Reposted by Kari ChisholmThe Downballot @the-downballot.com · 27/08/2026On The Downballot podcast this week, we're conducting a fantasy football-style "Senate flip" draft! @dwbeard.bsky.social & guest host @karichisholm.bsky.social take turns "drafting" races in the order they think they'll flip, and they craft a *very* deep roster. Listen to our round robin here!the-downballot.comThe Downballot’s ‘Senate flip’ fantasy draftListen now | Plus, Trump’s favorites narrowly win runoffs in Oklahoma and South Carolina 3155
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/07/2026Whatever happens, we need Dr. Annie Andrews to win in November. Chip in now! secure.actblue.com/donate/andre...secure.actblue.comSupport Dr. Annie Andrews, a Democrat in South CarolinaShow your support with a contribution. 000
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/07/2026He’ll only pick a caretaker if he’s also working to clear the field and his preferred candidate doesn’t want the downsides of casting votes before the election. If he’s going to run himself, he almost certainly picks a caretaker; since the optics of appointing yourself are not good. 110
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/07/2026My bet? McMaster and the GOP will want to avoid a competitive, expensive primary. He will appoint someone who can clear the field — a billionaire or a Member of Congress. 100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/07/2026So there will be strong interest from the party to have a nominee that can self-fund, already has federal campaign funds in the bank, or has the ability to raise it fast. 100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/07/2026The money in Graham’s campaign account cannot be transferred to the replacement nominee. That person will be starting from zero (unless it’s someone who already has a federal committee). 100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/07/2026Gov. McMaster can appoint someone now, but he doesn’t have to. He could appoint someone now who will run, hoping to avoid a competitive primary. He could appoint a caretaker who promises not to run, guaranteeing a competitive primary. He could wait until the primary is over and appoint the winner. 100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/07/2026The NOMINATION for the November election is filled by a snap Republican primary election. Filing will open on July 21. Filing will close on July 28. The primary election will be on Aug 11. If no one gets 50%, top two will runoff on Aug 25. The winner will face Dr. Annie Andrews (D) in November. 100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/07/2026No requirement that it’s a Republican (though likely since he is). He could even appoint himself. The appointee instantly becomes a Senator; no election, no confirmation, just an oath of office. They serve until January. 100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/07/2026The CURRENT seat gets filled immediately by Gov. Henry McMaster. He can appoint anyone he wants, as long they are a South Carolina resident, a US citizen (for nine years), and over 30.  100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/07/2026Most folks are missing the point. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s deaths creates TWO vacancies: 1) His current Senate seat that expires in January, and 2) his GOP nomination for this November’s election for a fresh six-year term that starts in January. Here’s how they’re each filled… 100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 11/03/2026Love it! So helpful. One flag — Anessa Hartman did not file for Clackamas County, citing her health. Best wishes to her and hoping for a speedy recovery. 100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 28/08/2025Oregon needs statewide tax reform. Which leads to the question: What’s a major tax reform proposal that you think would start at 55% or better before the opposition messaging starts? (Spoiler: no one has found one yet…) 000
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 28/08/2025The first city? I think you’re talking about Seattle. And yeah, the money printer is in full effect. 000
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 07/08/2025Terry, you should review the rules again. See FAQ item #2. www.oregon.gov/ogec/Public-...oregon.gov Oregon Government Ethics Commission : Serial Communications FAQ : Public Meetings Law : State of Oregon 120
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 11/03/2025It’s more that land use decisions are based on land use law. They’re not legislative decisions where policymakers can consider whatever factors they want. If you want a different outcome, you have to change state land use law. 120
Reposted by Kari ChisholmNicole Tersigni @nicsigni.bsky.social · 05/03/2025you’re fired. wait you’re rehired. email us a list of things you’ve done today wait forget it you’re fired again. come back your job was important. you’re fired. or hired. come in to the office. wait the office has no computers go home. we are the department of government efficiency. 15249606726494
Reposted by Kari ChisholmMike Gehrke @mikegehrke.bsky.social · 01/03/2025Practically none of the 18 zillion people on here who blame the DNC for things it has no control over are angry about it screwing up one of the few things it does. Come on morons, get angry, this is your time to shine! www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...nytimes.comThe Democratic Party Reconsiders a Huge, Vulnerable Database of Voter Information (Gift Article)The party’s storehouse of everything it knows about American voters required an extraordinary intervention to keep it running, people involved said. A meltdown could have crippled its campaigns nation... 0164
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 01/03/2025Makes me crazy when they talk about legislation and refuse to mention the bill number they’re talking about. 010
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 01/03/2025I have been under the impression that the data is owned and controlled by the DNC, while NGP VAN is the user interface to access it; and there are other interfaces accessing the same data. Is that not true? 140
Reposted by Kari ChisholmStephanie Kennedy @wordswithsteph.bsky.social · 01/03/2025As of today, a new term has entered our language. A “rubio” is a spineless lump of nothing. Example: Don’t be such a rubio. 30586735514392
