110 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***
CRITICAL CHILDCARE INFRASTRUCTURE IS CRUMBLING
Accessible quality childcare is a looming crisis. Historically, the care and education of young children in this country has received little government attention or support. Even before the pandemic it was a patchwork of uneven regulation and quality that often depended on what families could find or afford. Safe, reliable, affordable childcare is vital to the economic well-being of working families. 11.8 million working families depend on non-family childcare in order to go to work.
Early childhood teachers and caregivers work in a field which pays low wages and rarely provides health insurance. They are returning to work in an environment with small children in which infectious diseases can be difficult to control.
Many of the childcare providers that closed due to the pandemic lack the financial support to reopen and to pay for the supplies necessary to prevent the spread of the virus. As parents are expected to return to work, there will be far fewer childcare options available—particularly in communities of color which were already underserved.
Demand that Congress fund safe affordable childcare for working families and their children, a living wage for teachers and caregivers, and the resources for providers to protect everyone from COVID-19.
Tell your Members of Congress to support the Coronavirus Child Care And Education Relief Act
**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 because many childcare providers won’t be able to afford to reopen as parents get back to work. Equally troubling, teachers and caregivers will be returning to work in an environment with small children in which infectious diseases can be difficult to control without proper deep cleaning and PPE.
I am asking the Senator to support the Coronavirus Child Care And Education Relief Act as part of an effort to provide safe affordable childcare for working families and their children, a living wage for teachers and caregivers, and the resources for providers to protect everyone from COVID-19.
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].
I am calling because many childcare providers won’t be able to afford to reopen as parents get back to work. Equally troubling, teachers and caregivers will be returning to work in an environment with small children in which infectious diseases can be difficult to control without proper deep cleaning and PPE.
Tell Greg Walden that I want him to support the Coronavirus Child Care And Education Relief Act as part of an effort to provide safe affordable childcare for working families and their children, a living wage for teachers and caregivers, and the resources for providers to protect everyone from COVID-19.
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 17, 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:
Child care industry, rocked by coronavirus, set to face new round of uncertainty
Exclusive: Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith have a plan to fix the pandemic child care crisis
Patty Murray proposes 430 billion for education to address covid-19 crisis
Oregon Child Care Center Has at Least 20 COVID-19 Cases, Eight of Them Kids
40% of Child Care Centers Say They’ll Close Permanently Without Public Assistance
How to save child care? The rural electrification of America provides an answer