There’s a lot at stake in this November’s elections, including who will be our next president, which party will control Congress and your state legislature, and whether a ballot measure will blow a billion dollar hole in the state budget.
How this guide works
This union-focused ballot guide tries to keep it simple:
- It lists only campaigns that have at least one union endorsing them.
- Candidates and measures are listed in the order you’ll find them on the ballot.
- Candidates who are running unopposed are not listed (because this is meant to help voters make decisions)
- Note that unions didn’t take a position on every measure or candidate race, and sometimes, different unions came to different conclusions about which campaigns to endorse.
- For partisan races, the political party appears next to candidates’ names: D for Democratic, R for Republican, and WFP for Working Families Party
- Following each name is a list of union endorsers and a link to the campaign website, if they have one. [Acronyms are in the legend below.] If the acronym stands alone, the endorsement is by the organization’s statewide or regional body. If there’s a number next to it, the endorsement is by an affiliated local. (For example, IBEW 48 means Local 48 of the electrical workers union.)
- In each entry, AFL-CIO councils and Building Trades councils are listed first because those are unions of unions, and therefore an endorsements represents a broader consensus of at least half (and sometime two-thirds) of affiliated unions.
Processes for making endorsements vary union by union, but collectively, the union endorsements in this guide represent many thousands of hours of effort by union volunteers, officers and staff interviewing and evaluating the choices.
Why doesn’t the labor Press endorse?
As a newspaper owned collectively by 19 labor organizations, it wouldn’t be proper for the Labor Press to make its own endorsements. Instead, we report as comprehensively as we can on local union endorsements, and trust our readers to make their own decisions on how to vote.
SHORTCUTS
OREGON
- Federal races
- Statewide races
- Ballot measures
- Legislative races
- County races
- City races
WASHINGTON
OREGON
Oregon ballots were mailed Oct. 16 and must be received or postmarked by Nov. 5.
FEDERAL OFFICES
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Congressional District 1 (NW and inner SE Portland to Coast)
Suzanne Bonamici (D) is seeking reelection to the seat she’s held since 2012. A co-sponsor of the PRO Act (Protecting the Right to Organize), she’s been a reliable supporter of labor priorities and has a 96% pro-labor voting record as tracked by the national AFL-CIO. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA , OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UBC BonamiciForCongress.com
Congressional District 3 (East Portland to Hood River)
Maxine Dexter (D) is a medical doctor and served two terms as state representative for House District 33 (Northwest Portland) since 2020 and has been considered a labor ally. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, NALC, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, UBC, UFCW 555, USW MaxineforOregon.com
Congressional District 4 (Eugene to Central/South Coast)
Val Hoyle (D) is running for a second term in Congress. The national AFL-CIO gave her a 100% rating for her first term. Before winning election to Congress, she served four years as Oregon labor commissioner and seven years in the Oregon House of Representatives representing her Eugene district, including two years as House Majority Leader. She faces Republican Monique DeSpain, a retired Air Force attorney who worked in the law firm of former Oregon Republican Party chair Kevin Mannix. AFL-CIO, OBCTC, ATU, IAFF, IBEW 932, IBT JC 37, IUEC, IUOE, IW, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, UBC, UFCW ValHoyle.com
Congressional District 5 (Clackamas, Linn, Deschutes counties)
Janelle Bynum (D) is a four-term state representative from Happy Valley and the co-owner of several McDonald’s franchises. In the state legislature she had a mixed record on labor priorities, voting in favor of a minimum wage increase but joining Republicans to vote against a crackdown on wage theft. In the Oregon AFL-CIO’s 2023 legislative scorecard, she earned a “Bronze” ranking, the lowest favorable rating, which placed her at the bottom among legislative Democrats and tied her with three Republicans (she got silver in 2017 and 2021). AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, UFCW 555 JanelleBynum.com
Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R) is running for a second term in Congress. Chavez-DeRemer is the rare Republican member of Congress who actively courts support from organized labor, and she’s earned a respectable number of union endorsements. Though it’s largely a symbolic gesture, Chavez-DeRemer is one of just three Republicans to cosponsor the PRO Act, a bill that would make it easier for workers to join a union and get a union contract. She serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce (known as the House Labor Committee when Democrats were in the majority). Before serving in Congress, she was mayor of Happy Valley from 2010 to 2018. She ran for Oregon House in 2016 and 2018 and lost both times to Democrat Janelle Bynum. IAFF, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IUEC 23, IUOE 701, IUPAT DC 5, IW 29, SMART 16, UA 290, UBC, UFCW 555 AFA, AFGE, ALPA, BRS, MMP, MEBA, SIU LoriChavezDeremer.com
Congressional District 6 (Salem, Marion/Polk/Yamhill counties)
Andrea Salinas (D) is running for reelection after her first term in Congress, in which she earned a 100% pro-labor rating from the national AFL-CIO. Before that she served three terms as a state representative serving the Lake Oswego area and was considered a labor ally. She faces a challenge from millionaire logistics business owner Mike Erickson. It’s his fourth run for Congress, and each time he’s largely self-funded his campaigns, spending millions of dollars of his own money. In 2022, Salinas beat him by just 2.4%, and that year a candidate from the conservative Constitution Party got about 2.4% of the vote, likely drawing voters who might otherwise have supported Erickson. That party isn’t fielding a candidate this year, and the race is considered one of the most competitive in the nation. AFL-CIO, IAFF 1159, IAM, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IUEC, IW 29, LiUNA 737, NEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290 AndreaSalinasForOregon.com
OREGON STATEWIDE RACES
Attorney General
Dan Rayfield (D) is a plaintiff’s attorney and five-term state representative representing Corvallis, the last two years as House Speaker. He was named legislator of the year in 2017 for his efforts to pass a law extending unemployment insurance for workers who are locked out by their employer in a labor dispute. If elected attorney general, Rayfield pledges to build a new labor enforcement team within the Oregon Department of Justice and adopt practices from states that have more robust enforcement of labor laws. AFL-CIO, OBCTC, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF IBEW 48, 280 IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, UBC, UFCW 555, Oregon State Police Officers Association, WFP DanRayfield.com
Secretary of State
Tobias Read (D) is a former Nike footwear developer and former state legislator from Beaverton who has served as Oregon State Treasurer since 2016. As treasurer, he led investment of state pension funds, and implemented a rule that said when a state fund owns a majority of a property or infrastructure investment, it will only hire contractors that pay fair wages and benefits. He faces Republican State Senator Dennis Linthicum, a rancher and businessman who was barred from running for reelection to his own seat because he took part in a legislative walkout. AFL-CIO, OBCTC, AFSCME, IAFF, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IUOE 701, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, UBC, UFCW 555, Oregon State Police Officers Association, WFP TobiasRead.com
Treasurer
Elizabeth Steiner (D) is a family physician and adjunct associate professor at Oregon Health and Science University. She has served as state senator since 2011 and has been co-chair of the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee since 2018. She faces Republican State Senator Brian Boquist, who’s barred from seeking reelection to his current office by a voter-approved state law because he participated in a six-week legislative walkout. AFL-CIO, OBCTC, AFSCME, IAFF, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, OEA, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UFCW 555 ElizabethForOregon.com
Mary King (WFP) is a retired Portland State University economics professor, former AAUP union president, and occasional columnist for the Northwest Labor Press. She was also a big contributor to the behind-the-scenes brain trust that won a ballot measure campaign to grow free preschool until all children in Multnomah County can take part. Now she’s running as the candidate of the Working Families Party for state treasurer. If she gets at least 1% of the vote, the union-backed minor party gets to keep its ballot status. King admits she doesn’t expect to win outright. Instead she’s running an ideas campaign, and she’s got an arsenal of ideas for the state treasurer’s office. She wants to stop investing state funds in private equity, a category of investment that she accuses of “strip-mining” vital economic sectors like retail, childcare, and healthcare. She also wants the state to divest its stock holdings in fossil fuels, arms manufacturing, and countries that are violating international law, investing instead in Oregon and Oregonians. She wants to start a state bank, along the lines of one in North Dakota, that would make loans to students, farmers, and small businesses. And she wants to manage state-owned forests in a way that she says would slow climate change, letting trees grow and selling carbon credits instead of logging. AFT-Oregon, UFCW 555, WFP MaryKingWFP.com
