Our Voter Guide for the May 2026 Primary

Introduction & Methodology

Skip to:

Chapter Endorsed Candidates
Green-light Candidates
Red-Light Candidates
General Guidance on Ballot Measures

Portland DSA wants to inform our members and the public which candidates best advance the Chapter’s priorities in the May 2026 Primary. Because our endorsement policy is stringent and carries with it a promise of volunteer capacity, it is impossible for us to endorse every candidate who we would prefer to win. Instead, we chose to highlight candidates who supported, either in their public communications or in responses to DSA questionnaires, priorities which have been voted on by chapter membership. A “green light” does not mean an endorsement, and members should still vote according to their values in races where we did not issue green lights. We green-lit candidates in contested Democratic Party Primaries for state house races, where winning the primary practically guarantees victory in November. To vote for these candidates, you must be a registered Democratic Party voter. In lower offices, candidates run for non-partisan seats, and a Democratic Party registration is not necessary.

Democratically decided chapter priorities:

1. Whether candidates are members of DSA;
2. Whether candidates have supported the Portland Renters Bill of Rights (RBOR) or equivalent policies;
3. Whether candidates have supported the Multnomah County Preschool for All (P4A) or a truly universal statewide childcare program;
4. Whether candidates have supported the HealthCare for All Oregon (HCAO) movement;
5. Whether candidates have opposed Data Center construction in the Portland Metro Area;
6. Whether candidates have supported funding Trimet (and other public transit agencies) to restore and expand service.

Additionally, candidates were disqualified and given a “Red Light” for the following criteria:

1. Endorsements from Chambers of Commerce or Business Alliances;
2. Endorsements from Police Associations or Unions;
3. Endorsements from Private Education Nonprofits or is bad on education;

Chapter Endorsed Candidates

Candidates who have been officially democratically endorsed by the chapter are, by virtue of the endorsement, already greenlighted, and meet all 6 of our priorities above. As endorsees, we not only expect every chapter member to vote for them, but we encourage all members to contribute to their campaigns!

DSA Endorsed Candidate: Automatic Green Light

House District 27 – Running in Beaverton and Cedar Hills as Portland DSA’s first Cadre candidate, Tammy is a former physician and school board member who can use that lived experience to challenge the insurance and hospital industries over a Universal Healthcare Plan for Oregon. On the school board, she was investigated by Zionist Board Chairs for recognizing the dignity of Palestinian people, but held strong and was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Contribute to Tammy Carpenter’s campaign! Sign up for canvassing or phonebanking, or donate here!

DSA Endorsed Candidate: Automatic Green Light

House District 35 – Farrah has been elected twice and endorsed by DSA once before this cycle in HD 35, which includes Beaverton and Aloha. In the 2026 short session, she used one of her two allotted bills to introduce and pass identification requirements for federal officers (or suspected imitators) at the state level through the LEAVA Bill.

Contribute to Farrah Chaichi’s campaign! Donate here!

---

Green Light Candidates

The order of presentation is State House of Representatives, district number (lowest to highest), State Senate, then local races.

House District 31 – Tom Forest is running in HD 31, which includes western Washington County and most of Columbia County. His voters pamphlet entry mentions climate change extensively, demands “Childcare for all Oregon families” and quote, “Tom believes we need to fund a transportation system that allows you to get from your rural home all the way to your favorite city center and from your urban home to your job in rural Oregon.” He has expressed support of HCAO, Universal Pre-K and a desire to fight data centers.

How he lands on our chapter priorities:

• DSA Member
• Supports the Portland Renters Bill of Rights (RBOR) or equivalent policies;
• Supports Multnomah County Preschool for All (P4A) or a truly universal statewide childcare program;
• Supports the HealthCare for All Oregon (HCAO) movement for statewide single-payer healthcare
• Opposes Data Center construction in the Portland Metro Area;
• Supports funding Trimet (and other public transit agencies) to restore and expand service.

4 out of 6 means we greenlight Tom.

House District 38 – John “Waz” Wasielewski is running for HD 38, which includes SW Portland to Lake Oswego. Waz has signed the Renters Bill of Rights, advocated for Universal Preschool, and Health Care For All Oregon. Waz can be trusted to oppose new data center construction and fight to restore and expand transit funding. He was recently targeted by the Portland Metro Chamber in a dark money push-poll as being “Endorsed by DSA” despite not being endorsed by the chapter.

