Throughout this year, we have seen crisis after crisis lay bare the unjust system that leaves too many of us to fend for ourselves with too few resources. During this election cycle - and throughout this year - we’ve seen how much stronger we are when we come together to forge a new path and fight for strong, equitable policies that support our communities.
This election, we saw the incredible people power of our field and volunteer team who came out to engage our community. Together, we made nearly 400,000 phone calls, sent 217,000 texts and hosted 106 phone and text banking shifts to fight for our future. We prove time and time again that Asian American and Pacific Islander voices and voices of people of color deserve to be in all of the places that decisions are being made.
Our community matters in an election, not only as voters but as leaders in the halls of power. As we wait for ballots to be counted to finalize a few remaining results, we are fired up for the historic, community-rooted leaders we know are coming into office:
After 20 years of no API representation in Oregon’s state legislature, Representative-elect Khanh Pham will be our first Vietnamese American to serve in the legislature, and first Asian American to represent her district.
Joining Khanh in the legislature is Representative-elect Wlnsvey Campos, the first Latina to represent District 28 and youngest legislator ever elected in Oregon at 24 years old.
Representative-elect RickiRuiz will also be the first Latino to represent his district and one of the youngest legislators at 26.
This election also impacted the face of our local leadership. We are proud to support Councilor-elect Nadia Hasan and Commissioner-elect Nafisa Fai as our first female Muslim electeds in Oregon and strong women of color leaders representing diverse communities of Washington County.
We are creating an inclusive, multiracial democracy where all of our communities have a voice and the opportunity to pass measures created by the community and elect community leaders to drive community solutions we want to see.
This election has brought historic investments that will support our futures by supporting our libraries, creating universal preschool, expanding parks and recreation access, and ensuring necessary school repairs and investments. We created campaign finance limits so grassroots candidates no longer have to face off against status quo candidates backed by a flood of corporate dollars. And we supported our communities by fighting back in the war on drugs by decriminalizing possession and investing in mental health and treatment centers.
Unfinished business
In a night of historic firsts, we were defeated by all too familiar forces. Corporate misinformation and the demonization of the Let’s Get Moving transportation campaign prevailed and we lost Measure 26-218, which would have made long-term and needed investments in our transportation system.
We were also disappointed to lose a renters rights champion in Chloe Eudaly who lost her race for Portland City Commissioner, but we will continue to fight for the policies and vision she sought to advance.
In a highly competitive race for the Lane County Commission, Joel Iboa was narrowly defeated.
This year, we also faced the opportunity of having a record number of API representatives in the legislature. We congratulate and thank Jackie Leung and Cal Mukumoto for their incredible campaigning and look forward to supporting them in the future.
While we celebrate our victories, we know our fight continues. We are working towards a bigger transformation than just one election, and we are in it for the long term. We’ll continue to care for and protect each other, as we have throughout this year, and we encourage everyone to center rest, healing, and rejuvenation to sustain our movement (check out EPALF 2020 for some great ways to do that). Soon enough, we’ll be rolling up our sleeves again and organizing together for the important fights ahead in the legislative session and in future elections.
State races
Shemia Fagan, Secretary of State
Cal Mukumoto, House District 9
Jackie Leung, House District 19
Wlnsvey Campos, House District 28
Khanh Pham, House District 46
Ricki Ruiz, House District 50
Deb Patterson, Senate District 10 (currently too close to call, stay tuned for updates)
Local Races
Nadia Hasan, Beaverton City Council
Chloe Eudaly, Portland City Council
Joel Iboa, Lane County Commission
Nafisa Fai, Washington County Commission
Eddy Morales, Gresham Mayor (currently too close to call, stay tuned for updates)
Ballot Measures
Statewide – Yes for a Healthy Future, Measure 108
Metro- Yes for Getting There Together, Measure 26-218
Statewide – Yes for Fair and Honest Elections, Measure 107
Statewide – Yes for Drug Addiction Treatment & Recovery Act, Measure 110
Multnomah – Yes for Preschool for All, Measure 26-214
Multnomah – Yes for Our Libraries, Measure 26-215
Portland – Yes for Portland Public Schools Bond Renewal, Measure 26-208
Portland-Yes for Portlanders for Parks, Measure 26-213
This programming message is brought to you by APANO, a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization.
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