OREGON BALLOT MEASURES
115 – YES – The power to impeach
Measure 115 is a constitutional amendment referred to voters by state lawmakers. It would give the Oregon Legislature the power to impeach statewide elected officials with a two-thirds vote in each chamber, and impeachment trials in the state senate would be overseen by the chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. Right now Oregon is the only state that doesn’t have an impeachment process for executive branch officials. AFSCME
116 – YES – Public Service Compensation
Measure 116 is a constitutional amendment referred by the Oregon Legislature to voters to address the problem of low pay for state office holders. Right now state legislators have the power — collectively — to set their own salaries. You might think they’d use that power to pay themselves lavishly. But you’d be profoundly wrong. In fact, very low compensation can make it hard for anyone but retirees and the independently wealthy to consider state-level public service in Oregon. That was a big factor in the decision of nurses union member Rachel Prusak to leave the Oregon Legislature in 2022. Prusak, a popular two-term representative from West Linn and graduate of the Oregon Labor Candidates School, felt she could no longer take a big pay cut from her nursing job to serve as a lawmaker for $33,000 a year. That same year two other labor allies in the Capitol also stepped down for the same reason — attorney Karin Power of Milwaukie and social worker Anna Williams of Hood River. Oregon’s top-paid state-wide elected official is the governor, at $98,600 a year; only three states pay less. Oregon’s labor commissioner makes $77,000 a year, less than most union reps. Measure 116 would establish an independent public service compensation commission to determine salaries for statewide elected officials, judges, state legislators, and district attorneys. It also eliminates legislative authority to set such salaries. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, ONA, UFCW 555, WFP voteyeson116.org
117 – YES – Ranked choice voting
Measure 117 is a statutory amendment referred to voters by the Oregon Legislature. It would give voters the option to rank candidates in order of preference in elections for federal and statewide office starting in 2028. It would replace the current system in which the candidate with the most votes wins even if they don’t have a majority. Ranked choice voting allows voters to vote their conscience without fear that doing so will help elect the candidate they like least, because if their preferred candidate doesn’t win, their vote can go to their next preferred, and so on. The way it works, if no candidate wins an outright majority of first-choice votes, then the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated and voters who chose them have their second-choice votes counted. The process continues until a candidate has a 50%+1 majority. The measure applies to both partisan primaries and the general election, and to federal and statewide offices, but not to state legislative races. It would eliminate the primary for state labor commissioner, because that’s a nonpartisan office. The measure would also make it clear in state statute that cities, counties, and other local jurisdictions can also adopt ranked choice voting. AFSCME, AFT, OEA, SEIU 49, 503, UFCW 555 WFP yesonmeasure117.com
118 – NO – Corporate Tax Rebate for Residents
Former AFSCME union rep Antonio Gisbert of Eugene had a big idea: Tax big corporations and distribute the proceeds equally to every Oregonian, kind of like Alaska distributes the proceeds of its oil drilling leases. Now, thanks to more than $670,000 in contributions from a California tech millionaire, that idea is Measure 118 on the November 2024 ballot. Contributions from Josh Jones, the Los Angeles founder of web hosting company Dreamhost and an early bitcoin investor, paid for signature gathering. The measure would levy a 3% gross receipts tax on any business’s Oregon sales above $25 million. The tax part of the measure is very similar to the union-backed 2016 initiative, Measure 97, which would have levied a 2.5% gross receipts on corporations with sales over $25 million. Business groups raised almost $26 million to defeat that measure, and voters rejected it by 59%. When crafting the initiative that became Measure 118, Gisbert didn’t check first with unions, legislators, legislative budget experts, or any group that had tax policy expertise. As a result, the measure could cause havoc in the state budget. In July, the Legislative Revenue Office predicted the policy would generate more than $6.5 billion a year in additional corporate taxes, and enough to send $1,600 a year to every resident of the state beginning in 2026. But it would also result in more than $1 billion a year loss to the state general fund, because hundreds of millions of revenue from corporate taxes that currently fund education and other essential services would instead go to pay for the cash rebates. And as the union-backed think tank Oregon Center for Public Policy points out, the $1,600 checks would cause many low-income people to lose means-tested benefits like food stamps, reducing the flow of federal dollars to Oregon. A business-led committee formed to oppose Measure 118 has collected $12 million, including $1 million from the Grocery Retail PAC and a quarter million each from Daimler, Weyerhaeuser, Home Depot, Walmart, Amazon, and half a dozen others. No union is for the measure. It’s the rare initiative that is uniting business and labor, Republican and Democrat. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, IBT JC 37, ONA, UBC, UFCW 555 noonmeasure118.com
119 – YES – Unionization of Cannabis Workers
Measure 119 is a statutory initiative placed on the ballot by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 thanks to a $2.5 million paid signature gathering campaign. It would require cannabis retailers and processors to sign labor peace agreements pledging to remain neutral in union organizing campaigns in order to obtain or renew their license to do business in Oregon. Cannabis retail and manufacturing workers have the right to unionize now, but no cannabis dispensaries are currently union, despite nearly a decade of attempts by Local 555. Measure 119 is a modified version of HB 3183, a bill Local 555 tried to pass in the 2023 legislature. Lawmakers failed to pass it after attorneys for the legislature said it would likely be struck down in federal court because states are barred from regulating conduct that the National Labor Relations Act protects or prohibits. Similar laws in Rhode Island and California are currently being challenged in federal court. Local 555 blamed longtime labor legislator Paul Holvey for the bill’s failure and spent $344,000 on a campaign to recall him, but voters in his Eugene district rejected the recall by 90%. Agricultural workers don’t have the right to unionize under federal law, and the bill and the measure wouldn’t change that. HB 3183 would also have given up workers’ rights to strike in return for the employer neutrality. The ballot measure removed that language, though a reference to the strike remains. Because it’s likely to result in greater unionization, Measure 119 is broadly supported by labor and allied politicians. There’s little organized opposition. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, SEIU, UFCW 555, WFP voteyes119.org
OREGON LEGISLATURE
OREGON SENATE
Senate District 1 (Curry, Coos, Douglas)
David Brock Smith (R), the incumbent, was appointed to his seat in January 2023 to fill a vacancy, the same month he was scheduled to start his third term as state representative. Brock Smith is a small business owner and serves on legislative committees related to natural resources, wildfire, and public safety. He faces Democrat Lupe Preciado-McAlister in the strongly Republican-leaning district. IW 29 davidbrocksmith.com
Senate District 5 (Lincoln City)
Jo Beaudreau (D) is challenging incumbent Republican Dick Anderson, who is serving his first term. Beaudreau serves on the Florence City Council and owns an art-supply store and gallery. IBEW 48, 932 SEIU jofororegon.com
Senate District 14 (SW Portland, Beaverton)
Kate Lieber (D), the incumbent, is co-chair of the joint budget committee, and was formerly Senate majority leader. She was named the Oregon AFL-CIO “solidarity champion” for the 2023 legislative session. She previously worked as a deputy district attorney in Multnomah County and as a community college instructor. She’s in a strongly Democratic district and faces a token challenge from Libertarian home-schooler Katy Brumbelow. AFL-CIO, OBCTC, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA OEA, 415 OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UBC, AAUP katefororegon.com
Senate District 18 (Aloha, Scholls)
Wlnsvey Campos (D, WFP), incumbent running for a second term, is Oregon’s youngest-ever state senator. She received a gold (second highest) ranking from the Oregon AFL-CIO for the 2023 legislative session. Before running for state representative in 2020, she worked in political organizing, including for the Oregon Nurses Association. AFL-CIO, OBCTC, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UBC, WFP camposfororegon.com
Senate District 22 (N and inner NE Portland)
