111 Days
Until the November 3rd Election
Our Recommendations 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 recommend may be missing from this list.
**Let’s flip Oregon Congressional District 2 and make Oregon’s DC delegation 100% Blue!
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 House District 5: Alberto Enriquez
State House District 6: Mary Middleton
Jackson County Commissioner: Terrie Martin
Watch this space; more to come.
***Today’s Call To Action***
STOP TRUMP’S COPS FROM INCITING VIOLENCE IN PORTLAND
“We’ve done a great job in Portland,” Trump boasted Monday. “Portland was totally out of control. They (federal police) went in and . . . (w)e very much quelled it.”
Under the pretext of protecting monuments, Trump ordered dozens of federal law enforcement officers—armed and without name tags—to Portland. Last Saturday, one of those federal cops shot a young man in the head, requiring reconstructive surgery, according to his mother.
Demonstrators have taken to the streets daily to protest police violence in the wake of the George Floyd murder. Trump’s troops in Portland have aggressively and violently pushed back protesters, repeatedly using chemicals and weapons prohibited for use by Portland’s own police.
“There is no question President Trump is escalating this.”
(Senator Ron Wyden)
It’s a political stunt. His campaign manager said as much in a tweet Monday: “Biden is too weak to stand up to radicals . . . President Trump will ALWAYS stand strongly in support of our brave law enforcement officers.”
Call your members of Congress and DEMAND Trump’s troops leave Portland’s streets!
**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].
I am calling to thank the Senator for his letter to DOJ and DHS. I agree, “This politically driven federal response is intolerable . . . and potentially deadly.”
Trump boasted Monday that he has “done a great job in Portland.” In fact, Trump lied about protecting monuments to send federal police forces here. Trump’s cops have shot one person in the head and they have used chemical and other weapons repeatedly, night after night.
This is just a political stunt like his Bible photo op in DC. And the use of excessive force is designed to trigger a violent response. Please ask the Senator to use his voice to demand the administration withdraw these troops from our streets. There is no need for this. They have caused unnecessary and, at times, severe injuries.
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].
Trump boasted Monday that he has “done a great job in Portland.” In fact, Trump lied about protecting monuments to send federal police forces here. Trump’s cops have shot one person in the head and they have used chemical and other weapons repeatedly, night after night.
This is just a political stunt like his Bible photo op in DC. And the use of excessive force is designed to trigger a violent response. Tell Greg Walden to demand that the administration withdraw these troops from our streets. There is no need for this. They have caused unnecessary and, at times, severe injuries.
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**
July 15, 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.
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: Progressive Oregon Women Gender Bias Training with Dr. Carey Jean Sojka
July 19 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-progressive-oregon-women-gender-bias-training-with-dr-carey-jean-sojka/
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/
SOURCES:
Letter from four of Oregon’s federal lawmakers, July 14, 2020: Including Sens. Wyden and Merkley, and Representatives Bonamici and Blumenauer https://www.facebook.com/blumenauer/photos/pcb.10158525449271788/10158525420586788/?type=3&theater
To follow the nightly police violence on Twitter use hashtags #PortlandProtests and #PortlandProtest
Mayor Ted Wheeler, July 13, 2020: “The President did not quell it, he escalated it. His heavy-handed tactics led to a serious injury and enflamed an already tense situation.” https://twitter.com/tedwheeler/status/1282906574327967744
Trump’s campaign manager Tweet’s the political purpose behind the show of force, July 13, 2020: https://twitter.com/parscale/status/1282768375463251968
Twitter, July 12, 2020: “This appears to be the moment that #Portland protester was struck in the head and suffered a gruesome injury.” https://twitter.com/zerosum24/status/1282275808413966337
Twitter, July 11, 2020: “The officers have a shot someone in the head with what Appears to be an impact munition, there is a lot of blood” https://twitter.com/hungrybowtie/status/1282176328305762307
Washington Post, July 13, 2020: “Opinion | A protester was shot by police in Oregon. Democrats should demand answers. – The Washington Post”
Oregon Public Broadcasting, July 12, 2020” Federal Officers Shoot Portland Protester In Head With ‘Less Lethal’ Munitions . News | OPB
AP, July 10, 2020: Homeland Security officers deployed to Portland under Trump order protecting federal property, monuments | KTLA