Guest Contributor: Ali King

Many people have asked where I’m concentrating my energy as we get closer to the midterms. And the answer is — right here in Oregon, actually. We have three very important U.S House races that could determine whether or not Dems maintain control of the House. And we also have important county, city, and state races.

Here’s a breakdown of where I am going to spend my time and money (note that these are my personal opinions and not work-related):

OREGON STATE GOVERNOR, Tina Kotek (D), Betsy Johnson (I, but pretty much R), Christine Drazan (R)

I’m supporting Tina Kotek for Oregon for the following reasons:
Tina is an experienced advocate and leader. Her experience working at nonprofits on behalf of Oregon’s most vulnerable led her to run for public office and serve in the Oregon Legislature. In her first term, she rewrote the state’s poverty program for low-income families while also playing a key role in making historic progress for the LGBTQ+ community by passing statewide protections and access to benefits. In 2013 she was elected to be the Speaker of the House. In nearly a decade leading the Oregon House, she helped expand economic security for more families by raising the minimum wage and passing paid family leave and combat climate change by putting Oregon on a path to 100% clean electricity. She is dedicated to fighting for Oregonians and will be a strong governor.

Betsy Johnson is basically a Republican claiming to be an Independent and Christine Drazen is anti-choice, pro-guns, and is owned by big Pharma. She wants to “restore the rule of law” and her views are solidly aligned with those of the current Republican Party. With reproductive freedom in the hands of the states, we can’t let either of them win this election. I can’t even fathom it.

Donate to Tina: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tinafororegon
Volunteer with Tina: https://www.tinafororegon.com/get-involved/

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 4, Val Hoyle (D) vs Alek Skarlatos (R)

I’m supporting Val Hoyle for Congress for the following reasons:

Val’s record of standing up for Oregon’s hardworking families and small businesses stems from a lifetime of experience. As Oregon’s Labor Commissioner since 2018, she ensures that workers are paid the wages and benefits they are owed under the law, oversees enforcement of civil rights and housing discrimination protections for Oregonians, and has jurisdiction over apprenticeship programs that provide workforce training across the state.

During the pandemic, she fought to expand the Oregon Family Leave Act and ensure workers could continue to earn money part-time while retaining their unemployment benefits. Val has secured a three-fold increase in settlements for victims of discrimination, and cracked down on employers who exploit their workers and compete unfairly with responsible businesses.

Previously, Val represented the residents of West Eugene and Junction City in the Oregon legislature. During her tenure, she was elected to the position of Majority Leader and led successful efforts to increase the state’s minimum wage, provide paid sick leave for workers, expand Oregon’s Clean Fuels program to reduce carbon emissions, require universal background checks for firearm purchases, expand ballot access through Oregon’s groundbreaking “Motor Voter” law, pass a first-in-the-nation requirement for health insurers to cover 12-month supplies of birth control.

She’s an experienced and qualified candidate and will be a great Representative for District 4.
Alek (note it’s Alek, not Alex) Skarlatos is an inexperienced and very shady MAGA Republican who is completely out of step with Oregon voters.

Donate to Val: https://secure.actblue.com/…/val-hoyle-for-congress-1
Volunteer for Val: https://valhoyle.com/join/

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5, Jamie McLeod-Skinner (D) vs Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R)

I’m supporting Jamie McLeod-Skinner for Oregon for the following reasons:

Jamie knows that investing in addressing the needs of working families, addressing the climate crisis, and protecting our democracy is how we invest in our future and in future generations. She is a community builder and able to bridge the urban-rural divide with her compassionate listening and problem-solving skills.

This is one of the closest races in the country right now and the stakes are high for the nation and for Oregon. Jamie is a common-sense leader who will protect our right to choose. Her opponent is an anti-choice extremist who supports passing a “Heartbeat Bill,” six-week abortion ban and said: “A vast majority of Americans want restrictions on abortion and I would be in favor of passing legislation like the heartbeat bill.”

Jamie will bring experience, passion and Democratic values to Congress.

Donate to Jamie: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jamie_for_oregon_2022
Volunteer for Jamie: https://www.mobilize.us/jamiefororegon/

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6, Andrea Salinas (D) vs Mike Erickson (R)

I’m supporting Andrea Salinas for the following reasons:

Andrea is an experienced and effective leader who will be a great advocate for Oregonians in Congress. As an Oregon State Representative since 2017, Andrea took on many leadership roles including House Majority Whip and was the Chair of the House Health Care Committee. As an advocate and a legislator, Andrea has been a champion for women and working families, fighting for — and winning — protections for women janitors who were being abused by their employers and passing some of the nation’s most transparent drug pricing laws so families aren’t choosing between food and prescription drugs, along with laws curbing carbon pollution and phasing out dirty coal, and the strongest reproductive rights law in the country. She has worked on the frontlines in Oregon and she knows the struggles working families face every day.

Mike Erickson is a MAGA Republican who has previously campaigned on a “strict anti-abortion platform” and supports rolling back women’s reproductive freedoms. 

Donate to Andrea: https://secure.actblue.com/…/stand-with-andrea-salinas
Volunteer for Andrea: https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSeBC…/viewform

There are many Oregon State Legislature races that I am supporting as well and I will write another post soon about those.

I feel so lucky to be an Oregonian with these great candidates running (all women, in case you haven’t noticed). We have a lot of work to do to get them all elected, but it will be well worth it when they are representing us in county, city, state, and federal government.

Ali King is a guest contributor to the Multnomah Democrats Blog. She is a founder of Nasty Women Get Shit Done and an elected Democrat precinct committee person in OR District 42.