Lew Frederick (D) is a former KGW radio and TV reporter and was an officer in his union AFTRA. He has been a state legislator since 2009 and is now seeking his third term as state senator. Since 2015, Frederick’s legislative work and votes have been ranked in the second-place “gold” tier of legislators by the AFL-CIO. He faces a token challenge from Republican Michael Saperstein in the overwhelmingly Democratic district. AFL-CIO, AFT, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, LiUNA, ONA, OSEA, SEIU lewfrederick.com
Senate District 25 (Gresham, Fairview)
Chris Gorsek (D, I, WFP), the incumbent, is a community college instructor and former police officer, and a member of the OEA, PPA, and UFCW Local 555. A strong labor ally, Gorsek has received the top “platinum” ranking from the AFL-CIO in recent years. But despite serving in the legislature since 2013. he’s facing a significant challenge this year from Republican Raymond Love, a colonel in the Army Reserve. Love has raised more than $275, 000, almost all of it from a PAC funded by billionaire Nike founder Phil Knight, who contributed $2 million this year to elect Republican legislators. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IBEW 280, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UFCW 555, WFP gorsekfororegon.com
Senate District 27 (Bend, Tumalo)
Anthony Broadman (D, I) is a city council member in Bend and an attorney representing tribal governments and small businesses. He faces Republican Michael Summers, a Redmond school board member, for the seat held by Republican Tim Knopp, who is ineligible for reelection because he took part in a legislative walkout. AFL-CIO, COBCTC, AFSCME, IAFF 227 IBEW 48, 280 IW 29, LiUNA OEA, BEA OFNHP, ONA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, UBC, UFCW 555, AAUP, WFP broadmanfororegon.com
Senate District 28 (Klamath Falls)
Dylan Gutridge (D) is a certified nursing assistant, wildland firefighter, and U.S. Air Force veteran. He was nominated by Oregon Democrats after no Democrat ran in the May primary. He faces Republican Diane Linthicum for the seat currently held by her husband Dennis Linthicum, who was barred from reelection after taking part in a walkout. IAM W24, WFP dylanfororegon.com
OREGON HOUSE
House District 5 (Ashland)
Pam Marsh (D), the incumbent, faces Republican challenger Katherine Green. Before starting her first term in the legislature in 2017, Marsh ran the Ashland food bank, co-owned a lodge, and served on Ashland’s city council and planning commission. She earned a third-tier rank (silver) in the AFL-CIO’s 2023 legislative scorecard. AFL-CIO, OBCTC, AFSCME, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, SEIU representativepammarsh.com
House District 7 (Springfield)
John Lively (D), incumbent, faces Republican challenger Cory Burket. Lively’s legislative scorecard from the AFL-CIO has improved since he took office, working up to gold and silver rankings in recent years. In the 2024 session, Lively was chair of the House environment committee and a member of the higher education committee and the economic development, small business, and trade committee. AFSCME, AFT, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, OEA, ONA, SEIU, OSPOA, WFP electjohnlively.com
House District 13 (Eugene)
Nancy Nathanson (D), incumbent, is seeking a 10th term. She chairs the House revenue committee and co-chairs joint committees on transportation and information technology. In 2023, she received the highest possible rating on the Oregon AFL-CIO legislative scorecard, platinum. She faces Republican Timothy Sutherland. AFL-CIO, OBCTC, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF, IBT JC 37, IW 29, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, UBC, AAUP nancynathanson.org
House District 16 (Corvallis)
Sarah Finger McDonald (D) is an academic advisor at Oregon State University and former chair of the Corvallis School Board. She faces Pacific Green Party candidate Michael Beilstein for the seat held by Dan Rayfield, who’s running for state attorney general. McDonald founded the Oregon chapter of the gun-control advocacy group Moms Demand Action. AFL-CIO, OBCTC, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF, IBEW 280, IW 29, OEA, ONA SEIU, 503 UBC Sarah-Finger-McDonald.com
House District 19 (South Salem)
Tom Andersen (D), one-term incumbent, is a former workers’ compensation attorney and former member of Salem City Council. Andersen earned a “platinum ” ranking from the AFL-CIO for his first term. He serves on the House committees on environment and early childhood and human services and is vice chair of the judiciary committee. He faces Republican challenger David Brown. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UBC, WFP electtomandersen.com
House District 20 (West Salem, Independence)
Paul Evans (D), five-term incumbent, teaches at Chemeketa Community College. In the House, he co-chairs two joint subcommittees on public safety. He received a “bronze” rating from the AFL-CIO in 2023. He faces Republican challenger Kevin Chambers. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290 paulevans.org
House District 21 (Keizer)
Virginia Stapleton (D) is challenging Republican incumbent Kevin Mannix. A Salem city councilor, she co-founded a bike infrastructure advocacy group. Her priorities include expanding public transit and bike and pedestrian networks, improving mental and behavioral healthcare access, and finding funding sources for local governments and public schools. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, IW 29, LiUNA, OFNHP, ONA, SEIU, UA 290, WFP electvirginiastapleton.com
House District 22 (Woodburn)
Lesly Muñoz (D) is a union rep for the teachers union OEA, and previously worked for AFSCME and OSEA. She’s running to unseat Republican incumbent Tracy Cramer. Her priorities include funding public education, affordable housing, and public safety departments; expanding workforce training; and ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions. Cramer is the beneficiary of a whopping $164,500 in contributions from billionaire Phil Knight. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UFCW 555, WFP leslymunozoregon.com
House District 25 (Tigard)
Ben Bowman (D), incumbent seeking a second term, is an administrator in the Gladstone School District. He’s also the House Majority Leader and earned a “platinum” rating from the AFL-CIO in 2023. He faces a challenge from Republican Bob Niemeyer. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, UFCW 555, WFP benfororegon.com
House District 26 (Wilsonville)
Courtney Neron (D), a former high school teacher In the Tigard-Tualatin School District is a third term incumbent ranked in the second “gold” tier by the Oregon AFL-CIO. She faces Republican Jason Fields. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, UFCW 555, WFP courtneyfororegon.com
House District 27 (Beaverton)
Ken Helm (D), a land use attorney, is a five-term incumbent who has earned a “gold” rating from the Oregon AFL-CIO in recent years. He faces Republican Victoria Kingsburg. AFL-CIO, OBCTC, AFSCME, IAFF, IBEW 48, IW 29 OEA, BEA ONA, SEIU, SMART 16, UBC kenhelm.com
House District 28 (SW Portland, East Beaverton)
Dacia Grayber (D), a firefighter at Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue and member of IAFF Local 1660, was named AFL-CIO’s “legislator of the year” in 2023. Running for a third term, she faces Republican Charles Mengis. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF 1159, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, UFCW 555 OLCS grad daciafororegon.com
House District 32 (N Coast)
Andy Davis (D, WFP) is a research analyst with the Oregon Health Authority, a union member, and a city councilor in Astoria. He is challenging incumbent Republican Cyrus Javadi, who has taken in $160,000 from billionaire Phil Knight. AFSCME, IBT JC 37, SEIU, UFCW 555, WFP davis4oregon.com
House District 33 (NW Portland)
Shannon Jones Isadore (D) is a psychotherapist and founder of Oregon Change Clinic, which provides addiction and mental health treatment to Black and indigenous people. She is running to succeed Maxine Dexter, who left the Oregon house to run for Congress. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, IBEW 48, OEA, ONA, SEIU ShannonJonesIsadore.com
House District 34 (Northeast Washington County)
Lisa Reynolds (D), a two-term incumbent, is a pediatric physician who has earned a “gold” rating from the AFL-CIO since taking office. She’s running against Republican John Verbeek. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16 lisafororegon.com
House District 35 (Aloha)
Farrah Chaichi (D) is seeking a second term in the legislature, running against Republican Daniel Martin again. Chaichi is an intake coordinator at law firm Stoel Rives. She earned a “silver” rating from the AFL-CIO in 2023. She serves on house commitees on judiciary, gambling regulation, and commerce and consumer protection. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IBT JC 37, IW 29, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, UFCW 555, WFP chaichifororegon.com
House District 36 (South Hillsboro, West Beaverton)
Hai Pham (D) , an incumbent seeking a second term, is a pediatric dentist. He earned the Oregon AFL-CIO’s “gold” rating in 2023. He serves on House committees on economic development and small business, behavioral and physical health care; and human services. He faces Republican Shawn Chummar. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, UA 290, UFCW 555, WFP haifororegon.com
House District 37 (Tualatin)
Jules Walters (D), an incumbent seeking a second term, is a former mayor of West Linn. She earned a gold rating from the Oregon AFL-CIO in 2023. She serves on committees on revenue, economic development, and small business. She faces Republican Ben Edtl. AFSCME, AFT, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, OEA, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, UFCW 555 votejules.com
House District 40 (Oregon City)
