‘OPB Politics Now’: Exit interview with Earl Blumenauer

Earl Blumenauer is one of the longest-serving elected officials in Oregon history — if not the longest. He first won election to the Oregon House of Representatives in his early 20s, and over the course of five decades went on to serve on the Multnomah County Commission, Portland City Council and, most famously, for nearly 30 years representing Portland in Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District.

In that time, Blumenauer has stood out for any number of reasons: his bow tie, his enthusiasm for bicycles, and his passion for cannabis legalization to name a few. But now he’s saying goodbye to public office, and looking forward to a role helping his hometown find its feet. Blumenauer came into OPB on December 13 to chat with reporter Dirk VanderHart. They chatted about Blumenauer’s career, his take on national politics, and what comes next. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts. And if you have a question for the OPB Politics Now team as we head into 2025, shoot us an email at opbpoliticsnow@opb.org.