Oregon Senate Session Canceled After Militia Threat

Senate floor sessions were planned for this weekend, but Saturday’s session was canceled after militia groups threatened to show up at the Capitol in Salem, state Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward tweeted Friday evening.

Oregon State Police confirmed to KATU that Saturday’s session was called off. The Associated Press reported a spokeswoman for Senate President Peter Courtney said state police recommended the Capitol be closed Saturday.

For the last two days, Senate Republicans have staged a walkout in protest over a controversial cap and trade bill Democrats say is needed to curb human-caused climate change. The walkout has denied the Senate a quorum.

In her tweet, Steiner Hayward, a Democrat, attached a text message informing members to stay clear of the Capitol.

After media began reporting on her tweet, Steiner Hayward deleted it. But before she did, KATU News had grabbed a screen capture of it.

Before this week’s walkout, rhetoric became heated and Republican state Sen. Brian Boquist made threatening remarks toward other lawmakers and OSP troopers as Gov. Kate Brown and Senate Democrats considered calling in state police to bring missing senators back into the Senate chamber.

Turkey accuses Netanyahu of pursuing ‘expansionist’ policies after Israeli strike on Syrian airbase

California special interest groups follow Newsom into early 2028 primary states

Hegseth’s growing campaign role sparks talk of political future

‘How Weak Are You?’: Watch as Vet Who Lost Both Legs in Afghanistan Shreds Sailors Whining About Food on USS Abraham Lincoln

Minnesota prosecutor accused of billing Medicaid from commercial sex house she turned into assisted-living facility

Socialists capture major Florida victory on hit-or-miss night for Trump-endorsed primary candidates

Inside the tension that drove Trump’s South Korea alliance from ‘historic new era’ to military pullback

State of play: What to know about California showdown to replace Swalwell after massive scandal

Former state rep tops ranked-choice slugfest as Alaska advances nominees for governor

Alaskan political scion hopes to hold onto state’s single House seat

America’s reddest state crowns GOP governor nominee

Democrats pick their fighter for uphill bid to flip deep-red Senate seat

69 live animals found stuffed in pillowcases in hidden car compartment after border arrest: Feds

Prosecutors hammer Tyler Robinson’s bid to derail death penalty in Charlie Kirk murder case

Maryland rocked by third beaver attack in weeks after 2 animals test positive for rabies

Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek, both Democrats, issued a joint statement Friday afternoon condemning Boquist’s remarks.

“We strongly condemn the comments made this week in the Oregon State Capitol by Senator Brian Boquist threatening lawmakers and Oregon State Police troopers. Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day in the name of protecting Oregonians and should never be subject to these kinds of threats, let alone from a public official. His comments have created fear among employees in our workplace. We will always defend free speech and welcome frank policy discussions, but threats like these are unacceptable.”

When Republicans began their walk out Thursday, Brown called in state troopers to find the senators and bring them back to the Senate, but most have reportedly left the state.

Shortly after it was announced the Senate had canceled its Saturday session, the Oregon Republican Party tweeted the Democrats had canceled the session because of a “fear that Republican voters may show up.”