How he lands on our chapter priorities:

• DSA Member
• Supports (signed!) the Portland Renters Bill of Rights (RBOR);
• Supports Multnomah County Preschool for All (P4A) or a truly universal statewide childcare program;
• Supports the HealthCare for All Oregon (HCAO) movement for statewide single-payer healthcare
• Opposes Data Center construction in the Portland Metro Area;
• Supports funding Trimet (and other public transit agencies) to restore and expand service.

5 out of 6 means we greenlight John.

House District 40 – Michael Sugar is running in HD 40, which includes Oatfield, Gladstone, and Oregon City. Michael is a strong supporter of single-payer health care, and truly universal pre-K across the state. On data centers, he believes that we quote “deserve to protect our water resources, to protect the middle class from utility spikes, and we should also insulate Oregon from what I’m sure will be a bubble-burst in the AI economy.” He is supported by unions like OEA and UA 290.

How he lands on our chapter priorities:

• DSA Member
• Supports the Portland Renters Bill of Rights (RBOR) or equivalent policies;
• Supports Multnomah County Preschool for All (P4A) or a truly universal statewide childcare program;
• Supports the HealthCare for All Oregon (HCAO) movement for statewide single-payer healthcare
• Opposes Data Center construction in the Portland Metro Area;
• Supports funding Trimet (and other public transit agencies) to restore and expand service.

3 out of 6 means we greenlight Michael.

House District 41 – Mark Gamba is running in HD 41, which includes Sellwood-Moreland, Milwaukie and Oak Grove. Mark is a DSA Member and current House Rep. He has fought to support transformational Transit Funding through the SMART Framework in 2025, looks to sponsor an HCAO bill, and has fought tax breaks for data centers. He supports truly Universal Pre-K and the Renters Bill Of Rights, though he has not yet signed.

How he lands on our chapter priorities:

• DSA Member
• Supports the Portland Renters Bill of Rights (RBOR) or equivalent policies;
• Supports Multnomah County Preschool for All (P4A) or a truly universal statewide childcare program;
• Supports the HealthCare for All Oregon (HCAO) movement for statewide single-payer healthcare
• Opposes Data Center construction in the Portland Metro Area;
• Supports funding Trimet (and other public transit agencies) to restore and expand service.

6 out of 6 means we greenlight Mark.

House District 51 –  Darla Mead is running for HD 51, which includes rural Clackamas county, Canby, Estacada and Sandy. A nurse, she has emphatically supported HCAO, including reproductive and gender-affirming care and is endorsed by ONA. Her voters’ pamphlet entry mentions climate change regularly, and when questioned she supported Universal Pre-K, Stopping Data Center Construction, and saving Trimet Funding.

How she lands on our chapter priorities:

• DSA Member
• Supports the Portland Renters Bill of Rights (RBOR) or equivalent policies;
• Supports Multnomah County Preschool for All (P4A) or a truly universal statewide childcare program;
• Supports the HealthCare for All Oregon (HCAO) movement for statewide single-payer healthcare
• Opposes Data Center construction in the Portland Metro Area;
• Supports funding Trimet (and other public transit agencies) to restore and expand service.

4 out of 6 means we greenlight Darla.

House District 52 – This house district includes East Multnomah County, East Clackamas County, and the south side of the Columbia River out to The Dalles. This is a rare race where 2 candidates met the minimum for a Green Light, David Osborn and Nick Walden Poublon. Osborn has expressed interest in elements of the Renters Bill of Rights, Preschool for All across the state, HCAO, and expanded Trimet Funding. He wants to see the externalities of Data Centers addressed before allowing any new ones.

How he lands on our chapter priorities:

• DSA Member
• Supports the Portland Renters Bill of Rights (RBOR) or equivalent policies;
• Supports Multnomah County Preschool for All (P4A) or a truly universal statewide childcare program;
• Supports the HealthCare for All Oregon (HCAO) movement for statewide single-payer healthcare
• Opposes Data Center construction in the Portland Metro Area;
• Supports funding Trimet (and other public transit agencies) to restore and expand service.

5 out of 6 means we greenlight David.

House District 52 – This house district includes East Multnomah County, East Clackamas County, and the south side of the Columbia River out to The Dalles. This is a rare race where 2 candidates met the minimum for a Green Light, David Osborn and Nick Walden Poublon. Poublon is a chair of HCAO. He wants a moratorium on new data centers.

