PAge 4 | May 1, 2020 | NortHWest lABor Press
A union guide to Oregon’s May 19 primary election
Ballots can be confusing and
crowded. In this guide, lists only can-
didates who have opponents on the
ballot, and only those who have at
least one union endorsing them. Can-
didates are listed in the order you’ll
find them on the ballot. It’s too late to
register to vote or change party affili-
ation. Ballots were mailed Apr. 29 and
are due back May 19.
WHere Are tHe rePuBlIcANs?
For generations, unions have prided
themselves on maintaining independ-
ence from the two major political par-
ties. That stance is even baked into the
names of some union political commit-
tees, like the Machinists Non-Partisan
Political League or the Teamsters’ De-
mocrat Republican Independent Voter
Education (DRIVE) committee.
DeMocrAtIc PrIMAry
feDerAl offIce
u.s. senate
jeff Merkley is seeking a third six-year term. It
would be hard to find a stronger labor ally than
Merkley, who works harder than any other Oregon
member of Congress to stay in touch with Oregon’s
labor movement. The national AFL-CIO gives him a
99% lifetime voting record in Congress. AFL-CIO,
UFCW Jeffmerkley.com
u.s. House of representatives
Congressional District 1 (Portland/NW Oregon)
suzanne Bonamici voted in 2015 to fast-track
NAFTA-style trade deals, but other than that, she’s
been a reliably pro-labor Democrat, and co-sponsored
the PRO Act labor law reform bill. AFL-CIO, IAFF, IBT, IU-
PAT, OEA, SEIU, UFCW Bonamiciforcongress.com
Congressional District 2 (Bend/Eastern Oregon)
Nik Heuertz is a Rogue Valley native and former
owner of a local cell phone retail chain, running to
succeed Greg Walden. He’s for Medicare for All and a
Green New Deal. WFP NIKforCongress.com
Congressional District 3 (Portland/E.Multnomah Co.)
earl Blumenauer is seeking a seventh term. He
voted for fast track in 2015, but national AFL-CIO
rates him 93% for his lifetime pro-labor voting
record. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, IAFF, IBT, IUPAT, OEA, UFCW
EarlBlumenauer.com
Albert lee an Army veteran and academic dean at
PCC, he’s running an insurgent campaign against an
incumbent he says is too removed from the economic
crisis regular people face. AFT AlbertLee2020.com
Congressional District 4 (Eugene/ SW Oregon)
Peter Defazio is Oregon’s longest-serving incum-
bent in office since 1987. He’s a fierce critic of NAFTA-
style deals and a big proponent of infrastructure in-
vestment. AFL-CIO, AFT, IBT, OEA, UFCW, WFP
defazioforcongress.org
Doyle canning is a community organizer and envi-
ronmental law grad who opposes the Jordan Cove
pipeline terminal project and corporate influence in
politics. AFT 3544 CanningForCongress.com
Congressional District 5 (Salem/Clackamas/Coast)
Mark gamba, the mayor of Milwaukie, is challeng-
ing five-term incumbent Kurt Schrader, who has one
of the worst labor records of any Democrat in the
House. Not only has Schrader voted for every NAFTA-
style trade treaty, but he voted to restrict unioniza-
tion on Indian reservations, sponsored a bill to stop
slowdowns by longshore workers, and has engaged
in public carping against the national AFL-CIO. This
February he was one of only seven Democrats to vote
against a bill to make it easier to unionize and elimi-
nate anti-union “right to work” laws. Half a dozen na-
tional unions have given a total of about $20,000 to
Schrader in the last two years, but no local union ap-
pears to back him, and his campaign declined to list
any union endorsers or provide a list of union en-
dorsers to the Labor Press. With a $3 million cam-
paign war chest full of contributions from business
groups, Schrader may not feel he needs labor sup-
port. Meanwhile, Gamba is a well-like mayor who
helped build affordable housing and pass a $15-an-
hour minimum wage for city employees. He’s a big
advocate of Medicare for All and a Green New Deal.
