Oregon Republicans Sue Over Gas Tax Vote Change

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr criticizes Democrats for moving vote to May from November

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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A second lawsuit has been filed by Oregon Republicans over Democrats' push to move the date of a vote on a proposed gas tax increase from November to May. Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, slammed Governor Tina Kotek and Democrats, saying that once 250,000 Oregonians signed a petition referring the tax to the November ballot, they "deserve their day in court".

Why it matters

This legal battle over the timing of the gas tax vote reflects the ongoing partisan tensions in Oregon politics, with Republicans accusing Democrats of trying to manipulate the process to their advantage. The outcome could have significant implications for how the state raises revenue for transportation projects.

The details

The lawsuit alleges that Democrats violated state law by moving the vote on the gas tax increase from the November general election to the May primary election. Republicans argue this was done to suppress voter turnout and make it harder for the public to weigh in on the measure.

  • The original vote on the gas tax increase was scheduled for the November 2026 general election.
  • In early 2026, Democrats pushed to move the vote to the May 2026 primary election.

The players

Bruce Starr

The Republican Senate Minority Leader from Dundee, Oregon who is leading the legal challenge against the vote change.

Tina Kotek

The Democratic Governor of Oregon who supported moving the gas tax vote to May.

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What they’re saying

“Once 250,000 Oregonians signed the petition referring Tina Kotek's costly taxes to the November ballot, they took control of this measure and deserve their day in court.”

— Bruce Starr, Senate Minority Leader

What’s next

The judge will rule on the lawsuit in the coming weeks, which could determine whether the gas tax vote remains in May or is moved back to November as originally planned.

The takeaway

This dispute over the timing of the gas tax vote highlights the partisan divide in Oregon politics, with Republicans accusing Democrats of trying to manipulate the process. The outcome could have significant implications for transportation funding in the state.