Annessa Hartman (D), an incumbent seeking a second term, is a former Gladstone City Councilor and works for the Native American Youth And Family Center (NAYA). She received a “gold” rating from the AFL-CIO in 2023. She serves on House committees on agriculture, land use and natural resources; housing and homelessness; and early childhood and human services. She faces Republican Michael Steven Newgard. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF 1159, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, WFP annessafororegon.com
House District 41 (Milwaukie)
Mark Gamba (D), an incumbent seeking a second term, is a former mayor of Milwaukie. He serves on committees on climate, agriculture and natural resources, and housing and homelessness, and received a gold rating from the AFL-CIO in 2023. He faces Republican Elvis Clark. AFSCME, AFT, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, OEA, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, WFP gambafororegon.com
House District 43 (Inner NE Portland)
Tawna Sanchez (D), an incumbent seeking a fifth term, is a co-founder and Director of Family Services at the Native American Youth and Family Center. She has consistently earned “gold” ratings from the AFL-CIO. She’s in an overwhelmingly Democratic district and faces a token challenge from Republican Tim LeMaster, who she defeated with 92% in 2022. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16 tawnasanchez.com
House District 46 (Outer SE Portland)
Willy Chotzen (D) is a public defender and was an AFSCME member until he was promoted into management. He’s running against Libertarian Austin Daniel and Independent Kevin Levy for the seat that was held by Khanh Pham, who’s now running for state senate. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IBEW 48, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, SEIU, SMART 16, UFCW 555, WFP OLCS chotzenfororegon.com
House District 48 (Damascus, Outer SE Portland)
Hoa Nguyen (D) is the incumbent in her first term in office. She is running against Republican John Masterman. Nguyen is a community and student engagement specialist for the Clackamas Education Service District. She serves on the House committee on education and joint task force on substitute teachers, and is vice chair of the House committee on early childhood and human services. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, UA 290, UFCW 555, WFP nguyenfororegon.com
House District 49 (Troutdale, Fairview)
Zach Hudson (D), an incumbent seeking a third term, is a substitute teacher with a background in special education classrooms and a former Troutdale City Council member. Since taking office, he has received “gold” ratings from the AFL-CIO. He faces Republican Terry Tipsord, whose campaign is being boosted by $100,000 from Nike billionaire Phil Knight. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, UFCW 555, WFP electzachhudson.com
House District 50 (Gresham)
Ricki Ruiz (D), an incumbent seeking a third term, is a community services coordinator for the city of Gresham and previously served on the Reynolds School Board and Oregon Hunger Task Force. In recent sessions, his legislative work and votes have been ranked in the second “gold” tier of legislators by the Oregon AFL-CIO. He faces a challenge from Republican Paul Drechsler, who is bankrolled by a $100,000 contribution from billionaire Phil Knight. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF 1062, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, UFCW 555, WFP ricki4oregon.com
House District 52 (Cascade Locks)
Nick Walden Poublon (D) is a former legislative aide and worked for 12 years as a student health advisor and trans health advocate at Portland State University. He’s raised $53,000 in a race to unseat Republican House minority leader Jeff Helfrich. IBEW 48 IBT JC 37, 305 OEA, OFNHP, OSEA, SEIU, UBC, AAUP, WFP nwpfororegon.com
Jeff Helfrich (R), the incumbent, is House minority leader. He was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2017 but lost a bid to retain his seat in 2018 and 2020 against Democrat Anna Williams. He won in 2022 against Democrat Darcy Long. Helfrich is vice chair of the House interim committee on rules and serves on joint committees and the joint emergency board. He’s raised almost $650,000, most of it from business groups. UFCW 555 helfrichfororegon.com
House District 53 (Tumalo, Sisters)
Emerson Levy (D), incumbent seeking a second term, is an attorney specializing in energy and real estate law. She earned a “bronze” rating from the AFL-CIO in 2023, and serves on legislative committees on energy and environment, housing and homelessness, and natural resources. She faces Republican Keri Lopez, who’s taken in $158,000 from billionaire Phil Knight. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, UFCW 555 emersonvotes.com
COUNTIES
CLACKAMAS
Chair
Craig Roberts served as Clackamas County sheriff for 16 years. If elected chair he wants to increase production of affordable housing and improve drug and mental health treatment. NOLC, AFSCME, AFSCME 350 AFT, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IUOE 701, IW 29, LiUNA 737, SEIU, UA 290, UFCW 555 RobertsForClackamas.com
Tootie Smith, a hazelnut farmer and former Republican state legislator, is the incumbent chair. She’s running for a second term after previously serving a term as commissioner. IAFF 1159, Clackamas County Peace Officers Association tootiesmith.com
Commissioner Position 4
Melissa Fireside of Lake Oswego owns Resolute Consulting PDX, a business management consulting company. She previously ran unsuccessfully for the Lake Oswego City Council in 2020. In this year’s campaign she’s raised $76,000 in a challenge to incumbent Mark Shull. After he defeated labor ally Ken Humberston in 2020, Shull faced backlash for remarks about Muslims, but a recall effort fizzled. This year, Shull has raised just $7,000 to defend his seat. In the May primary for the nonpartisan seat, Shull got 37% and Fireside got 36%. NOLC, CPBCTC, AFSCME, IAM, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, LiUNA 483 firesideforclackamascounty.com
Measure 3-613 – YES – Clackamas Community College
Measure 3-613 would authorize $120 million in bonds to pay for the updating of facilities and athletic fields. To repay the bonds, the measure renews an existing property tax levy of $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed value. UFCW 555 yesforccc.com
MULTNOMAH
Commissioner, Position 1
This seat was held by Susheela Jayapal, who resigned to run for Congress. Whoever wins would serve the remaining two years of her term.
Vadim Mozyrsky is an administrative law judge who hears appeals when Social Security denies disability benefit claims. He also once helped unionize fellow attorneys and eventually became regional vice president of his federal employees union IFTPE. He’s been active on numerous citizen advisory committees and ran unsuccessfully for Portland City Council in 2022. NOLC, CPBCTC, IAFF 43, IBEW 48, LiUNA 737, PPA, Multnomah County Deputy Sheriff’s Association VoteVadim.com
Meghan Moyer is policy director at Disability Rights Oregon and PAC chair of the gay rights group Basic Rights Oregon. She has crossed paths with labor extensively over the years — she worked for general contractor Skanska as a construction manager, served on the board of Oregon Tradeswomen, and once worked as a political organizer for SEIU. AFSCME, AFSCME 88 AFT 3922, CWA 7901, IBT JC 37, PAT, ONA SEIU 49, 503 UFCW 555, WFP MeghanForMultnomah.org
Commissioner, District 2
Sam Adams is the former mayor of Portland and before that was a City Commissioner and longtime chief of staff to Portland Mayor Vera Katz. After leaving the mayor’s office, he served as the executive director of the City Club of Portland and as an aide to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, a role he previously played to a fictional mayor played by Kyle MacLachlan in the comedy series Portlandia. CPBCTC, LiUNA 737 multcoforsam.com
Shannon Singleton is a social worker who has served as housing policy advisor and director of equity and racial justice for former Governor Kate Brown. Most recently she was interim director of the Joint Office of Homeless Services, a collaboration between Multnomah County and the City of Portland. AFSCME, AFSCME 88, CWA 7901, IBEW 48, PAT, ONA, UFCW 555, WFP ShannonSingleton.org
WASHINGTON
Circuit Court Judge, Dist. 20, Pos. 6
K.C. LeDell has worked as a prosecutor and a defense attorney. He’s also served as a criminal justice policy advisor in the state legislature and a mental health advocate with Disability Rights Oregon. He’s challenging D. Charles Bailey Jr., the incumbent judge and former prosecutor who’s racked up a series of complaints about his demeanor and fitness. In the May primary, LeDell got 36% to Bailey’s 48%. NOLC, WFP ledellforjudge.com
CITIES
HAPPY VALLEY
Position 4
Glenn Watcher owns a health care consulting firm and serves as a board member of North Clackamas Schools. IAFF 1159, UFCW 555 yourvoiceourvalley.com
HILLSBORO
Mayor
Beach Pace is a current city council member, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest, and a West Point graduate who served as a captain in the U.S. Army. CPBCTC, IBEW 48, IW 29, HEA, UBC electbeachpace.com
City Council Ward 2, Position B
Jacob Mead owns a branch of American Family Insurance and serves as treasurer of the Hillsboro Schools Foundation. AFT, AFT 4671, IAFF 2210, HEA, UFCW 555 weneedmead.com
Elizabeth Case is a marketing consultant and former member of the Hillsboro Library Board. IAFF 2210, IBEW 48, HEA, UBC elizabethcase.com
City Council Ward 3, Position B
Marc Grambo is a real estate broker. AFT, IBT JC 37 gramboforhillsboro.com [UPDATE 10/24/24: AFT 4671, UFCW 555, and WFP have retracted their endorsements after learning of conduct unbecoming of an elected official by Grambo. Grambo used ugly and abusive language toward a constituent who disagreed with his support for Israel’s war in Gaza.]
