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Writer's pictureAlex Kawa

War on the Swamp Endorsements for 5/19 Oregon Primaries

Hi everybody! Well, just like I promised, I'm here today to announce War on the Swamp's endorsements for the upcoming primaries next Tuesday, May 19, in Oregon (and Idaho, but I didn't really find any candidates endorsement-worthy). I was fortunate enough to find progressives running in all five of the state's districts, and I even had the pleasure of interviewing some of them. So, here they are, War on the Swamp's endorsements for Oregon's congressional primaries.


Amanda Siebe

(Source: Ballotpedia)


Amanda is a progressive Democrat challenging incumbent corporate Democrat Rep. Susan Bonamici in Oregon's 1st district. Since being diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) in 2012, she has become an outspoken disability rights advocate, and would be the only disabled woman in the House if elected. She is running on a populist, progressive platform of Medicare For All, a Green New Deal, a living wage, paid vacation/sick leave, a non-interventionist foreign policy, publicly-financed elections, etc.


Honorable Mention: Heidi Briones


Chris Vaughn

(Source: Vaughn for Oregon/Facebook)


I had the pleasure of interviewing Chris just a couple of weeks ago, and I was very impressed with him and his run to replace District 2 Republican Rep. Greg Walden. While it was a tough decision as to who to endorse between him and fellow progressive Nik Heuertz (who I also interviewed), Chris won me over with his working-class background, as opposed to Nik's background as a business owner, and made the compelling point that more voices like him are needed in Congress, especially given times like this. Chris's policies include Medicare For All, a Green New Deal, legalizing marijuana, a living wage, campaign finance reform, and an end to corporate welfare.


Honorable Mention: Nik Heuertz


Albert Lee

(Source: Ballotpedia)


Albert is running against longtime Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer of the 3rd district, who, despite a progressive voting record in many areas, also has serious blind spots, and is not above taking large amounts of corporate PAC and lobbyist money. Albert, on the other hand, is running a grassroots, populist-left campaign that has been endorsed by Brand New Congress, Our Revolution, the Portland chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, etc. His platform includes Medicare For All, affordable housing, getting money out of politics, a living wage, protecting unions, ending corporate welfare, and raising taxes on the wealthy.


Doyle Canning

(Source: Brand New Congress)


Like Albert, Doyle is challenging a longtime Democratic incumbent (Rep. Peter DeFazio of the 4th district) who, despite his progressive voting record, is not above being a corporate Democrat. Doyle, meanwhile, is running on a progressive platform that includes Medicare For All, a Green New Deal, canceling student loan debt, affordable housing, ending the wars, and tuition-free college.


Mark Gamba

(Source: Mark Gamba for Congress/Twitter)


Mark's race in the 5th district against Democratic Rep. Kurt Schrader is arguably the most important, as Schrader is by far the most conservative Democrat of those in Oregon's congressional delegation. He voted against a living wage, to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, and to cut the HUD budget, according to Mark in my interview with him, just to name a few. Meanwhile, as mayor of Milwaukie, Oregon, Mark implemented a $15 minimum wage, a bold climate action plan, affordable housing investments, and bike/pedestrian infrastructure spending. He will continue to fight for these policies and more, such as Medicare For All, in Congress.


So, those are War on the Swamp's endorsements for the Oregon primaries next Tuesday! Good luck to all of them, and if you live in Oregon, vote! Here is information on that. Thank you, and have a great day!

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