How he lands on our chapter priorities:

• DSA Member
• Supports the Portland Renters Bill of Rights (RBOR) or equivalent policies;
• Supports Multnomah County Preschool for All (P4A) or a truly universal statewide childcare program;
• Supports the HealthCare for All Oregon (HCAO) movement for statewide single-payer healthcare
• Opposes Data Center construction in the Portland Metro Area;
• Supports funding Trimet (and other public transit agencies) to restore and expand service.

2 out of 6 means we greenlight Nick.

Senate District 15 – SD 15 includes the city of Hillsboro, Cornelius, and Forest Grove, as well as rural Washington County. This area has been targeted for the construction of new data centers, and Myrna Muñoz is challenging an incumbent democrat who has taken hundreds of thousands in campaign donations to push them through. The incumbent has also been caught getting a KGW interview segment about data centers pulled. Myrna is a DSA Member who wants to bring working people’s perspectives to the capitol with her. She supports HCAO.

How she lands on our chapter priorities:

• DSA Member
• Supports the Portland Renters Bill of Rights (RBOR) or equivalent policies;
• Supports Multnomah County Preschool for All (P4A) or a truly universal statewide childcare program;
• Supports the HealthCare for All Oregon (HCAO) movement for statewide single-payer healthcare
• Opposes Data Center construction in the Portland Metro Area;
• Supports funding Trimet (and other public transit agencies) to restore and expand service.

3 out of 6 means we greenlight Myrna.

Beaverton City Council, Position 1 – Evelyn Kocher is a DSA member running for Beaverton City Council. She was campaign manager for Portland City Councilor Angelita Morillo, and signed HCAO, the Preschool for All petition, and the WashCo Data Center Moratorium. As Angelita’s CM she signed on to the Portland Renters Bill of Rights as well. She would make a force for change in Beaverton.

How she lands on our chapter priorities:

• DSA Member
• Supports the Portland Renters Bill of Rights (RBOR) or equivalent policies;
• Supports Multnomah County Preschool for All (P4A) or a truly universal statewide childcare program;
• Supports the HealthCare for All Oregon (HCAO ) movement for statewide single-payer healthcare
• Opposes Data Center construction in the Portland Metro Area;
• Supports funding Trimet (and other public transit agencies) to restore and expand service.

6 out of 6 means we greenlight Evelyn.

Beaverton City Council, Position 2 – David Kearns signed the Data Center Moratorium early, supports HCAO and the Renters Bill of Rights, and wants to fund Transit services like Trimet.

How he lands on our chapter priorities:

• DSA Member
• Supports the Portland Renters Bill of Rights (RBOR) or equivalent policies;
• Supports Multnomah County Preschool for All (P4A) or a truly universal statewide childcare program;
• Supports the HealthCare for All Oregon (HCAO ) movement for statewide single-payer healthcare
• Opposes Data Center construction in the Portland Metro Area;
• Supports funding Trimet (and other public transit agencies) to restore and expand service.

5 out of 6 means we greenlight David.

---

Red Light Candidates

Again, our criteria for recommending against voting for these candidates includes:

1. Endorsements from Chambers of Commerce or Business Alliances;
2. Endorsements from Police Associations or Unions;
3. Endorsements from Private Education Nonprofits

A red “X” in the checkbox means that the candidate has taken the indicated disqualifying endorsements.

Washington County Commission At-Large – As you might have seen in the “Data Centrists” article in the Thorn, Pam Treece should be disqualified for her support of data centers (and support by data center-loving candidates), but also her multiple Chamber of Commerce and Police Association endorsements.

How she stands on our Chapter Disqualifications:

• Endorsements from Chambers of Commerce or Business Alliances;
• Endorsements from Police Associations or Unions;
• Endorsements from Private Education Nonprofits or is bad on education;

Washington County Commission Position 2 – Also shown in the “Data Centrists” article in the Thorn, Felicita Monteblanco should not be your first choice for this position. Her Beaverton Area (And Washington County) Chamber of Commerce endorsements are also troubling.

How she stands on our Chapter Disqualifications:

• Endorsements from Chambers of Commerce or Business Alliances;
• Endorsements from Police Associations or Unions;
• Endorsements from Private Education Nonprofits or is bad on education;

Washington County Commission Position 4 – Featured in the “Data Centrists” article in the Thorn, Steve Callaway has taken endorsements from District Attorneys and multiple Chambers of Commerce. Most troublingly, he touts endorsements by State Republicans like Bruce Starr.

