47 Days
Until the November 3rd Election
We’ve been calling it the November 3rd election, but it really takes place in OCTOBER. Mail service could be iffy this year with Trump and DeJoy attacking the USPS. We urge you to vote early, use a ballot box if you can get to one, then track your ballot (more on tracking once the ballots are mailed).
Important Dates:
October 13: Last day to register to vote; postmark or online by 11:59 pm
October 14-20: Voter’s ballots mailed; find your ballot box
October 20: Last day for county Voter’s Pamphlet distribution
October 21: Our recommended last day to mail your ballot
November 3: Ballots must be in a ballot box or with the county clerk by 8 pm
We invite you to watch and share this YouTube video by ORD2 Indivisible co-founder, Jessica Sage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQNs_kR5JN0
Our Endorsements for November
What Voting Blue means to us: We Steering Committee members are pragmatic progressives with no “purity or litmus tests” for our key issues. Rather, we will support the candidate that comes closest to our positions, which means that moderate Joe Biden is much preferred to fascist Donald Trump. And, electability matters; one can’t govern from the sidelines. Sometimes that means backing someone who looks less blue than their opponent, someone who is in a better position to be elected and actually help us. Finally, some candidates might want us to maintain our distance for political reasons specific to their constituencies. We respect that, so people we would otherwise endorse may be missing from this list.
President: Joe Biden
U.S. Senate: Jeff Merkley
U.S. Congress CD2: Alex Spenser
Secretary of State: Shemia Fagan
State Treasurer: Tobias Read
State Attorney General: Ellen Rosenblum
State Senate District 2: Jerry Allen
State Senate District 28: Hugh Palcic
State House District 4: Mary Middleton
State House District 5: Pam Marsh
State House District 6: Alberto Enriquez
Jackson County Commissioner: Terrie Martin
***Today’s Call To Action***
Attack Structural Racism
W.E.B. DuBois recognized America’s split personality—as the land of the free and the home of the slave—which we’ve never had the will to change.
The contradiction continues: George Floyd’s murder, the coronavirus pandemic’s highly uneven impact on communities of color, and Trump’s callous responses to both, are finally making some white Americans confront deep-seated racial inequities. The more than 23 million who’ve participated in Black Lives Matter protests since May—supported by 87% of Democrats, 76% of Independents, and 53% of Republicans—make Black Lives matter the largest protest movement in American history.
We must not waste this energy for transformative change. Rather than focusing solely on police and criminal justice reform, we must push to eliminate the structural racism keeping people of color from achieving their full potential as equals to the white ruling class by reinvesting in their communities. We DEMAND that these first steps be taken immediately:
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Pass the HEROES, George Floyd Justice in Policing and Emmett Till Antilynching Acts in the Senate.
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Enact the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, which identifies systemic racism as a public health crisis and requires the CDC to develop both anti-racist health policies and programs preventing law enforcement violence.
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Commit this country, through our elected representatives at all levels of government, to make racial equity and economic justice a fundamental consideration when making any policy decision.
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY and WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Due to structural racism, communities of color are being disproportionately harmed and killed by police violence and COVID-19. [For Merkley only: Please thank the Senator for co-sponsoring the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, which is a good first step in the fight against structural racism.] Please ask the Senator to use his influence to convince the Senate immediately to PASS the HEROES Act, H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and H.R. 35, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act and the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act.
Finally, please ask him to help commit this country to make racial equity and economic justice fundamental considerations when making any policy decision.
Thank you.”
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR RON WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code].
Due to structural racism, communities of color are being disproportionately harmed and killed by police violence and COVID-19. Please ask Greg to co-sponsor the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, which is a good first step in the fight against structural racism and to use his last few months in office to convince the House to commit to post-pandemic rebuilding based on anti-racism and economic justice.
Where’s Walden? History is watching; Greg’s legacy is at stake.
Thank you.”
COMPLICIT GREG WALDENDC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**
September 18, 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ongoing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
#MyORHealth Support is available for Oregon’s “helpers”
Lines for Life has created a Virtual Wellness Room to offer support to helpers, mental health professionals, first responders, social workers and anyone considered an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon. Each check-in call will have a facilitator to guide the conversation.
“We at Lines for Life want to thank you for all the work you do to keep our communities safe,” the organization said. “We are offering a place for helpers to exchange stories of hope and areas of need. We especially want to hear what things are coming up for you personally and explore how we can cheer one another on to continue the good work you are already doing. We ultimately want to create space to breathe out stress and breathe in hope.”
The meetings are held using Zoom conference calls from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this link: https://zoom.us/j/4848426773. Please share this invite with anyone in your network of Oregon helpers.
Ongoing Action: ORD2 Indivisible Virtual Postcard and Letter Writing Parties
Postcards to Voters:
Our postcard team is temporarily suspending the delivery of postcards to your door. However, the good news is that you will find everything you need to continue writing from home (including templates to print your own or purchase pre-printed cards) here: https://postcardstovoters.org
You can sign up through https://postcardstovoters.org/volunteer/
To avoid unnecessary trips to the post office, order stamps directly from the USPS:
https://store.usps.com/store/product/buy-stamps/coral-reefs-postcard-stamp-S_745104
…and voila, you’re ready to go! Send an e-mail to with any questions.
Letters to Voters
We encourage our team of volunteers to sign up with Swing Left to start writing letters to voters in 12 swing states. It is super easy to join. Check out their website, sign up, and let’s start writing! https://swingleft.org/
Send an e-mail to if you would like more information about how to get involved.
Virtual Letter-writing Parties
We encourage you to join virtual letter-writing parties hosted by Oregon Indivisible / Swing Left. The parties are held at noon every Saturday and on the last Tuesday of every month. Here are the links for the next two parties:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/267146/
**Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. We also encourage you to submit events to be added to the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar and help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/