Rob Harris is a criminal defense and civil litigation attorney and former deputy district attorney for Washington County and municipal court judge. IAFF 28, IBEW 48, HEA, UBC, Hillsboro Police Officers Association electrobharris.com
MILWAUKIE
City Council Position 1
Camden McKone, a software developer, is challenging incumbent Adam Khosroabadi, a Marine Corps combat veteran. AFSCME 350, UFCW 555 camdenformilwaukie.com
City Council Position 3
Will Anderson is a lobbyist with Eames Consulting, which represents the Oregon Building Trades Council. Before that he was a legislative aide to former State Representative Karin Power. An incumbent, he faces challenger Teresa Bresaw. CPBCTC, AFSCME 350, IW 29, UFCW 555 OLCS willformilwaukie.com
PORTLAND
Under the new form of government that begins in January, the mayor will hire and oversee a city manager and will serve as the public face of the city. Budgets, and city ordinances, will be passed by a new 12-member city council, three members from each of four new geographic districts. In spite of the chaos that comes from nearly 100 candidates running, there’s an optimistic consensus that on the whole the election has drawn a lot of high-quality candidates from all kinds of backgrounds.
Mayor
Carmen Rubio is a current Portland City Commissioner. Before that she served 12 years as executive director of the nonprofit Latino Network, one year on the staff of City Commissioner Nick Fish, and three years on the staff of Portland Mayor Tom Potter. As commissioner, she’s been in charge of the Bureau of Development Services, Housing, and the economic development agency Prosper Portland. Rubio pushed through a proposal to consolidate city agencies to streamline construction permitting and oversaw a grant from the Portland Clean Energy Fund to fund existing climate projects by city bureaus, helping to ease a budget shortfall. NOLC, AFSCME, AFSCME 189, AFT-Oregon, AFT 2277, PAT, SEIU 49 and 503 (#1), UBC, UFCW 555, WFP carmenforportland.com
Rene Gonzalez Is a current city commissioner. He was previously former Stoel Rives attorney, and owner of Eastbank Artifex, a Microsoft 365 reseller. He’s also the founder of a youth soccer club, and got active politically forming a group of parents who pushed to end the lengthly closure of schools during the COVID epidemic. As commissioner, he’s been in charge of the fire bureau and 911 call center, and has worked to staff up at 911 to reduce call wait times. He also ended city distribution of free tents and hypodermic needles on the grounds that was enabling homeless and addicts to remain on the streets, and that it was counterproductive for the city to both give out tents and then take them away in sweeps. CPBCTC, IAFF 43, IBEW 48, IBT JC 37, IUOE 701, IW 29, PPA, Multnomah County Deputy Sheriffs Association reneforportland.com
Keith Wilson is a North Portland native and CEO of Titan Freight Systems, the company he built up and converted to electric vehicles after inheriting it from his dad. He’s an advocate of high-speed rail and the founder of Shelter Portland, a nonprofit advocating for an immediate response to the homeless crisis. His pitch is that current city leaders have failed and can’t be trusted to get the city out of crisis. He pledges to end unsheltered homelessness within a year and has a detailed blueprint and budget for how to do that, including setting up city-staffed overnight shelters in church buildings. SEIU 49 and 503 (#2), UFCW 555, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen keithwilsonformayor.com
Mingus Mapps is a current city commissioner. A former political science professor at Brandeis University, he worked in the Portland Office of Community and Civic Life managing the city’s crime prevention program. He objected to City Commissioner Chloe Eudaly’s plan to end funding for citizen crime patrols, was fired from the bureau she oversaw, and then ran against her and defeated her in 2020. As commissioner, he helped close a $32 million budget shortfall and saved over 100 jobs in the Portland Bureau of Transportation. PROTEC17, SEIU 49 and 503 (#3) mingusmapps.com
City Council District 1 (Outer Eastside)
Candace Avalos is the executive director of the Portland environmental justice organization Verde. She’s also an active civic volunteer and served on a police accountability committee and the Charter Review Commission that proposed the new form of government. She’d prioritize expanding Portland Street Response and opposes sweeps of homeless camps. NOLC, CPBCTC, AFSCME, AFSCME 189, AFT-Oregon, AFT 2277 CWA 7901, IBEW 48, IW 29, LiUNA 737, NALC 82, PROTEC17, SEIU, UBC, UFCW 555, WFP OLCS candaceavalos.com
Jamie Dunphy is government relations director at American Cancer Society Action Network, and before that spent 10 years on the staffs of Senator Jeff Merkley and Portland commissioner Nick Fish. He’s also a musician and board member of nonprofit MusicPortland. He wants to fully fund and expand Portland Street Response and incentivize developers to convert existing buildings into housing. NOLC, AFSCME, AFSCME 189, CWA 7901, IAFF 43, IBEW 48 (#1), IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA 483, 737 SMART 16, UA 290, UBC, UFCW 555, Musicians 99, WFP jamiedunphy.com
Timur Ender served as transportation policy advisor to former Portland City Commissioner Steve Novick and later worked as a capital project manager for the Portland Bureau of Transportation, where he oversaw projects including paving, sidewalks, signals, and street trees. There he was active with the union Protec17. He favors the housing-first model of addressing the homeless crisis and would push to expand the tree canopy for East Portland. AFSCME, AFSCME 189, CWA 7901, IBEW 48 (#3), LiUNA 483, PROTEC17, UA 290, WFP ender4eastportland.com
Terrence Hayes is a self-employed nuisance abatement minority contractor. He formerly worked as an electrician and later for the City of Portland Office of Violence Prevention. His focus would include combating property crime and vandalism. IAFF 43, IW 29, PPA teamhayesforportland.com
Steph Routh teaches part time in PSU’s School of Urban Studies and Planning and has worked on several successful political campaigns, including a Portland Public Schools bond and renewal of Portland’s gas tax. Her campaign has the broadest support of any in District 1 with the most donors to qualify for public matching funds. Her priorities would include expanding Portland Street Response and growing the city’s tree canopy. NOLC, CPBCTC, AFSCME, AFSCME 189, AFT-Oregon, AFT 2277, CWA 7901, IAFF 43, IBEW 48 (#2), IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA 737, NALC 82, PROTEC17, SEIU, SMART 16, UFCW 555, WFP OLCS steph4eastportland.com
Loretta Smith is a former two-term Multnomah County commissioner, but since then lost campaigns in 2020 for Portland City Council and in 2022 for U.S. Congress. She got her start in politics working in the office of Ron Wyden from 1989 to 2010, first in the House and later in the Senate. Her priorities would be improving public safety and ending unsanctioned homeless camps. IBT JC 37, IW 29, UBC, PPA lorettasmithpdx.com
City Council District 2 (North and inner Northeast Portland)
Sameer Kanal has worked for the City of Portland the last three years in administrative support roles on community safety and police accountability. Before that, he worked on Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s reelection campaign and briefly worked for American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in Texas helping elect endorsed candidates. AFT-Oregon, AFT 2277, CWA 7901, PROTEC17, WFP kanalforportland.com
Marnie Glickman is a longtime political consultant for candidates and electeds including former Oregon Congresswomen Darlene Hooley and Elizabeth Furse. She’s also been a martial arts instructor, worked for Emily’s List, and worked for a group that opposes corporate commercialism in public schools. She would prioritize creation of more “safe rest villages” and affordable housing and cleanup of the Willamette River. AFT-Oregon, AFT 2277, LiUNA 483, PAT marnieglickman.org
Mariah Hudson is a communications specialist at OHSU. She’s also a community volunteer who’s served on budget advisory committees for the Portland Bureau of Transportation and Portland Public Schools and as Board Chair of the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods. She’s a former member of the California State University Employees Union (SEIU 2579). She wants the city to clean up graffiti and trash, prosecute street, drug, and property crimes, and expand Portland Street Response to make it 24/7. IBEW 48 (#2), IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA 737, PROTEC17, SMART 16, UFCW 555 mariahforportland.com
