Race for Oregon secretary of state heats up
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The race to become Oregon’s next secretary of state has heated up, with former House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson announcing her candidacy.
The Democratic state representative from Portland said Wednesday her priorities, if she wins, would be to keep elections free and fair and protect them from foreign tampering; work to limit big corporate money in elections, and draw fair lines for political districts so people of color and minority communities have a voice.
Also running as Democratic candidates are Jamie McLeod-Skinner, a Terrebonne woman who in 2018 tried to unseat Republican Rep. Greg Walden in Congress, losing but coming closer than any previous Democratic challenger, and state Sen. Mark Hass.
No Republicans have formally filed as candidates.
Secretary of State Bev Clarno, a Republican from Redmond appointed to the position by Gov. Kate Brown, is not a candidate.
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News release from Jennifer Williamson:
Democrat Jennifer Williamson enters race for Oregon Secretary of State
“This election is about protecting our basic rights and standing up for our democracy.”
“This election is fundamentally about one thing: safeguarding our democracy,” Representative Jennifer Williamson said today as she officially entered the race for Oregon Secretary of State. Williamson said she is running to build on her strong record as a proven progressive fighter in the Oregon Legislature.
“This election is about protecting our basic rights and standing up for our democracy,” Williamson stated. “It’s about keeping our elections free and fair in Oregon. It’s about making sure that every eligible voter gets to participate. I’m running for Secretary of State to make sure all our voices are heard and all our votes are counted.”
“In these dangerous times when the foundations of our democracy are under threat, it’s critical that we have an unwavering defender of our democratic values in the Secretary of State’s office,” Rep. Williamson continued. “We need a Secretary of State who will tenaciously protect our election process from foreign tampering. I will make the cybersecurity of our election data and voter information my top priority.”
Williamson’s campaign released an announcement video highlighting some of her key progressive accomplishments ( LINK TO VIDEO : https://youtu.be/b-DVeEmVq8o ) including passing the Reproductive Health Equity Act to guarantee access to birth control and reproductive care for all Oregon women. Williamson also wrote Oregon’s law to take guns and ammunition out of the hands of convicted domestic abusers and stalkers and she led the effort this year to pass one of the most comprehensive paid family leave laws in the nation.
As she launched her candidacy, Williamson also outlined her agenda for the Secretary of State’s office:
Protect Our Democracy— Make it a top priority to keep our elections free and fair and protect them from foreign tampering.
Make Corporations Follow the Rules— Demand corporations follow the rules and work to limit big corporate money in our elections.
Fair District Lines— Draw fair lines for political districts so people of color and minority communities aren’t left out.
Demand Full Transparency— Push for full disclosure of who is behind every Oregon campaign ad and regulations to detail which corporations, PACS, or individuals are funding state lobbying efforts.
Hold State Agencies Accountable on Spending— Protect our critical services by holding state agencies accountable for how they spend our tax dollars.
Combat Climate Change— Fight to protect our planet and create good jobs by building clean energy projects on our public lands.
“As House Majority Leader, I pushed for Oregon to lead the way in standing up to Donald Trump’s dangerous policies,” Williamson concluded. “I’ve fought hard every day in the legislature to protect our progressive values. There’s too much at stake to back down now. That’s why I’m running for Secretary of State.”
Representative Jennifer Williamson, 45, has been elected four times to serve her neighbors in House District 36. She currently serves as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee. Prior to that she was elected by her colleagues to serve four years as Majority Leader. During that time, Williamson helped push through record investments in our public schools, fought to put more money in the paychecks of working people, and made sure the House finally took action on climate change.
Jennifer attended the University of Oregon and received her law degree from Willamette University. She is a fourth generation Oregonian and grew up with her five brothers and sisters on a farm in Washington County. She and her husband Paul Loving live in Northwest Portland.
KTVZ and AP 2019
