Christina Stephenson, Oregon's labor and industries commissioner since January 2023, is running for reelection in the nonpartisan race on the Nov. 3, 2026, general election ballot.
Stephenson said she has focused on reducing case backlogs and recovering wages for workers during her first term leading the Bureau of Labor and Industries. The statewide office oversees wage and hour enforcement, civil rights investigations and apprenticeship programs.
Candidate information
Office sought: Oregon Labor and Industries Commissioner
Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
Ballot status: Certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data
Education: Bachelor's degree in international studies, American University, 2005; juris doctor, University of Oregon, 2009
Legal career: In-house counsel at Beacon Mortgage, 2012–2013; associate attorney at Mitra Law Group, 2013–2014; founding member of Stephenson Law LLC, 2014–2018; partner at Meyer Stephenson, 2018–present
Endorsements, as claimed by the endorsing organizations: The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board, Oregon Working Families Party, Oregon Nurses Association, Oregon Education Association, LiUNA! Oregon and Southern Idaho District Council, Deschutes County Democrats and Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters.
On the issues
Wage recovery and enforcement: On her campaign website, Stephenson said she would work to fully enforce workplace rights enacted by the legislature. She listed fair scheduling, enforcement of health and safety laws and expanded workplace fairness rights as priorities.
Backlog reduction: Stephenson said she secured the largest staffing investment in the bureau's history with 46 new positions, according to Street Roots. She said the wage and hour intake backlog is down 20% and the civil rights intake backlog is down 38%. Her stated goals are to have the civil rights backlog current by mid-2026, wage and hour intake current by mid-2027 and investigations current by mid-2029.
Paid family leave: Stephenson said on her campaign website that she was a leader in the effort to bring paid family and medical leave insurance to Oregon. She said the program gives workers time to take care of themselves and their families.
Environment: Stephenson said on her campaign website that she would work to align the bureau's actions with Oregon's climate goals. She listed reducing waste, making climate-sensitive procurement decisions and investing in sustainable infrastructure as steps she would pursue.
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