Tiffany Penson is a current Portland Community College board member and a former City of Portland supplier diversity officer; in that job, she worked to steer city contracts to minority and women business owners, but sometimes clashed with building trades unions and other advocates of opportunities for minorities and women in the construction workforce. Her priorities would include funding programs to reduce gun violence and improving 911 call response times. PAT, SEIU, UBC, PPA tiffaniforpdx.com
Elana Pirtle-Guiney spent nine years as legislative, political, and communications director for the Oregon AFL-CIO, and followed that with six years as labor liaison and legislative director for then-governor Kate Brown. Her priorities would be housing, homelessness, substance abuse, mental health, and public safety. NOLC, CPBCTC, AFSCME 189, CWA 7901, IAM, IBEW 48 (#3), IBT JC 37, IW 29 LiUNA 483, 737 NALC 82, PROTEC17, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, UBC, UFCW 555, WFP elanaforportland.com
Dan Ryan is a current city commissioner and former Portland Public Schools school board member. He’s also the former CEO of the Portland school support nonprofit All Hands Raised, and before that worked as a fundraiser for Oregon Ballet Theater and Portland State University. As city commissioner, he led the creation of seven Safe Rest Villages, sanctioned camping sites with services for the homeless. He wants to accelerate housing production and support arts, music, and sports organizations. NOLC, AFSCME 189, IAFF 43, IBT JC 37, IW 29, UBC, PPA danryanforportland.com
Bob Simril is a business consultant and former corporate sales manager for tech firms. He wants to hire more first responders, reduce gun violence with a gun buyback program, and convert unused city properties and buses into temporary housing units. IAFF 43, PPA votebobpdx.com
Jonathan Tasini is union through and through. He served for 13 years as president of National Writers Union, which at the time was a division of the United Auto Workers. In that role, he won a 2001 U.S. Supreme Court case, New York Times Co. v. Tasini, that limited the newspaper’s ability to republish freelance writers’ work without their permission. He’s also worked as a strategist for a number of unions. He has the broadest set of union endorsements of any City Council candidate, and his campaign has drawn support from national union leaders like UAW’s Shawn Fain and Sara Nelson of the Association of Flight Attendants. His priorities would include renters rights and requiring city contractors to pay living wages. He’d also advocate for city-owned high-speed internet and for a new mode of river transportation dubbed the Frog Ferry. NOLC, CPBCTC, AFSCME, AFSCME 189, AFSCME 328, AFT 2277, CWA 7901, IBEW 48 (#1), IBT JC 37, IUOE 701, IUPAT DC 5, IW 29, LiUNA 483, 737, NALC 82, PAT, PROTEC17, SMART 16, UA 290, UAW, UBC, UFCW 555, Boilermakers 104, UMWA, WFP jonathantasini.com
Nat West, best known as the founder of Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider, closed down his business when COVID hit and briefly became a TriMet Bus Driver and member of ATU Local 757. His is District 2’s most broadly supported campaign in terms of number of donors to generate matching public funds. His focuses would be transportation policy and solving homelessness. AFSCME, AFSCME 189 ATU 757, SEIU, UFCW 555, WFP revnatforportland.com
City Council District 3 (Southeast Portland)
Rex Burkholder is a nonprofit consultant and served three terms as a Metro council member. He’s also the founder of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (now called the Street Trust). He would focus on traffic safety, investing in clean energy, and rezoning along transit corridors. IBT JC 37 rexforpdx.com
Jesse Cornett is a longtime political operative who worked for both of Bernie Sanders presidential campaigns and previously for Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, and others. He also formerly served in the US Army Reserves and the Oregon Army National Guard, and in 2010 founded a shortlived pub, the Guild Public House. He’s also been open about struggles with addiction and mental health, and has been active with the group Oregon Recovers. If elected, his top priority would be resolving the homelessness crisis. AFSCME, AFSCME 189, AFT-Oregon, AFT 2277, IAFF 43, IAM, PAT, UBC cornettforportland.com
Daniel DeMelo, a software engineer, has volunteered on several public budget advisory committees, including the one for the Joint Office of Homeless Services, which he chairs. His top priority is tackling unsheltered homelessness. IAFF 43, PPA demelo4portland.com
Chris Flanary is a housing program specialist with the City of Portland, a union officer with AFSCME Local 189, and a former AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. Flanary would work to expand payment of living wages to city employees and contractors and to strengthen safety net services. NOLC AFSCME, AFSCME 189, 328 IBEW 48 (#2), IW 29, LiUNA 483, 737 NALC 82, PROTEC17, SMART 16, UFCW 555, WFP OLCS chrisforportland.com
Harrison Kass is a policy advisor to Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez. He’s also a former Air Force pilot trainee and law clerk, and an attorney and journalist writing about the military and foreign policy. He would focus on public safety and law enforcement. IBT JC 37, PPA kassforpdx.com
Tiffany Koyama Lane teaches elementary school at Sunnyside K-12 in Portland Public Schools and is active in her union. She would prioritize renter protections, traffic safety, climate resilience policy, and funding for Portland Street Response (which sends unarmed city workers to respond to mental health crises among the homeless). As measured by the number of donors and volunteers, hers has been the most energetic grassroots campaign for city council by a sizable margin. NOLC, AFSCME, AFSCME 189, AFT-Oregon, AFT 2277, CWA 7901, IBT JC 37, IW 29, LiUNA 483, NALC 82, PAT, PROTEC17, UBC, UFCW 555, WFP teachertiffanyforthepeople.com
Angelita Morillo is a first-generation immigrant from Paraguay and a former staffer in the office of Portland City Commissioner JoAnn Hardesty. She spent the last two years as a policy advocate for the nonprofit group Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. She’s also a social media influencer, with almost 35,000 followers tuning in for forceful progressive political takes at her TikTok account pnwpolicyangel. She would focus on renter protections, funding for Portland Street Response, and shutting down oil trains and the oil tanks along the river in Northwest Portland. AFT-Oregon, CWA 7901, IBT JC 37, PAT, PROTEC17, SEIU 49, SEIU 503, UBC, UFCW 555, WFP OLCS angelitaforportland.com
Steve Novick served one term as a Portland City Commissioner from 2013 to 2017. The son of a union organizer, he spent his childhood in Cottage Grove. Born missing a left hand and fibula bones in his legs, he overcame adversity with humor and persistence and graduated from Harvard Law School at age 21. He worked 10 years as an attorney for the Environmental Protection Agency, and then worked on ballot measure campaigns for union-backed groups like Our Oregon, becoming an expert on tax policy. NOLC, CPBCTC, AFSCME, AFSCME 189, IAFF 43, IBEW 48 (#1), IW 29, LiUNA 737, SMART 16, UFCW 555, PPA novickforportland.com
Kezia Wanner spent most of the last 20 years working for the City of Portland in fire, police, and parking enforcement as a budget analyst and program manager, including starting a program to address derelict RVs. She would prioritize increased police and fire resources and swift action on homelessness. IAFF 43, PPA, Multnomah County Deputy Sheriffs Assocation keziaforportland.com
City Council District 4 (Westside and Sellwood)
Eli Arnold is a Portland police officer who works on Central Bike Squad and Neighborhood Response Team. He previously served in the Army as a helicopter pilot. He would focus on public safety, improving 911 response times, building emergency shelter space, and ending unregulated camping. IAFF 43, IBEW 48 (#5), IBT JC 37, UBC, PPA eliforportland.com
Olivia Clark spent the last 21 years as public affairs or goverment affairs director at TriMet, and before that worked in legislative affairs for Governor John Kitzhaber. She was also chair of the board of Providence Health Systems. She wants to end street camping and open air drug use, improve 911 response times, and streamline housing permits. Her campaign has shown the broadest support in District 4 in terms of number of donors to generate matching public funds. NOLC, CPBCTC, IAFF 43, IBEW 48 (#4), IW 29, LiUNA 737, SMART 16, UA 290, UFCW 555, PPA oliviaforportland.com
Lisa Freeman has worked in over a dozen countries for the U.S. Agency for International Development during times of government transition. She spent the last two years working as a manager in a City of Portland program working on gun violence reduction. CWA 7901, PROTEC17 lisaforportland.com
Mitch Green is an energy economist at Bonneville Power Administration. He’s also been a community college professor and served in the Army. His dad was a union welder in the Portland shipyard. AFSCME, AFSCME 189, 328, AFT-Oregon, AFT 2277 CWA 7901, IW 29, PAT, PROTEC17, UA 290, UFCW 555, WFP mitch4portland.com
