The potential challengers include House Majority Leader Ben Bowman of Tigard, staten of Portland, and state Rep. Thủy Trần of Portland. None have publicly declared their intentions, but word of the looming contest is widespread among House Democrats.

“I did not see this coming,” said state Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland, who has spoken with two of the aspirants and said he is leaning toward backing Fahey. “I think it’s going to be really hard this session. I want someone who’s been battle tested.”

Democrats are poised to control 39 of the House’s 60 seats, making the party’s nominee all but certain to become speaker in January. The speaker holds enormous power in Oregon, deciding which bills advance and assigning lawmakers to committees.

Fahey, a Eugene Democrat who has led the House since 2024, has weathered a series of political storms. During the 2025 session, she was criticized for the botched rollout of a transportation funding bill that ultimately failed. Weeks later, she raised eyebrows by apparently miscalculating how many Republicans would show up for a special session on the issue, causing an unanticipated delay.

More recently, Fahey faced backlash over her handling of an altercation between Trần and state Rep. Jason Kropf, D-Bend, in which Kropf paused a committee meeting to privately pressure Trần into changing a vote. Trần later said Kropf created a hostile work environment, and some lawmakers—including members of the chamber’s BIPOC caucus—were frustrated by what they saw as Fahey siding with Kropf.

By the end of this year’s month-long session, some party members discussed circulating a public letter expressing a lack of confidence in the speaker, though the idea was ultimately scrapped. House Democrats met with a mediator over the summer to address internal divisions, but those tensions appear to persist.

Some say the party’s strong electoral showing has only fueled the desire for new leadership. The lopsided results are seen by some as a rejection of President Donald Trump rather than an embrace of Democrats’ brand.

“There’s a lot of energy in the party, but we are not naive,” said state Rep. Emerson Levy, D-Bend, who emphasized she was not advocating Fahey’s ouster. “We need to be serious and focused in building an agenda that answers the question: ‘What are we going to do with this moment?’”

Fahey said in a statement Monday that she is the best person to chart a course forward, while acknowledging the internal challengers.

“This is democracy in action,” the statement said. “Oregon voters had their say and returned clear Democratic majorities to the Oregon legislature. Now, legislators must decide which leaders are best positioned to capitalize on this historic opportunity to improve the lives of Oregonians, and these elections are a part of that process.”

Fahey may be the only legislative leader facing a serious challenge this year. The Capitol’s two top Republicans—House Minority Leader Lucetta Elmer of McMinnville and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr of Dundee—told reporters they do not expect fights for their roles, even as Republicans are likely to lose ground in both chambers. It was not clear Monday whether Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, would face a challenge.

The leadership vote comes as lawmakers prepare for next year’s six-month legislative session, where Democrats will have expanded power but also heightened expectations from voters.