Democracy

A Historic Midterm

This week, we secured unprecedented victories: Re-electing a Governor who will fight against the Trump agenda, defeating attacks on choice and immigrant communities, rejecting a pair of deceptive special-interest carveouts, expanding affordable housing options, and winning supermajorities in both the Oregon House and Oregon Senate.

To say it was a historic election is an understatement. It was truly a defining moment for the progressive community in Oregon, and one to be proud of. How did we accomplish so much? By working as one unified team and by doing what we do best: Knocking on hundreds of thousands of doors, making phone calls, and meeting voters where they are in every corner of the state on the issues they care most about. Just take a look at the record-breaking numbers below. 

We did that work as part of a game-changing coalition of advocates and community groups and homegrown businesses and elected leaders that is as broad and diverse as it is committed to protecting and affirming Oregon values. And together — and only together — we launched a movement that will continue to fight every single day for an Oregon that works for every single family.

Oregon voters are with us. With record-high turnout for a midterm election, Oregonians gave a clear mandate: We will not stand for candidates or ballot measures that condone hate, or attacks on healthcare, or special interest carveouts. We want an Oregon that provides hope and opportunity, no matter your income, your race or gender identity, or where you live.

Our work is just beginning. But for now, thank you for all you have done to make Oregon a stronger, safer, and more united place.

Editorial boards statewide agree: Vote NO on Measures 103 and 104

The Oregonian, Street Roots, Portland Tribune and Medford Mail Tribune all urge a “no” vote on Measures 103 & 104. See what they have to say about these unnecessary, misleading and risky constitutional amendments.

Editorial boards statewide agree: Vote NO on 103 and 104.

We’re standing up to political bullying

Over the past two weeks, we have heard reports across Oregon about retail stores requiring clerks and customer service employees to hand out pro-Measure 103 magnets and fliers. Just today, the Salem Reporter broke the story.

“[Oregon grocers] cannot require employees to personally deliver [103 campaign magnets and flyers] to customers.” — Margaret Olney, Attorney

This political bullying is not just wrong, it’s illegal. In Oregon, employers like grocery stores cannot require their employees to engage in political communications on their behalf while on the job or else face discipline. The special interests behind Measure 103 have gone too far, apparently requiring employees to hand out the flyers. It’s a clear attempt to scare customers with misleading information.

The truth is that there is no tax on groceries, and nobody is proposing one. Measure 103 is a brazen attempt to permanently carve out loopholes for slaughterhouses, trucking companies, and fast food chains, while doing absolutely nothing to make groceries more affordable.

We’re standing up to this latest attack from the special interests bankrolling Measure 103 to say no to political bullying. If you agree that Oregon workers, customers, and families deserve better than misleading campaigning in the checkout aisle, make your voice heard today!

Pledge to vote NO

Pledge to vote no on Measures 103, 104, 105 & 106.

Speak up against election fraud

Serious and credible fraud allegations have surfaced about three dangerous ballot measures proposed for the fall ballot. But the Secretary of State’s office has brushed aside these troubling allegations, ignoring the more than 600 emails Oregonians have sent urging his office to investigate the fraud before certifying these measures for the ballot. More on these troubling fraud allegations:

IP 31 (the anti-democracy measure)

New and troubling whistleblower allegations about signature gathering practices on Initiative Petition 31, the special interest-backed attack on Oregon’s constitution, recently came to light. It appears the signature gathering firm working on IP 31 had paid circulators fraudulently to sign sheets that they did not collect and allowed unregistered paid circulators to circulate petitions. If true, potentially thousands of signatures were illegally collected. Late last week, the Oregon Attorney General’s office opened a criminal investigation into the whistleblower’s allegations.

IP 22 (the anti-immigrant measure)

The same firm that gathered signatures for IP 31, Ballot Access LLC, acknowledged earlier this year that at least one of its signature gatherers was lying about anti-immigrant Initiative Petition 22. Signature gatherers were falsely telling Oregonians that the measure would protect Oregon’s immigrant communities, when the exact opposite is true. The Oregon Attorney General’s office has an open criminal investigation into these complaints.

IP 1 (the anti-choice measure)

Mounting evidence shows that Oregon Life United, Stop the Funding (the groups behind the anti-choice initiative that would cut access to abortion for public employees and the most vulnerable Oregonians) and their hired staff were engaging in paid circulation without having registered with the state as paid circulators. In response to a complaint laying out these concerns, an Oregon Life United official admitted that at least two paid staff had not registered with the Secretary of State, among other campaign finance “oversights.”

Despite these alarming fraud allegations, the Oregon Secretary of State’s office has refused to stop verifying IP 31, IP 22, and IP 1. It doesn’t have to be this way: The Secretary of State’s office and Elections Director Steve Trout have until August 5 to investigate these concerning fraud allegations and decide whether these measures should be certified with the ballot. But in a recent story, Trout was adamant that his office will not be seriously investigating these claims to see if the law was broken.

We need your help to stop what could be the largest signature gathering fraud scheme in Oregon since Bill Sizemore’s notorious days of deceit and forgery. We have to act quickly. If we don’t, Oregon could return to a time when signature gatherers illegally qualified measures for the ballot. Contact the Secretary of State’s office below to keep our ballot free of fraud!

We need your help: Contact the elections office today and tell them that the integrity of Oregon’s ballot is at stake.