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.

Australian authorities say Bondi Beach suspects with Islamic State flags not part of ‘terrorist cell’

Saudi Arabia strikes Mukalla port over ‘extremely dangerous’ actions by ally UAE

Minnesota Dem Senate candidate faces call from opponent to apologize over viral ‘pandering’ hijab video

Corporate Media Outlets Turning a Blind Eye to Minnesota Fraud Involving Somalis

Minnesota State-Licensed ‘Day Care’ Has Listed Number Taking You To Tim Walz’s Office

Fetterman endorses prospect of potential future strikes to derail any Iranian nuclear ambitions

Armed Americans fight back: Inside 2025’s most gripping self-defense shootings across the US

2025 Most Memorable Heartwarming Moments: December 30, 2025

Trump’s latest funding cuts dampen bipartisan dealmaking in 2026

Trump’s Top 10 Campaign Promises Fulfilled in First Year

Texas antifa terrorism case: Confessions mount as Trump DOJ clinches more convictions

Walz allies led state agencies that oversaw massive alleged Somali daycare fraud

Eric Adams says Biden DOJ used ‘lawfare’ against him, compares treatment to Trump

State officials and daycare manager push back on viral video fraud allegations in Minnesota

Unearthed surveillance exposes how parents were allegedly involved in Minnesota’s daycare fraud scheme

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.”