AFM, AFT, IBT, ILWU, SEIU, WFP MarkGamba.com
stAteWIDe
secretary of state
Oregon’s Secretary of State oversees elections and ballot initiatives,
business registration and state archives, audits state agencies…and
becomes governor in case of a vacancy.
shemia fagan is an employment law attorney and
six-year state legislator. She challenged and toppled
an incumbent Senate Democrat who stood in the
way of tenant rights reform, and then helped pass a
statewide rent control law. The Oregon AFL-CIO
named her working family champion in 2019. She
voted against last year’s bill to cut PERS contribu-
tions. AFL-CIO, OBTC, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF, OEA, OSEA, SEIU
ShemiaForOregon.com
Mark Hass is a former TV journalist and a state law-
maker since 2001. In the Senate, he’s been one of the
more difficult Democrats for labor, killing bills in un-
recorded closed-door Senate Democratic caucus
meetings. He also helped craft last year’s Student
Success Act. He voted to cut PERS contributions. IBT
MarkHass.com
oregoN seNAte
Oregon’s 30 state senators serve four-year terms. Every two years, half
are up for election. Of the 18 senate seats held by Democrats, seven are
up this year. Three are open seats: Arnie Roblan of Coos Bay and Laurie
Monnes Anderson of Gresham aren’t running again, and Mark Hass of
Beaverton is running for secretary of state. Coos County Commissioner
Melissa Cribbins, a supporter of the Jordan Cove LNG pipeline and
terminal, is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination to
succeed Roblan. Ginny Burdick of Portland is the only incumbent state
senator to face a primary challenge. Three Democrats are also vying to
take on Republican Brian Boquist in Dallas, none with labor backing.
Senate District 14 (Beaverton)
Incumbent Mark Hass is running for secretary of state.
kate lieber is a former domestic abuse prosecutor
who teaches criminal justice at PCC and chairs the
Board of homeless non-profit Transition Projects. AFL-
CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF, IBEW 48, IUPAT, LiUNA, OEA,
OFNHP, OSEA, SEIU, UBC, UFCW KateForOregon.com
Dick schouten is a longtime Washington County
commissioner and is married to state rep Sheri Mal-
strom. IBT DickSchouten.com
Senate District 18 (Westside Portland)
Sadly, one party is increasingly hos-
tile to unions altogether. It didn’t used to
be that way, but today’s Republican can-
didates don’t ask for—and don’t want—
endorsements from unions.
Two years ago, Oregon Teamsters
sent an endorsement letter and $500 to
a Republican legislative candidate. The
candidate sent it back, saying it could
hurt him with Republican voters.
In office since 1997, incumbent Ginny Burdick is the longest-serving
Democrat in the Senate and the current state Senate majority leader. She
appears to have NO union support for re-election.
Ben Bowman, a Tigard-Tualatin School Board
member, school district lobbyist and former legisla-
tive staffer, is challenging longtime incumbent Ginny
Burdick. He wants Oregon to pass Clean Energy Jobs
bill, campaign finance reform, and expand mental
health and addiction treatment OBTC, IBEW 48, OEA,
OSEA, BenForOregon.com
We’re aware of only one union-en-
dorsed Oregon Republican in this year’s
primary: Restaurant owner Justin
Hwang, running for Oregon Senate Dis-
trict 25 in East Multnomah County, is
endorsed by the Oregon Building Trades
Council. We don’t list him below be-
cause he’s unopposed for the Republi-
can nomination, and we’re only listing
candidates who have opposition.
ForOregon.org
christina stephenson is a civil rights attorney who
worked with unions to craft a 2017 fair scheduling
law and a 2019 law requiring employers to have poli-
cies for employees to report discrimination and sex-
ual assault. AFL-CIO, OBTC, ATU 757, Boilermakers 104,
IAFF, IBEW 48, ILWU, IUPAT, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, UBC
ChristinaStephenson.com
House District 36 (Portland)
Incumbent Democrat Jennifer Williamson declined to run for re-
election so she could run for secretary of state, but then dropped out.
oregoN House of rePreseNtAtIVes rob fullmer is an IT specialist at PSU, and a union
All 60 state house seats are up every two years. Only eight have more
than one Democrat seeking the seat. Six of those are open seats where
the incumbnt isn’t running. Only one incumbent is facing a primary
challenge - Rob Nosse of Portland.
