PORTLAND, OR – Today NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon’s Political Action Committee (PAC) announced additional endorsements for candidates seeking office in the Oregon State Legislature, as well as support for Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury in her campaign for reelection.
The endorsed candidates include current State Senate and House Representatives who helped pass the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA) in 2017, which set a new national benchmark for reproductive rights legislation by codifying the right to legal abortion and added abortion and vasectomy to the list of no-cost reproductive health services under the Affordable Care Act. In another first for state legislation, the bill also barred discrimination in accessing reproductive health care, regardless of an individual’s income level, gender identity, or immigration status.
Grayson Dempsey, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon said, “Our endorsement process is designed to recognize and reaffirm a candidate’s support of reproductive rights. It’s also an opportunity to highlight the policies we will be championing in 2018 and 2019. We were pleased to hear candidates pledge support for NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon’s top policy priority, Paid Family and Medical Leave, which will give Oregon families the economic security they need to care for loved ones.”
Jason Leon, Chair of the NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon PAC said, “Based on their voting records and enthusiasm for our policy priorities, we could not be more optimistic for the work that these candidates will do in 2018 and beyond. We look forward to working with elected officials that understand and will advocate for access to reproductive rights, expanded economic opportunities, and the resources that Oregonians need to care for themselves and their families.”
Following January’s announcement of early endorsements, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon’s PAC is proud to announce endorsements for the following incumbents in the State House and Senate, as well as first-time legislative candidates such as Deb Patterson in Senate District 10 (Salem) and Bend City Councilor Dr. Nathan Boddie in House District 52.
State Senate
Senator Floyd Prozanski (SD4)
Senator Sara Gelser (SD8)
Deb Patterson (SD10)
Senator Chuck Riley (SD15)
Senator Rob Wagner (SD19)
Senator Rod Monroe (SD 24)
House of Representatives
House Speaker Tina Kotek (HD44)
Representative Paul Holvey (HD8)
Representative Caddy McKeown (HD9)
Representative Dan Rayfield (HD16)
Representative Paul Evans (HD20)
Representative Teresa Alonso León (HD22)
Representative Sheri Malstrom (HD27)
Representative Susan McLain (HD29)
Representative Janeen Sollman (HD30)
Representative Mitch Greenlick (HD33)
Representative Ken Helm (HD34)
Representative Margaret Doherty (HD35)
Representative Jennifer Williamson (HD36)
Representative Andrea Salinas (HD38)
Representative Mark Meek (HD40)
Representative Karin Power (HD41)
Representative Tawna D. Sanchez (HD43)
Representative Barbara Smith Warner (HD45)
Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer (HD46)
Representative Diego Hernandez (HD47)
Representative Carla Piluso (HD50)
Representative Janelle Bynum (HD51)
Dr. Nathan Boddie (HD52)
Multnomah County
County Commissioner, Chair: Deborah Kafour
# # #
About NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon
NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon is the state’s pro-choice political leader and has spent 40 years protecting reproductive rights, including abortion access, for all Oregonians. With more than 10,000 members statewide, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon is on the front lines in the fight to expand access to affordable abortion care and contraception, increase equity in health care, and ensure paid family medical leave.
The NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon PAC helps pro-choice champions get elected at every level of government and works to defeat candidates who will roll back protections for abortion, contraception, and reproductive health care
Christel Allen
Political Director
NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon
Pronouns: She/Hers
C: 503-851-7473 | @ProChoiceOregon