Chad Lykins is the founder of the business Rose City Chess, which organizes camps and after school programs for kids. IBEW 48 (#3), IBT JC 37, PAT, PROTEC17, SEIU OLCS lykinsforportland.com
Tony Morse has worked as an attorney, judicial law clerk, real estate broker, and field organizer for Democratic political campaigns. He’s also a former addict in recovery for seven years and worked as policy advocate for the nonprofit group Oregon Recovers. If elected, he would focus on ending the addiction crisis playing out on Portland streets. NOLC, CPBCTC, AFSCME, AFSCME 189, AFSCME 328, ATU 757, IAFF 43, IAM, IBEW 48 (#1), IBT JC 37, IUPAT DC 5, IW 29 LiUNA 483, 737, NALC 82, SEIU, SMART 16, UA 290, UAW Region 6, UFCW 555, PPA OLCS tonyforpdx.com
Sarah Silkie is a 12-year Portland Water Bureau employee, where she works as an engineer. She’s also a steward in her union, PROTEC17. AFSCME, AFSCME 189, LiUNA 483, PAT, PROTEC17, WFP OLCS sarahsilkie.com
Moses Ross is a neighborhood activist, treasurer of the Multnomah County Democrats, and consultant for political campaigns. AFT 2277 moses4pdx.com
Eric Zimmerman spent 17 years as an army officer with assignments in Iraq, Kosovo, and Bangladesh and served as a major in the Oregon National Guard. He’s currently chief of staff for Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards and has worked in similar support roles in Portland, Medford, and Tigard. NOLC, CPBCTC, IBEW 48 (#2), IW 29, LiUNA 737, SMART 16, UFCW 555, PPA ez4pdx.com
ST. HELENS
Mayor
Jennifer Massey is a 25-year member of UA Local 290. She has served as an instructor at the union training center and as safety director for Harder Mechanical. She’s been active in the St. Helens community and served on the city budget committee. She faces incumbent mayor Rick Scholl and California attorney Steve Toschi. IBEW 48, UA 290, St. Helens Police Association jennifermasseyformayor.com
TIGARD
City Council (4-year term)
Jeanette Shaw is a lobbyist for Forth, a nonprofit group promoting electric vehicles. She’s one of four candidates seeking three seats. IAFF 1660, IBEW 48, Tigard Police Officers Association shawfortigard.com
City Council (2-year term)
Gabriel Velasquez has worked as a campaign staffer for numerous candidate campaigns, and legislative staffer for Daniel Nguyen, where he was a member of IBEW Local 89. He is one of five candidates seeking two seats. IAFF 1660, WFP gabevelasquez.com
WILSONVILLE
Mayor
Shawn O’Neil is a trial attorney and civic activists and former assistant state attorney general. UFCW 555 shawn4wilsonville.com
WASHINGTON
Washington ballots were mailed Oct. 18 and must be received in an official drop box or postmarked by Nov. 5.
FEDERAL OFFICES
U.S. SENATE
Maria Cantwell is seeking a fifth six-year term as U.S. Senator. A Democrat first elected in 2001, Cantwell holds a 95% lifetime voting score from the AFL-CIO, and a 100% score for 2023. Cantwell chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. She faces a challenge from Republican doctor Raul Garcia. WSLC, IBEW 48 Cantwell.com
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Congressional District 3 (SW Washington)
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D) is a running for a second two-year term. A graduate of Reed College, she owns a mechanic shop in Northeast Portland. She has an 80% voting score from the AFL-CIO for 2023, her first year in office, based on 10 tracked votes in the Republican-led House. That means she voted in sync with AFL-CIO recommendations on eight bills, including a vote for continued funding to avert a government shutdown. On two others, she went against the AFL-CIO: She voted to block President Biden’s student debt relief program (which was later struck down in court); and she voted for a bill that the AFL-CIO said would penalize unemployment insurance recipients for inadvertent errors in program administration. Perez again faces Republican Joe Kent, who she beat by less than 1% in 2022. Perez is proud of the role she played helping to secure federal funding to replace the heavily congested and earthquake-vulnerable Interstate Bridge; Kent has repeatedly spoken against the project. WSLC, WSBCTC, IBEW 48, IW 29, SMART 16 MarieForCongress.com
Congressional District 4 (Klickitat, Yakima, Okanagan)
Dan Newhouse (R), incumbent, has a 24% lifetime labor voting record according to the AFL-CIO, but has said he opposes efforts to eliminate the federal prevailing wage. After Jan. 6, 2021, he voted to impeach Donald Trump. This year, Trump endorsed Republican challenger Jerrod Sessler. Sessler outpolled Newhouse in the primary and the two face off again in the general. IW 29, UA 598 dannewhouse.com
WASHINGTON STATEWIDE RACES
Governor
Bob Ferguson (D), Washington’s current attorney general, faces former Republican Congressman Dave Reichert. Ferguson was the first attorney general to criminally prosecute wage theft. As attorney general he also sued the U.S. Department of Energy to force greater protections for Hanford nuclear workers. And he went to court to block the Kroger-Albertsons mega-merger at the request of grocery unions. He’s endorsed by more than 50 labor organizations, too many for us to list all of them. Meanwhile Reichert, during his seven terms as a Congressman, earned a 40% voting score from the national AFL-CIO, an egregiously anti-union record that included votes to repeal the prevailing wage and cut the budget of the NLRB. WSLC, AFT, ATU, IAM 751, IBEW 48, IW 29, LiUNA, SMART 66 BobFerguson.com
Lt. Governor
Denny Heck (D) is a former Congressman and incumbent lieutenant governor, first elected in 2020. Washington’s lieutenant governor functions as president of the State Senate and serves as governor whenever the governor is away or unable to do so. He faces Republican Dan Matthews. WSLC, IBEW 48 DennyHeck.com
Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs (D), the incumbent, is a former state senator. Washington’s secretary of state oversees elections, public records, and the registration and regulatory oversight of businesses and charities. He faces Republican Dale Whitaker. WSLC ElectHobbs.com
State Treasurer
Mike Pellicciotti (D) is a one-term incumbent and a former state representative. Before that he fought financial fraud as assistant attorney general. He faces Republican Sharon Hanek. WSLC ElectMikeP.com
State Auditor
Pat McCarthy (D) is a two-term incumbent and former Pierce County Executive. As state auditor, she’s responsible for independent audits of state and local governments. She faces Republican Matt Hawkins. WSLC PatMcCarthyAuditor.com
Attorney General
Nick Brown (D) is an Army veteran who has served as state and federal prosecutor and general counsel to Governor Jay Inslee. If elected attorney general, he says he would create a dedicated unit focused on enforcing worker protections and prosecuting wage theft. He faces Republican Pete Serrano. WSLC NickBrownForAG.com
Commissioner of Public Lands
Dave Upthegrove (D) is Chair of the King County Council and a former state representative. He faces former Republican Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler. WSLC, IAFF, IAM 751, UFCW 3000 upthegrove.org
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Chris Reykdal is the incumbent and a former teacher and school board member. WSLC, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF, IBEW 48, IW 29 ChrisReykdal.org
Insurance Commissioner
Patty Kuderer (D) has served as a state senator since 2017. She helped pass legislation to ensure that fire fighters who are diagnosed with work-related cancers are covered by workers comp. She’s also an advocate of universal health care. She faces Republican Phil Fortunato. WSLC, AFSCME IBEW 46, 77, IUOE 612 PattyKuderer.com
SUPREME COURT Position 2
Sal Mungia is a Tacoma attorney, former state bar president, and former Washington Supreme Court law clerk. He faces Federal Way Municipal Court Judge Dave Larson, a critic of recent decisions by the progressive-leaning state supreme court. WSLC, AFSCME, IAFF, IBEW 48, LiUNA 242, WEA, SEIU 775 salforjustice.com
WASHINGTON BALLOT MEASURES
Republicans haven’t controlled both houses of the Washington Legislature since 1998. Democrats have had majorities in both houses since 2018. But this year, thanks to millionaire hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, Republican Party chair Jim Walsh — a state representative from Aberdeen — hopes voters will roll back several big pieces of legislation the Democrats passed. They formed a political action committee called Let’s Go Washington, and Heywood contributed nearly $7 million of his own money to put three initiatives on the November ballot: I-2109, I-2117, and I-2124. The campaign paid petitioners to gathered 324,516 valid signatures on each of the initiatives. A fourth measure, I-2066, was put forward by the Building Industry Association of Washington.