House District 19 (Salem)
Republican Raquel Moore-Green was appointed to this seat to replace
Denys Boles, who was appointed to the state senate when Republican
Jackie Winters died.
jackie leung is a Salem City Council member, a for-
mer member of the Coalition of Graduate Employees
at Oregon State University, and a graduate of the
Oregon Labor Candidate School. IBEW 280
JackieForOregon.org
House District 28 (Aloha/Beaverton)
Incumbent Democrat Jeff Barker declined to run for re-election
Wlnsvey campos is a case manager for a housing
non-profit, and a former political organizer for the
Oregon Nurses Association and the union-backed
group Our Oregon. She wants more affordable hous-
ing and a higher minimum wage. AFL-CIO, OBTC, AF-
SCME, AFT, IAFF, IUPAT, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA,
SEIU, UBC, UFCW camposfororegon.com
House District 32 (Astoria)
Incumbent Democrat Tiffiny Mitchell, an SEIU member who voted to
cut her fellow members pensions, declined to run for re-election after
serving just one term, and didn’t announce until the filing deadline.
Debbie Boothe-schmidt is a trial assistant at Clat-
sop County and former president of her local union,
AFSCME Local 2746. SEIU DebbieForOregon.com
House District 33 (Portland)
Incumbent Democrat Mitch Greenlick declined to run for re-election
serin Bussell worked in procurement for three years
at Metro, and served as a shop steward there with
AFSCME Local 3580. She left to run Charles Gallia’s
unsuccessful campaign for state senate, and then
served as chief of staff for State Sen. Jeff Golden.
She’s a graduate of the Oregon Labor Candidate
School. She favors public financing of elections. AFT,
AFSCME SerinForStateRep.com
Maxine Dexter, a critical care doctor and former
member of the board of Kaiser Permanente, is an ad-
vocate of universal health care. IBT, OFNHP Maxine-
ForOregon.com
Andy saultz, an education professor at Pacific Uni-
versity, was formerly a teachers union member in
Michigan. He’s a graduate of the Oregon Labor Candi-
date School. OSEA, Insulators, Glaziers 740. Andy-
steward and member of the SEIU Local 503 executive
board. A graduate of the Oregon Labor Candidate
School, he wants to end Oregon’s income tax kicker and
improve school funding. AFT, SEIU RobForOregon.com
laurie Wimmer is a longtime lobbyist for the Ore-
gon Education Association, Oregon’s teachers union,
and is considered an expert on the state budget. She
wants to enact tax reforms so that big corporations
and the wealthy pay more. AFL-CIO, AFM, AFSCME, AFF,
IAFF, IBEW 48, IBT, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, UBC,
UFCW, WFP LaurieForOregon.com
House District 42 (Portland)
Paige kreisman is a trans woman, army veteran,
and housing activist. She’s challenging Rob Nosse be-
cause of his vote to cut PERS. She wants to fight for
campaign finance reform, affordable housing, and a
Green New Deal. AFSCME, AFT, CWA, OEA, OSEA
Paige2020.com
rob Nosse is a union rep for Oregon Nurses Associa-
tion (and member of Teamsters Local 223). He’s seek-
ing a fo----urth term in the House. He wants to
champion universal healthcare and an end to public
college tuition. IBT, ONA, UFCW RobNosse.com
House District 46 (Portland)
Incumbent Democrat Alissa Keny-Guyer declined to run for re-election
khanh Pham is an organizer with OPAL Environ-
mental Justice Oregon, and helped organize a grad
student union at PSU. She wants Oregon to pass an
Green New Deal and build more affordable housing.
AFL-CIO, OBTC, AFSCME, AFT, IBEW 48, IBT, IUPAT, OEA,
SEIU, UFCW KhanhPhamForOregon.com
House District 50 (Gresham)
Incumbent Democrat Carla Piluso declined to run for re-election
ricki ruiz is the community services coordinator for
the City of Gresham and a member of the Reynolds
School Board. He wants Oregon to invest more in
schools, affordable housing, crime prevention, and
mental health support. AFL-CIO, OBTC, AFSCME, IBEW
48, OEA, OFNHP, OSEA, UFCW, WFP Ricki4oregon.com
William Miller is an advocacy manager at the Na-
tive American Youth and Family Center. He wants the
justice system to use alternatives to incarceration.
AFT, IBT William4oregon.com