September 28, 2021 4:00 a.m.

Following their approval by the Oregon State Legislature on Monday, Governor Kate Brown has signed redistricting bills.

The legislation makes changes to the boundaries of Oregon House and Senate Districts, and redraws Congressional district boundaries as the state prepares to have a 6th member of the U.S. House of Representatives, beginning in 2022.

Brown thanked lawmakers for coming together to pass the bills. Brown said, “We do not always all agree, but when we find common ground, we can work together to do what is best for Oregon”.

Senate President Peter Courtney said legislators listened to Oregonians and “…passed maps that are fair and accurate”. Courtney said, “It was a bumpy road from start to finish but I think history will show we did a good job”.

While Republicans, who had initially denied quorum by not showing up after the special session was paused due to a COVID-19 case, did return on Monday, most were not happy with the result. House Leader Christine Drazen said, “These partisan maps are a wake-up call for Oregonians. They know Democrats had to cheat to get these maps across the floor”. Drazen said Democrats should be ashamed that “…they have gerrymandered Oregonians out of their shot at fair elections for the next decade”. She said the maps will not survive a legal challenge.

The legislature faced a Monday deadline to come to an agreement on the boundaries. Failure to do so would have sent the process of redrawing Congressional lines to a panel of judges, with Secretary of State Shemia Fagan tasked with drawing the maps for Oregon House and Senate districts.