Florida Fundraiser Next Week!
Meet and support Florida House candidates Ricky Junquera and Franccesa Cesti-Browne. Sign up now to attend on Wednesday, September 23, 4:30 - 5:30pm.
They need our help. OSTPDX is working on several fronts to make sure we Flip Florida Blue. Supporting Junquera and Cesti-Browne are essential to our strategy. Votes for these candidates will drive votes up the ballot to Biden and Harris. By flipping the Florida House we put the brakes on voter disenfranchisement, stand-your-ground laws, and gerrymandering while supporting Medicaid and climate and social justice.
Up to the first $2,000 of your donation will be matched one-to-one, doubling your impact.
Ricky Junquera, HD 118, is a Cuban American who grew up in Miami, raised by a single mom and grandmother. After college, he worked on climate issues with the Sierra Club, helping to reinforce the “Thin Green Line” in the NW, and now serves as Regional Press Secretary in Florida. He's a strong advocate for gun control, immigrant rights, and healthcare.
Franccesca Cesti-Browne, HD115, immigrated from Peru at the age of eight. First in her family to graduate from college, she has deep roots in her community. She works in community-based organizations on education, healthcare, and other social services. When the Florida legislature reversed majority support for giving the right to vote to former felons, she was outraged and decided to run for the legislature.
If you can't make it to the fundraiser on Wednesday, please consider making a direct donation to the candidates.
Learn More about Important Races in Oregon
While we work to get Biden/Harris elected and focus on Florida, trouble is brewing right here in Oregon. Two weeks ago, at OST’s online meeting we featured two key Senate candidates, Eileen Kiely from Bend and Deb Patterson in south Salem. We learned their opposition is funded by Timber Unity, which is intent on keeping Tim Knopp's seat in Bend and Denyc Bole's seat in south Salem.
The Oregon House needs help, too! While Democrats have a solid majority in the House, Timber Unity and other well-funded conservative organizations are targeting key seats. They have money and a constituency willing to do whatever it takes to get more Republicans in both the House and the Senate. Here is a brief synopsis of some important races. Please visit the candidates’ websites and do what you can, especially donate.
Four important seats in the Oregon House
Cal Mukumoto, HD 9, is running to replace retiring Democrat Representative Caddy McKeown. Cal is a forestry expert and management consultant who served on the Board of Forestry. Currently, he is chairman of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission. He supports climate legislation, public schools, veteran services, and small business. Cal deeply understands the importance of sustainable forestry and has been a civic leader in Coos Bay for many years. He has a tough race against his well-funded opponent Republican Boomer Wright.
Jackie Leung, HD 19, currently sits on the Salem City Council and is running for the House to broaden her reach. She is a Pacific Islander with a background in public health and law. She serves on several boards and commissions focused on domestic and sexual violence and public health. She is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, Oregon Education Association, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), and more. Her opponent is the incumbent and is supported by Oregon Right to Life and Oregonians for Food and Shelter, among others. Jackie needs our financial support.
Anna Williams, HD 52. We helped elect Anna last year, but her opponent has returned and is challenging her with the help of Timber Unity money. OSTPDX has endorsed Anna, and OST members are holding an online meet-the-candidate fundraiser for her on October 5 from 5:30 -6:30pm.
Debbie Boothe Schmidt, HD 32. Remember Tiffany Mitchell whom many OST folks worked for in 2018? She had to leave the legislature, and Debbie is running to replace her. Her well-funded opponent is the conservative mayor of Tillamook, who is receiving lots of support from Timber Unity and other conservative organizations. OSTPDX has endorsed Debbie, and OST members are holding a fundraiser for her and Anna Williams on October 5 at 5:30.
Thank you for your interest in Oregon's future!
Don’t Give Up on Swing-State Relatives!
Do you have loved ones in swing states who are still undecided voters? Want to set them straight but don’t know how? Here’s an easy way that one OSTPDX member suggests: invite them to watch an upcoming PBS Frontline program with you!
The Choice 2020: Trump vs. Biden airs on PBS on Tuesday, September 22, at 9:00pm PDT. This trustworthy, two-hour look into the candidates’ lives and values will help cut through the partisan ads and misinformation your family members are being bombarded with. And it will give you lots to talk about!
In addition to watching Frontline on TV,The Choice 2020 can be seen on youtube.com/frontline, streamed on pbs.org/frontline, or watched on the PBS video app.
Send your loved ones this link to the trailer. And make sure they know how and where to vote!
Comments