I-2066 would restore rebates and incentives for natural gas adoption and bar any penalty for using natural gas in construction. It also bars state agencies from prohibiting, penalizing, or disincentivizing natural gas use, including in building codes. It would also repeal requirements in a 2024 law that mandate study of cost-effective electrification and alternatives to current and planned gas infrastructure projects.
- YES — UA 290 ProtectEnergyChoice.com
- NO — AFT, WEA SEIU 775, 925 SMART 66, UAW, UFCW 3000, UNITE HERE 8 no2066.org
I-2109 would repeal Washington’s new capital gains tax, a 7% tax on profits from the sale of stocks, bonds, and other capital assets. Only the wealthy (less than 1% of Washingtonians) pay the tax, because the first $262,000 of capital gains is exempt (rising each year for inflation), and the tax doesn’t apply to capital gains from real estate, timber, livestock, or retirement savings accounts. State lawmakers approved the capital gains tax in 2021 and the state supreme court upheld it in 2022. The law dedicates the first $500 million from the tax to K-12 schools, colleges, and early learning and child care programs. The tax generated about $786 million in 2023, its first year. Repealing it would put nearly $1 billion a year back in the pockets of the wealthy and blow a big hole in the state budget, leading either to cuts in schools and public services, or to increased taxes elsewhere, or some combination.
- NO – AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, Protec17, SEIU 775, 925, SMART 66, UAW, WSNA no2109.org
I-2117 would repeal the 2021 Climate Commitment Act, which caps and reduces greenhouse gas emissions and produces revenue for investments that address climate change. The program raised $1.8 billion in 2023 through quarterly auctions in which emission allowances are sold to businesses covered under the act — businesses that emit more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year. The initiative’s supporters call the law a hidden gas tax, but it’s not a gas tax — it’s a requirement that polluters get emission allowances via auction. Natural gas and electric utilities and trade-exposed industries, get free allowances to cover some emissions. Revenue from the auction is funding major transportation projects that are needed to reduce traffic congestion. The state building trades council says if it passes it will result in the loss of tens of thousands of high-wage jobs in building and construction trades.
- NO — AFL-CIO, SEIU 775, 925, 1199NW, UFCW 3000 no2117.com
I-2124 would allow state residents to opt out of Washington Cares, the state’s new public long-term care insurance program. Washington Cares is the first state-operated long-term care insurance program in the country, funded by a $0.58 tax on every $100 earned. It works something like Social Security: Everyone contributes (except federal employees and the self-employed), and that pays for a benefit if and when it’s needed. Participants become eligible after 10 years of contributions, and benefits include home health care, adult day care, nursing home care, and group home care. The program was created by legislation passed in 2019, but the tax only took effect in 2023, and the trust fund that tax is filling won’t start paying benefits until 2026. If I-2124 passes, Washington Cares supporters say it would kill the program, because it would shrink the risk pool and make payments more expensive for everyone who stays in. According to an analysis by the actuarial firm Milliman, making it voluntary would lead to a rise in premium rates, and would likely make the program unsustainable.
- NO — AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, ATU, IAM 751, IBT 117, WEA noon2124.org
WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE
Washington has 49 state legislative districts. In each district, voters elect one state senator who serves a four-year term and two state representatives who serve two-year terms.
District 14 (from Trout Lake to Pasco)
State Senator: Maria Beltran (D) is a former outreach worker for Congresswoman Kim Schrier, and former deputy director of the House Democratic Campaign Committee. WSLC, WSBCTC, AFSCME, AFT, IAM 751, IBEW 77, 112, IBT 117, 760, 839, WEA, SEIU 6, 775, 925, 1199NW, SMART, UA 598, UBC, UFCW 3000 votemariabeltran.com
State Representative, Position 1: Chelsea Dimas (D), the daughter of immigrant Mexican farmworkers, is a social justice activist and communications specialist for the prison reform group Civil Survival. WSLC chelseaforwa.com
State Representative, Position 2: Ana Ruiz Kennedy (D) works as a business liaison for a community development non-profit and is active on numerous civic committees in Pasco. She faces Republican Deb Manjarrez in a district whose boundaries were radically rewritten in March, extending it to the east by 50 miles. A federal judge ruled that was necessary in order to give Hispanic voters a better chance to elect candidates. WSLC, WSBCTC, AFSCME, IBEW 77, SEIU 775, UFCW 3000 anaruizkennedy.com
District 17 (Eastern Vancouver)
State Senator: Marla Keethler (D) is a sports TV producer and the mayor of White Salmon. She faces Republican Paul Harris for the seat currently held by Republican state senator Lynda Wilson, who’s not running for reelection. WSLC, WSBCTC, AFSCME, IAM 751, IBEW 48, IW 29, WEA, UBC MarlaForSenate.com
State Representative Position 1: Terri Niles (D), is an ICU nurse who has served on the executive committee for Oregon Nurses Association’s OHSU bargaining unit. She faces Republican David Stuebe. WSLC, WSBCTC, AFSCME, IAFF 452, IAM 751, IBEW 48, LiUNA, WEA, OFNHP, WSNA, UA 290 VoteTerriNiles.com
District 18 (Clark County)
State Senator: Adrian Cortes (D) is a Camas special ed teacher, member of the teachers union, and a city council member and former mayor of Battle Ground. He faces Republican Brad Benton, son of former state lawmaker and county commissioner Don Benton, for the seat currently held by Republican Ann Rivers, who’s not running for reelection. WSLC, WSBCTC, AFSCME, AFT, IAM 751, IBEW 48, LiUNA 335, WEA, WSNA, SEIU 775, UA 290 VoteCortes.com
State Representative Position 1: Deken Letinich (D) is a union construction worker and member of Laborers Local 335. He is challenging incumbent Republican state rep Stephanie McClintock. WSLC, WSBCTC, AFSCME 21, IAM 751, IBEW 48, 77, IUEC 23, IUOE 701, 612, 302, IUPAT DC 5, IW 29, 86, LiUNA 238, 242, 292, 335, 348, WEA, OFNHP, SEIU 925, 775, SMART, UA 290, 32, AWPPW, Insulators 36 ElectDeken.com
State Representative Position 2: John Zingale (D) is a middle school history teacher at a Vancouver public school, iTech Prep, and a member of the teachers union Vancouver Education Association. He’s running for the seat currently held by Republican Greg Cheney, who ran for state senate this year but didn’t make it past the primary. In a race two years ago for Position 1, Zingale garnered 48%. This year he faces Republican John Ley, a retired Delta airline pilot and former board member of the Airline Pilots Association. WSLC, WSBCTC, IAFF 452, IBEW 48, WEA, OFNHP, SEIU 775, 925, 1199NW ElectJohnZingale.com
District 19 (Longview to Aberdeen to coast)
State Senator: Andi Day (D), former executive director of the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, is challenging Republican incumbent Jeff Wilson. WSLC, WSBCTC, IBEW 48, UFCW 555 VoteAndiDay.com
State Representative Position 1: Mike Coverdale (D) a real estate broker and Army veteran, is challenging four-term Republican Jim Walsh, who is Republican Party state chair and sponsor of a batch of initiatives to undo laws passed by the Democratic majority in the Washington Legislature. WSLC, IBEW 48, OFNHP, AWPPW Mike19.com
State Representative Position 2: Terry Carlson (D), a former logger, works at the Weyerhaeuser mill in Longview and serves as recording secretary of his union, Woodworkers Local W535 of the International Association of Machinists. He’s also vice president of the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Central Labor Council. He’s challenging two-term Republican incumbent Joel McEntire. WSLC, WSBCTC, IAM, IBEW 48, UFCW 555 electterrycarlson.com
District 49 (Vancouver)
State Senator: Annette Cleveland (D) is the incumbent state senator and has served since 2013. Her votes in the legislature earned her a 100% rating from the Washington State Labor Council in 2024 and 98% for her entire time in office. WSLC AnnetteCleveland.com
State Representative Position 1: Sharon Wylie (D) is the incumbent representative and has served since 2011. The Washington State Labor Council gave Wylie a 100% record of voting with working people in 2024 and 97% for her entire time in office. WSLC ElectSharon.com
State Representative Position 2: Monica Stonier (D), a school teacher and union member, has held the seat since 2017. She earned a 100% voting record for 2024 from the Washington State Labor Council, and 98% for her entire time in office. WSLC VoteMonicaStonier.com
