In partisan terms, you can call the latest Oregon legislative announcements as more or less a wash.
The least surprising was Senator Rick Metsger's statement that he won't run for governor, but would seek to stay in the Senate. Metsger would have been a long-shot, especially with his late announcement of interest and the pleentitude of other possible Democratic contenders. Democratic strategists concerned about maintaining control of the Senate probably felt a bit better, since Metsger would be in good shape for re-election. He won last time with 54% in a rural district consisting mostly of Clackamas, but also Democratic-trending Hood River County.
On the other hand, what may be protended if Willamette Week is correct and Representative Mark Hass opts out?
Hass, considered a Democratic moderate, represents a small slice of Multnomah County but mainly Washington County, near Beaverton - an area of considerable civic turnoil right now. The area has been trending Democratic, even strongly Democratic (Hass landslid in 2004 with about 65% and was unopposed for re-election in 2002).
But it is in turnoil, and transition in the legislative ranks - and an open seat in the middle of it all - logically would suggest opportunity to Republicans. And remember: Washington County is, right now, the pivot of Oregon politics.
Some Idahoans probably were surprised, though, this afternoon when Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch said that he would run in 2006, not for governor as many had anticipated,