Oregon — Momentum behind the referendum to overturn Oregon’s new $4.3 billion transportation tax package continues to accelerate, with organizers reporting an unexpectedly fast surge in participation across the state.
On Monday, Rep. Ed Diehl—one of the referendum’s chief petitioners—announced that more than 43,000 signatures had been collected in just three days, even as several counties had yet to report their totals. “That number doesn’t even include all areas,” Diehl said, noting that rural collection points and late-weekend events were still submitting counts. Organizers say the early surge reflects intense public interest following the Legislature’s passage of the tax package and Gov. Tina Kotek’s signing of the bill. As of Tuesday the 18th the No Tax Oregon website showed signing locations in over 20 counties.
The referendum effort seeks to halt a suite of revenue increases including a six-cent gas tax hike, higher title and registration fees, and added statewide payroll tax for transit services. The Governor reportedly signed the bill last Friday but did not publicly announce the signing until Monday, compressing the timeline opponents have to gather enough valid signatures for the referendum to make it onto the ballot.
Since petition sheets became available late Wednesday afternoon, volunteer signing events have rapidly expanded from the Willamette Valley to Southern Oregon and the Columbia Basin. “We just received approval to PRINT sheets Wednesday at 5 pm,” Diehl told supporters. “Orders went statewide on Thursday, with many counties receiving their copies same day and gathering signatures that morning.”
Diehl emphasized previously that the movement launched ahead of schedule: “We are rapidly deploying AHEAD of our plan to take advantage of this time” said Diehl following the initial launch last week. As more shipments arrive in rural counties, organizers are adding signing tables at small businesses, granges, farmers’ markets, and community hubs.
The referendum has also gained notable political backing. Republican gubernatorial candidates Danielle Bethell and Christine Drazan have both publicly supported the effort, encouraging voters to sign and calling the tax package unaffordable for working Oregonians. Their involvement is helping amplify the campaign’s visibility as signature events multiply across the state.
Gov. Kotek has defended the tax increase, telling KVAL News the revenue is needed “to keep state highways and local roads safe and open to traffic while preserving transit service and halting the pending layoffs of essential transportation staff.” Critics argue the signing delay reduced transparency and shortened the public’s ability to respond. OPB previously reported that “the delay in signing the bill limits opponents’ ability to pursue a referendum.”
Volunteers report lines of signers at early events from Clackamas County to Klamath Falls. Organizers say updated locations will continue rolling out across social media channels and at NoTaxOR.com as additional petition sheets arrive.
Signatures must be submitted and verified by Dec. 30 for the measure to appear on the November 2026 statewide ballot.
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