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 28/02/2025I guess? That’s a 100% factual statement. And I’m proud to be working to activate Portland’s nightlife and bring this city back from the brink. Would love to chat more over coffee. 100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 28/02/2025Mostly because there aren’t any flat-floor rock venues bigger than Crystal Ballroom (1500) and smaller than Moda’s Theater of the Clouds (6000). Any act that draws 2000-3000 skips Portland. Thankfully, that’s getting fixed in about 2 yrs with the construction of the new Water St rock hall. 100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 26/02/2025So… we raised the price of a thing, and thus, the buyers of that thing bought less of it. This seems entirely expected. To be clear: I support higher wages and lower overtime thresholds to push employers toward more reasonable schedules. But yeah, fewer hours per worker will result. Is this good? 000
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 26/02/2025Isn’t price fixing already illegal? www.kgw.com/article/mone...kgw.comRealPage lawsuit expands to include one of Portland's largest landlordsOregon is one of 10 states joining in the lawsuit, which now names property management firms like Greystar Real Estate and Cushman & Wakefield. 110
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 18/02/2025Yeah, probably. Though I can understand places like Leavenworth, WA and Sisters, OR where the economy is built on maintaining a particular visual style. But otherwise, yes, very dumb. 000
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 18/02/2025Outside of historic or cultural districts, design review is dumb. Create clear rules (like setbacks and parking) and then let builders build. If they want to paint it pink, let that happen! More housing, faster. No more delays! 120
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 17/02/2025I mean, publishing every American’s taxable income would be a good thing! Let’s have National Jealousy Day, like Finland! www.weforum.org/stories/2018...weforum.orgFinland recently published everyone's taxes on 'National Jealousy Day'Finland’s Tax Administration publishes its residents’ taxable income on 1 November each year. It’s all in the name of transparency and equality, but it is worth it? 030
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 17/02/2025I assume it’s because they don’t own the property. 220
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 16/02/2025Great story about Portland’s new mayor, Ted Lasso, er, Keith Wilson by @shanedkavanaugh.bsky.social www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...oregonlive.com‘Real Ted Lasso vibes’: Inside Portland Mayor Keith Wilson’s first days at City HallWilson, 61, is the first mayor to seize the reins at a radically transformed Portland City Hall, where he is both the figurehead and cheerleader of Oregon’s most populous city and a steward of its vas... 140
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 15/02/2025Checking in from Portland. How many housing units will this measure produce? 000
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 14/02/2025Minneapolis and St. Paul are a beautiful natural experiment in housing policy. Two choices. Two very different outcomes. Sadly, Portland is on the St. Paul track. 121
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 14/02/2025The single best thing we can do to reduce climate impact is to RAPIDLY scale up infill housing production to reduce commutes. Novick knows it and has made this argument before. Now, how do we clear the barriers and incentivize massive private investment in housing? 000
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/02/2025I’m not saying we shouldn’t do it. I’m saying we’re thinking too small. This is not a $50 million problem. It’s a $5 billion problem. Every year. 010
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/02/2025My concern is that the public might think that the problem is solved. “Yay, we voted! All done!” and then when not much housing is built, and rents keep climbing, they get frustrated. And again, it solves about 1% of the problem. We need ~15k units PER YEAR in Portland, 36k statewide. 100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/02/2025In Portland, it would solve about 1% of the problem. So yeah, it’s nice. But not if it undermines public support for actually taking the big steps required to have a meaningful impact. 100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/02/2025Not an either/or! It’s nice. But this would not even begin to make a dent in the thousands of housing units we need in Portland. I mean, one ten-story apartment building is about $100 million. 100
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 12/02/2025Cool, fine, whatever. But it’s effectively meaningless. $50 million a year for land acquisition and construction will come out to less than 150 housing units a year. We can’t public-housing our way out of this mess. We have to unlock private investment in housing. 200
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 10/02/2025Some very important lessons for anyone that actually wants government to help people.nytimes.comOpinion | This Is How Democrats Can Counter Elon Musk (Gift Article)Recklessness will not get us to a revitalized government, but neither will excessive caution and addiction to procedure. 140
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 27/01/2025Yes. We must get prepared to temporarily suspend many of our permitting requirements (as Newsom did after the wildfires) so that we can RAPIDLY scale housing for immigrants fleeing here for safety. We can’t public-housing our way there, so unlock private investment … and FAST. 110
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 19/01/2025Um, South Waterfront is full of people now. 4142 residents as of the 2020 census. 020
Kari Chisholm @karichisholm.bsky.social · 19/01/2025Yeah, that’s basically right. We can’t public-housing our way out of the problem. Kotek says we need 35,000 units a year. At $300,000/unit, that’s $10.5 billion a year. We got nowhere near that kind of public money. So the question is: how do we create market conditions to drive private investment? 110
