OSEA’s 2020 General Election Endorsements

Your vote is powerful. Each election cycle, candidates seek union endorsements because they know that working people are the heart of our democracy. Following the 2018 cuts to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), it is more important than ever to elect leaders we can trust to do what’s right for Oregon schools and working families.

OSEA members have worked hard at every level of our endorsement process to identify candidates who deserve our endorsement based on their stance on the labor and education issues that matter to education employees. We are proud to announce our endorsements for the 2020 General Election:

Statewide Candidates:

State Legislature Candidates:

Candidates for State Legislature are listed by region. Click the links below to find candidates running in your area.

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If you have been displaced by recent wildfires, find out how to receive your ballot here

Endorsement Process

OSEA endorsements are based solely on a candidate’s position on education and labor issues. To earn an endorsement, candidates meet with a panel of OSEA members for an interview. (OSEA invites all candidates for the Oregon Legislature to participate in candidate interviews, however, not all candidates decide to pursue our endorsement.) As much as possible, interview panels include OSEA members who live and work in a candidate’s district. All candidates are asked the same questions to ensure a fair and consistent process.

Interview teams consider a candidate’s responses before sending endorsement recommendations to the Government Relations Committee, which is also made up of OSEA members. The committee reviews the suggestions and makes a report to the Board of Directors, who make the final decision for all endorsements. This year, the OSEA Board decided in advance to withhold our union’s endorsement from any candidate who voted to cut PERS during the 2018 legislative session.

Help Elect Candidates Who Will Stand With School Employees!

Contact Government Relations Specialist Bob Estabrook at bobe@osea.org to learn about paid and volunteer campaign opportunities.