(Source: Vaughn for Oregon/Facebook)
Yesterday, I interviewed Nik Heuertz, a Democrat running for Congress in Oregon's 2nd congressional district. In that interview, I mentioned how he is running in a primary with four competitors, including fellow progressive Chris Vaughn. Recently, I was able to speak with Chris about his run for the seat, and to see what he brings to the table.
What inspired you to run for Congress in the first place?
"I believe that many Americans believe the American dream is out of reach for them. Congress is full of millionaires and wealthy individuals that don’t understand the day to day issues facing working class Americans. Many in Congress are beholden to corporate interest and they aren’t willing to take bold initiatives that help the majority of Americans. I think Congress should look like the people it represents. That should include a variety of representatives with different religious and ethnic backgrounds. It should also include members of various economic backgrounds. Millionaires and very wealthy individuals are vastly overly represented in Congress when compared to the American population. As a working-class American I understand what it’s like to have health insurance but not be able to afford out of pocket expenses and copays. Or not have health insurance at all. I understand what it’s like to live pay check to pay check. As we have all seen during the Covid-19 crisis, working class Americans and essential workers are always the first to be hit hard during a crisis. By electing more working-class Americans to Congress, the American people can get more of what they want. They can get a Congress that works for them. Poll after poll has shown that the majority of people support progressive values. I will fight hard for those progressive values."
What is your main strategy to win?
"To win the primary my main strategy has been to appeal to working-class Americans. And to promote an agenda of compassion for people. Compassion for me means Medicare for All, racial equality, racial justice, keeping immigrant families together, ending the system of paternalism that exist with Native American tribes and LGBTQ equality. To win the general election my strategy is to appeal to Democrats, Independents and moderate Republicans that want a representative in Congress that isn’t beholden to special interest. I believe that many Independents that voted for Donald Trump in 2016 did so out of desperation because they saw him as an outsider that would shake things up in Washington D.C. People are sick of the status quo. But what many of those voters probably didn’t expect is that Donald Trump would be a total crook, a President with no compassion, a President that only thinks of himself and is extremely incompetent. I would appeal to those voters to vote Democratic in 2020 and to vote for me to represent Oregon's 2nd Congressional District, as someone that will shake things up in Washin[g]ton D.C. I am not beholden to any corporate interest and will fight for working-class Americans."
You're running in a crowded Democratic primary, including against Nik Heuertz, another progressive. How do you make the case to Democratic voters in your district that you're the best candidate?
"Nik is doing good work and I hope to work with him on progressive issues. I think what sets us apart are our backgrounds. Nik is a business owner. The top two professions in Congress are business owners and lawyers. They are way over represented in Congress when compared to the general population. I think it’s time we elect more working-class Americans to represent us in Congress. And many working-class Americans are also the essential workers during this COVID-19 crisis. We need to elect more farm workers, we need to elect more teachers, we need to elect more factory workers, we need to elect my [sic] grocery workers, we need more essential workers representing us in Congress."
Your district is the reddest in your home state. It hasn't been represented by a Democrat since the early 1980s, and it voted for Trump by over 20 points in 2016. If you make it to the general election, how do you plan on winning over these voters?
"The good news for Democrats is they are gaining on Republicans in the 2nd Congressional District. The Bend, OR. Metro area is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. The biggest metro areas in the Oregon 2nd Congressional District are turning bluer every year and are the fastest growing areas of the district. In the last several Congressional elections Greg Walden the Republican has done consistently worse, although he still one the district by large margins. I plan to appeal to Democrats, Independents and moderate Republicans that are tired on Donald Trump's incompetence and his compassionless leadership. To appeal to voters that want someone representing them that will shake things up and be beholden to working-class Americans."
Your platform includes Medicare For All, a Green New Deal, legalizing marijuana, a $15 minimum wage, and ending corporate welfare. Among all your policies, which one is the most important to you?
"They are all extremely important because most of them appeal to working-class Americans that have been hurting for several decades now. But the most important one is climate change and protecting our environment. I heard it said before that Planet Earth doesn’t need humans but humans need Planet Earth. If we don’t fix the issues with climate change and our environment, the planet will fix them for us. If humans want to be part of the equation in the future of this planet we need to get to work now on solving the problems we face."
You also address the need to overturn Citizens United in your platform. Are there any other policies within the issue of campaign finance reform you wish to address?
"It is going to be difficult to fix the issues facing working-class Americans without getting money out of politics. We need to end Citizen United. We need to enact legislation that would make it illegal for a former Congressional Representative to lobby Congress for the first few years they are no longer in Congress. We need to ban PACS or at the very least end the loop holes that allow people to anonymously contribute to them. Maybe even have some form of public financing of elections."
Will you pledge to cosponsor the We the People Amendment (introduced in the House this session as H.J.Res.48) that would declare that corporations are not people, and that money is not speech?
"Yes of course I would."
One issue that I've recently started to prioritize is some form of a direct democracy at a national level. Would you support that (you don't need to worry about the details right now, just whether or not you're in favor of some form of it)?
"Yes, it’s not really a Democracy if it’s not direct. We have had two Presidents elected in the past 20 years that were not voted in by the majority of voters. That needs to end."
Another candidate that I've interviewed, Daniel Kilgore, who ran for Congress in Ohio, had a fantastic idea for a bill that I wanted to get your opinion on -- the Aaron Burr: Public Servants Trust Act -- which he says is "designed to fine those taking lobbyist funds before a vote or insider trading." What do you say to that? Would you support it in Congress?
"Yes, it’s probably something I would support. I would need to know more about the details but I agree with it in principle. We just had a huge problem with several members of Congress selling stock in companies they knew would be affected by the COVID-19 process. That is why the American people no longer have faith in Congress. They see Congress is only caring about themselves and their corporate buddies."
Anything you'd like to add?
"I believe in Franklin Roosevelt[']s 2nd Bill of Rights. It was proposed but never enacted. It would give Americans the right to work and have a good job. A job that would provide a living wage to provide for food, clothing and leisure. Farmers rights to a fair income. Freedom from unfair competition and monopolies, adequate housing, Medicare for All and an education. I will fight to enact the provisions of that 2nd Bill of Rights. I hope I can earn the support and votes of Oregonians so I can give them a seat at the table in Washington D.C."
If you guys would like to learn more about Chris, you can check out his website, and Oregon's primary is on May 19. Thank you so much to Chris for agreeing to this interview!
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