Oregon Ranchers Back GOP Despite Tariff Pain

Oregon voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, but some cattle ranchers outside metro areas have already decided they will keep voting for the Republican Party. This choice comes despite economic pressure from the current administration's tariff policies.

The tension between rural livelihoods and party loyalty is visible on a 160-acre farm outside Hines, Oregon. Katie Baltzor owns the land and operates a cattle business that has faced multiple setbacks this year. She recently lost a $5,000 Angus bull to a wildfire this summer.

Baltzor's operation has struggled with drought, wildfire damage, and rising diesel prices. These factors have made the current farming season difficult for her and other producers in the region.

The Trump administration announced a trade deal in August to import beef from Argentina and other countries at reduced tariffs. The goal was to lower costs for consumers. However, the move also reduced the value of U.S. beef by nearly a dollar.

Baltzor said she will still cast her ballot for a Republican in November. She cited her view that the Democratic Party has shifted too far to the left.

I don't like how liberal some of the candidates are becoming in the Democrat party, Baltzor said. I think the Democrat party has really shifted from the way it used to be. I don't think it's like Bill Clinton or Obama.

The election results will provide a snapshot of how these economic trade-offs influence voting behavior in rural Oregon. The outcome will also inform the balance of power in state and federal offices.

Clocks will fall back one hour at 2 a.m. on Saturday. This change marks the end of Daylight Saving Time. Residents in Oregon and Washington will gain an hour of sleep, while British Columbia will remain one hour ahead.

The Portland City Council sent a letter to the Portland Public Schools district on Friday. All 12 councilors signed the document. They asked the district to pause and revise its timeline for final school closure decisions until it shares more specifics and hears from community members.