Washington County, OR. — Washington County’s Board of Commissioners have adopted a resolution focused on the federal Executive Branch, placing the county government directly into a national political debate while simultaneously attempting to claim a nonpartisan position within the resolution.
In the resolution, the Washington County Board of Commissioners describes itself as “independently elected non-partisan officials” and states that it “exercises authority over matters of county concern.” At the same time, the measure directly engages national constitutional issues, asserting that the board has observed “the growing power of the Executive Branch of the federal government” and “frequent recent actions…that appear inconsistent with the ideas of the separation of powers, federalism, and the Rule of Law.”
The resolution further claims that core legal principles are “under great strain in 2026,” citing concerns including “due process of the law,” “freedom of speech,” and “respect for the powers of the Congress.” The Commissioners provide no examples or justification to support their reported concerns.
In doing so, the board moves beyond local governance and into national political and constitutional interpretation, while simultaneously attempting to ground its authority in local jurisdiction and nonpartisan identity.
The document also frames the county as having a broader advocacy role, stating it may “use its institutional voice to oppose unconstitutional actions that affect County residents.”
That framing is carried through to the resolution’s directives, which include declaring support for Congress “as a coequal partner” and backing Oregon’s congressional delegation “in its efforts to assert Congress’s Constitutional powers.”
The resolution ultimately commits the county to “advocating that all people…respect and support the Rule of Law at the local, state, and national levels.”
The result is a document that, on its face, pairs a stated focus on “matters of county concern” with explicit engagement in national political disputes over federal executive authority, congressional power, and constitutional interpretation.
The juxtaposition is notable: while the board highlights its nonpartisan status and its role in overseeing local matters, the resolution itself addresses federal policy and constitutional interpretation, areas far outside direct county jurisdiction.
County governments typically focus on services such as public safety, land use, and infrastructure. This resolution instead reflects engagement in national partisan political discourse, illustrating a tension between the board’s stated purpose, “matters of county concern”, and its decision to take a formal position on national issues.
The resolution goes further to state that it will be shared with Oregon’s congressional delegation, and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, extending the county’s involvement beyond local governance into the federal policy arena.
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