Oregon Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama will not seek another term leading the Democratic caucus. The decision opens a leadership vacancy at the top of the chamber weeks before lawmakers convene in Salem for a long legislative session.

Jama, a Portland Democrat who represents portions of East Portland, Damascus and Boring, told colleagues on Thursday, Oct. 8, that he would step aside from the leadership role, according to a Senate Democrats press release. He plans to remain in the Senate, where he is running unopposed for a four-year term.

His office declined to say what prompted the decision, The Oregonian reported.

The 18-member Senate Democratic caucus will elect its next leadership team on Friday, Nov. 13. No senator had publicly expressed interest in replacing Jama as of Oct. 8, The Oregonian reported.

No successor has emerged.

The timing matters for Salem. The Oregon Legislature is scheduled to open its odd-year regular session on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2027, at the Capitol. Whoever leads Senate Democrats will steer the caucus agenda on housing, affordability and the state budget. Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, told Street Roots that affordability will be a defining issue of the 2027 session.

Jama made history as the first Muslim and first former refugee to serve as Oregon Senate majority leader. Democrats elected him to the post in November 2024. He was first appointed to the Senate in January 2021 and won election in November 2022.

In an Oct. 8 statement, Jama said he would focus on fair pay and workplace protections for vulnerable workers through his own legislative work.

Senate President Rob Wagner, a Lake Oswego Democrat, said in a separate statement that day that Jama led the caucus "with compassion, dignity and respect, bringing his remarkable life story and experiences to his leadership style."

During Jama's two years as leader, the caucus pointed to passage of the POWER Act in 2025, which requires data centers to pay higher utility rates, and an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that the press release said benefits more than 200,000 working families. Democrats also cited protecting more than $300 million in state revenue during the 2026 session.

Democrats hold an 18-12 supermajority in the Senate heading into the November election.

The Nov. 13 caucus vote will determine who leads Senate Democrats into the 2027 session.