Color PAC and OFL’s November 2020 Election Results
Elections 2020 were about more than just survival. BIPOC candidates contended for the power we need to thrive.
Across the state, progressive BIPOC communities now have a new opportunity to govern, to help make a significant difference for people consistently left behind. There are many exciting results to celebrate, and historic firsts to commemorate, and honor them we shall. However, we hope that this election can be the beginning of the end of historic firsts, as our communities continue to redefine who is fit to lead, and whose voices deserve a seat at the table. At Oregon Futures Lab, we will continue to push so that we progress faster than what is simply tolerable to dominant culture sensibilities.
IN OREGON, PROGRESSIVE BIPOC SCATTER THE STATE
Oregon voters spoke out in record numbers – 2.4+ million ballots returned with a turnout of more than 81%. Nine candidates OFL directly supported won; long overdue history was made in several races. We’re tremendously inspired by our candidates who ran campaigns during a global pandemic, a breaking economy, and transformative, status-quo rattling movement against police brutality and for racial justice.
Across the state, there will be a much-needed infusion of inspiring leaders, fresh perspectives, and reflective representation at all levels of government. In Gresham, East Portland, and Beaverton, BIPOC community leaders were elected to serve in the Oregon House of Representatives. For the first time, in Deschutes and Washington counties, people of color will be tasked with governing fast-growing municipalities. In Bend, Beaverton, Milwaukie, and Lake Oswego, we see additional historic firsts for progressive, racially diverse city councils.
Oregon Futures Lab focused our support in different ways to sixteen Black, Indigenous, and other leaders of color running for office. Of the sixteen, nine won their races. They include:
Wlnsvey Campos, OR House District 28 – youngest woman ever elected to the House at 24 years; first Latina to represent her district.
Khanh Pham, House District 46 – first Vietnamese legislator and only Asian American now in the Oregon legislature.
Ricki Ruiz, House District 50 – first Latino man to represent his district; one of the youngest members at 25 years old.
Nadia Hasan, Beaverton City Council – first Muslim, South Asian American and woman of color on Beaverton City Council.
Rita Schenkelberg, Bend City Council – first Filipina American and woman of color on Bend City Council.
Debbie Cabrales, Woodburn City Council – wins her first election after appointment to seat in 2019.
Massène Mboup, Lake Oswego City Council – first Black man on Lake Oswego City Council.
Nafisa Fai, Washington County Commission – first Black woman, Muslim-American Washington County Commissioner.
Phil Chang, Deschutes County Commission – first Asian American and person of color on Deschutes County Commission.
Oregon voters also overwhelmingly approved ballot measures supporting the allowal of campaign finance reform limits in Oregon politics (Oregon is one of 5 states without campaign limits in its elections), and Multnomah County enthusiastically approved tuition-free preschool for all 3 and 4 year olds.
PROGRESS MADE, PROGRESS DEFINED
In a night of historic firsts, some of our candidates were unable to reach their goals – though we count their candidacies as undeniable indicators of progress regardless. We congratulate them on their campaigns and look forward to what is next for these local leaders. Salem City Council member Jackie Leung continued to build support for a progressive agenda in a rapidly growing South Marion County house district. We expect this will not be the last time we see Jackie run to bring BIPOC voices to rural Oregon! Miriam Cummins and RJ Navarro, running in Albany (HD 15) and Keizer (HD 25), respectively, improved on margins from previous elections in the area, showing that BIPOC candidates can run competitively in more rural and underserved areas. Carina Miller of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, campaigned hard as an authentic progressive, Indigenous woman running in a Senate District 30 that spanned a third of the state.
Rima Ghandour, a Muslim family attorney made huge inroads in her campaign to challenge the notion of who should wear the judicial robes and sit behind the court in Multnomah County. Community organizer Joel Iboa vied for history to represent South Eugene on the Lane County Commission. Johanis Tadeo, a community organizer, ran for Springfield City Council with a message of uniting diverse communities.
As we know, many successful candidates win after multiple tries, but the standard for “novel” progressive BIPOC candidates with little precedent to compare is skewed higher, and defies mainstream, white-dominated political culture. We must continue to advance the movement of new representation.
The election is complete, we rest, we take care of ourselves and each other, and then we fight for more.
GET INVOLVED
We would love for you to get involved with Color PAC and Oregon Futures Lab. If you are interested, please contact executive director Ana del Rocío at ana@oregonfutureslab.org. You can donate to us here.
Thanks as always for your support!