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Overview of OR 2020 Election
Oregon remains blue, with Dems ruling the top of the State ballot (Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer), but we didn’t make gains in down-ballot races. The margins of Dem wins in the state (including Rep. Anna Williams) were smaller than in the past. We didn’t secure a quorum-proof SuperMajority in the state legislature, so we can’t prevent walk-outs by GOP legislators. However, there were some bright spots - for example, in Bend House races. Timber Unity candidates, mostly rural, won consistently, and will be a force in our future.
Overall, the Republicans put themselves where they wanted to be in the state legislature and with a governor that is both a lame-duck and unpopular in rural areas. Our work as progressives is cut out for us in 2022, our next election cycle
Going forward, OR Dems need to focus on recruiting, promoting, and funding rural candidates, and on creating a broad message that will unify and benefit candidates.
[content credit to COIN, Coonsolidated OOregon Indivisible Network]
Speaking of recruiting and promoting rural candidates…
Have you ever thought of running for office? Not just state positions, but city, county, and special district? Or do you know someone you think would be great in an elected position?
Two things to know:
- even “obvious” and highly qualified people, especially women, need to be asked. ASK THEM.
- Emerge Oregon is our state chapter of the national Emerge organization. It trains and supports OR Dem women to run for all levels of office. Emerge had over three dozen women win state and local positions on Nov. 3. The 2021 training class is full. The 2022 training class is now taking applications.
Indivisible National’s core advocacy issues for 2021:
Democracy reform (top priority), economic justice, climate, health care and immigration, with a connecting thread of racial justice through all of them.
Read about them here.
Pebble mine: Environmentalists, take note. Activists, take heart.
The Pebble mine project, to extract rich copper, gold, and molybdenum mineral deposits, has been stealthily advancing for more than 20 years now. It would be an environmental disaster in the rich and sensitive Bristol Bay area of SW Alaska, devastating salmon fisheries and indigenous land and cultures.
It should have had a nail put in its coffin long ago. The current permit denial (by the Army Corps, no less!) is the strongest nail yet, and is 101% due to sustained, vocal fighting back by environmental activists and environmental advocacy groups.
This denial is not final, though - the project owners are planning to appeal (of course). A more comprehensive and long-term shut-down would come from an EPA denial based on the Clean Water Act.
If you have weighed in as an activist on this project in the past, YAY for you! And if you ever wonder if your efforts matter, take heart.
Quote
“Competence is the new cool.” - Dan Rather, on Twitter.
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