to release arrest records and another allowing Multnomah County's $51 billion climate lawsuit against oil companies to proceed.
Oregon voters approved 8 of 9 school funding measures, authorizing more than $1 billion, along with 13 of 16 fire and emergency services measures. Portland voters also rejected a proposal to set aside 2% of the city's discretionary budget for participatory budgeting.
Weekly Scoring Table
| Rank | Leader / Organization | This Week | Overall | Articles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon Voters | +2 | +2 | 1 |
| 2 | Klamath Drainage District | +1 | +1 | 1 |
| 2 | Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Adele Ridenour | +1 | +1 | 1 |
| 2 | Portland Voters | +1 | +1 | 1 |
| 2 | U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai | +1 | +1 | 1 |
| 2 | Yurok Tribe | +1 | +1 | 1 |
Articles Scored This Week
A plan to reconnect the Klamath River with wetlands clears a design milestone
Date: November 2, 2026
Leader / Organization: Klamath Drainage District; Yurok Tribe
Score: +1
Score Headline: Klamath Wetland Restoration completes first design phase. Found five ways to restore wetlands drained for farming over a 100 years ago.
Score Explanation: More than 100 years ago, wetlands in southern Oregon were drained to create farmland. Now, farmers and Native American tribes are working together to bring some of that water back.
The Klamath Drainage District and Yurok Tribe have completed the first engineering design phase of a project to reconnect the Klamath River with the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.
Engineers developed five possible designs to restore water flows between the river and wetlands, creating habitat for migratory birds and fish while protecting nearby farmland.
The project could eventually restore thousands of acres of wetlands. In 2021, the refuge went completely dry, leaving migratory birds without critical habitat.
The partners will choose a design and spend approximately two years developing more detailed plans. That next phase is estimated to cost $3 million, with about $900,000 secured so far.
Farmers, tribes, and wildlife agencies are collaborating on a long-term solution to restore wetlands while keeping agricultural land productive. The first engineering milestone is complete, but construction and restoration are still ahead.
Ice Officer Lied Oregon Arrest Report Federal Judge Order
Date: November 2, 2026
Leader / Organization: U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai
Score: +1
Score Headline: Judge finds ICE officer lied in arrest report, orders release of bodycam footage
Score Explanation: A federal judge in Oregon found that ICE violated his court order restricting warrantless arrests and that an ICE officer deliberately lied in an official arrest report to make an arrest appear lawful.
In February 2026, Judge Mustafa Kasubhai ordered ICE to stop making warrantless arrests unless officers had reason to believe someone was likely to flee.
But ICE continued making arrests without meeting those requirements.
In one case, an ICE officer admitted under oath that he falsely claimed to have known a person's immigration status before stopping them. The judge concluded the officer had deliberately fabricated information to make the arrest appear lawful.
The judge also found: ICE conducted significantly more than the 13 warrantless arrests it had reported between February and August 2026. Arrest reports contained incorrect locations and nearly identical language copied across different cases. ICE failed to properly document arrests and comply with the court's earlier order. The misconduct raised questions about the reliability of other ICE arrest reports in Oregon.
On November 2, Judge Kasubhai ordered ICE to turn over additional arrest records and body-camera footage from arrests conducted on or after September 1, 2026.
Portland ‘participatory budget’ ballot measure failing in early returns
Date: November 3, 2026
Leader / Organization: Portland Voters
Score: +1
Score Headline: Rejected plan to let residents decide how 2% of city budget is spent
Score Explanation: Portland voters rejected Measure 26-267 in the November 3 election, which would have required the city to set aside 2% of its discretionary budget for participatory budgeting.
Under the proposal, residents would help decide how that money was spent through a public process rather than leaving those decisions entirely to elected officials.
Supporters argued it would give residents more influence over city spending. Opponents raised concerns about costs, implementation, and limiting the city's budget flexibility.
Oregon Judge Allows Multnomah County Climate Lawsuit Against Fossil Fuel Giants To Advance
Date: November 4, 2026
Leader / Organization: Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Adele Ridenour
Score: +1
Score Headline: Allows climate deception lawsuit against oil companies to proceed
Score Explanation: Multnomah County's $51 billion climate lawsuit against some of the world's largest oil companies is moving forward.
The county sued ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, and others in 2023, alleging they spent decades misleading the public about the dangers of fossil fuels and contributed to disasters like Oregon's deadly 2021 heat dome.
The companies tried to get the lawsuit dismissed, arguing that Oregon courts lacked the authority to hear the case.
On November 2, Judge Adele J. Ridenour rejected 20 of 21 dismissal motions, allowing the case to proceed toward trial.
Oregon Voters On Tuesday Passed Most Local Fire School Funding Proposals
Date: November 5, 2026
Leader / Organization: Oregon Voters
Score: +1
Score Headline: Pass 8 of 9 School Funding Measures. Over $1 Billion funded.
Leader / Organization: Oregon Voters
Score: +1
Score Headline: Pass 13 of 16 Fire and Emergency Services funding measures
Score Explanation: Oregon voters approved 8 of 9 school funding measures in the November 3 election, authorizing more than $1 billion for public education.
Here's what passed:
Hillsboro: $430 million bond for school repairs, safety upgrades, and career education facilities. North Clackamas: $245 million bond for school improvements and modernization. Reynolds: $162.5 million bond to replace an aging elementary school and improve facilities. Silver Falls: $87 million bond to replace Silverton Middle School and build a new K–8 school. Gladstone: $55.3 million bond for school repairs and safety improvements. Glide: $16.5 million bond for classrooms and new school facilities. Grants Pass: $10.9 million bond for repairs and renovations across district schools. Corvallis: Renewed a five-year operating levy expected to raise $62 million to support school staffing.
The approved bonds also qualify districts for additional state matching funds.