How he stands on our Chapter Disqualifications:

• Endorsements from Chambers of Commerce or Business Alliances;
• Endorsements from Police Associations or Unions;
• Endorsements from Private Education Nonprofits or is bad on education;
  

Clackamas County Commission Position 2 – Paul Savas should be avoided due to his Police Association and Chamber of Commerce endorsements.

How he stands on our Chapter Disqualifications:

• Endorsements from Chambers of Commerce or Business Alliances;
• Endorsements from Police Associations or Unions;
• Endorsements from Private Education Nonprofits or is bad on education;
  

Clackamas County Commission Position 2 – Mark Shull should also be avoided, due to his gestures rightward. Shull would probably have the endorsements had they not gone to Savas; his “property tax relief” plan would devastate school funding. Shull openly ID’s as Republican.

How he stands on our Chapter Disqualifications:

• Endorsements from Chambers of Commerce or Business Alliances;
• Endorsements from Police Associations or Unions;
• Endorsements from Private Education Nonprofits or is bad on education;
  

Clackamas County Commission Position 4 – Diana Helm should be avoided considering her endorsement by the Portland AND Lake Oswego Chamber of commerce, as well as a District Attorney and several OR villains, like Ben West (more on him later) and Betsy Johnson. She fought to stop BAT Lanes on the rebuilt 82nd Avenue.

How she stands on our Chapter Disqualifications:

• Endorsements from Chambers of Commerce or Business Alliances;
• Endorsements from Police Associations or Unions;
• Endorsements from Private Education Nonprofits or is bad on education;
  

Clackamas County Commission Position 5 – Run, don’t walk from MAGA Republican Ben West. He boasts endorsements from Police Associations, District attorneys and the Portland Metro Chamber, though that reflects more on PMC than it does West. Google his association with abuser Jeff Church of PDX Real.

How he stands on our Chapter Disqualifications:

• Endorsements from Chambers of Commerce or Business Alliances;
• Endorsements from Police Associations or Unions;
• Endorsements from Private Education Nonprofits or is bad on education;
  

---

General Guidance on Ballot Measures

There are too many ballot measures across the Portland Metro for us to cover, but we wanted to provide general guidance and an example you can use to decide on your particular ballot.

DSA Members should consider:

1. Whether a ballot measure is endorsed by member-led organizations or unions.
2. Whether a ballot measure increases funding for broad public services, like public schools, fire departments, or public transit;
3. Whether a ballot measure supports or empowers local, state, or federal police.

Let’s consider an example:

Measure 36-239 – This 5-year local school levy would raise millions of dollars every year for schools in Yamhill County to fund school operations and teacher positions. No money would be put towards police, something reasonable people may fear school funding going towards.

Though some additional teachers will result in smaller class sizes, readers may be wondering why additional revenue is needed for largely the same services. The answer, as with most other initiatives on the ballot, is inflation – combined with regressive tax policy passed statewide in the ‘90s. Measures 5 and 50, passed during the height of neoliberal “End of History”, limit the growth of property and income taxes strictly, resulting in the “slow but steady strangulation of city finances as costs increase far faster than revenues”, to quote the league of Oregon Cities (https://www.orcities.org/application/files/2216/8685/9599/FAQonMeasures5and_50-updated5-23.pdf). Comprehensive reform of both Measures is required at the state level, but in the meantime local levies like this are required to keep the lights on.

Now, let’s look at the endorsements for, and against 36-239:

The highest-profile argument “For” is from the Teachers Union, while the highest-profile argument “Against” is from the Republican Party. “For” arguments center the needs of those reliant on public services and community. They aspire towards a better world in which said needs are met and outcomes can improve. “Against” arguments fixate on accusations of mismanagement and “bloat”. They aspire to retreat from society and from any responsibility to those around them. We’ve seen enough; vote “Yes” on 36-239.

By far the most contentious Ballot Measure you will see this cycle is the statewide Measure 120, which referred *elements* of the beleaguered state transportation package HB 3991 to the voters. I’ve written an essay in The Thorn presenting my own thoughts on the measure. You can find it here.

Jordan Lewis is an Ecosocialist Working Group Co-chair and an elected member of our Socialists in Office Committee.