<![CDATA[LINN COUNTY DEMOCRATS - News & Updates]]>Wed, 20 May 2026 13:47:39 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[May 20th, 2026]]>Wed, 20 May 2026 16:42:51 GMThttps://www.linncodems.org/news--updates/may-20th-2026With Primary in the books, candidates
set sights on Nov. 3 General Election Picture
Incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek glided to victory in the Primary Election that ended Tuesday evening. With 10 candidates in the race, Kotek garnered 84 percent of the vote. She will face a rematch in the Nov. 3 General Election with Republican State Sen. Christine Drazan, who defeated State Rep. Ed Diehl and former Trail Blazer Chris Dudley in Tuesday's Primary.
  Kotek defeated Drazan in 2022.
  Turnout was at 32 percent statewide, and nearly 39 percent in Linn County, as of Wednesday morning, May 20.
  As expected, Measure 120, was resoundingly rejected by voters. The measure, which would have increased fuel taxes, registration and title fees for roads and tax on wages for public transportation services, was losing by more than 620,000 votes — 83 percent No to just under 17 percent  Yes — as of Wednesday morning.

Primary winners​

(Democrats listed in bold blue with their Republican opponents in the Nov. 3 General Election listed in parentheses. This does not include nonaffiliated and minor party candidates who can file for election from June 3 through Aug. 25.)
U.S. Senator — Jeff Merkley
(vs. David Brock Smith or Jo Rae Perkins in the Nov. 3 Election. Smith holds a narrow lead over Perkins in the Republican Primary.)
U.S. Representative, 4th District — Val Hoyle 
(vs. Monique DeSpain in the Nov. 3 Election)
U.S. Representative, 5th District, Janelle Bynum
(vs. Patti Adair in the Nov. 3 Election)
Governor — ​Tina Kotek
(vs. Christine Drazan in the Nov. 3 election)
State Senator, 6th District — Sierrah Williams 
(vs. Jack Tibbetts or Jami Cate in the Nov. 3 Election. Tibbetts holds a narrow lead over Cate in the Republican Primary.)
State Senator, 8th District — Sara Gelser Blouin
(vs. Valerie Draper Woldeit in the Nov. 3 Election)
State Representative, 11th District — Ivan Maluski
(vs. Ken Jackola in the Nov. 3 Election)
State Representative, 15th District — Joanna Robinson
(vs. Shelly Boshart Davis in the Nov. 3 Election)
State Representative 17th District — David Nelson
(vs. Dan Farrington in the Nov. 3 Election)
Linn County Commissioner, Position 1 — Theodore "TJ" Hiner
(vs. Will Tucker in the Nov. 3 Election)
Primary Election Results
Linn Dems Primary Election Page
]]><![CDATA[May 16th, 2026]]>Sat, 16 May 2026 20:54:02 GMThttps://www.linncodems.org/news--updates/may-16th-2026
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'This Land is Your Land'

East Linn Indivisible had a contingent of 15 members and friends, including some Linn County Dems, that walked in the Linn County Lamb and Wool Fair Parade on May 16 in Scio. They sang and played kazoos to "This Land is Your Land." "America the Beautiful" and "It's a Grand Old Flag."
]]><![CDATA[April 28th, 2026]]>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:18:46 GMThttps://www.linncodems.org/news--updates/april-28th-2026
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]]><![CDATA[April 26th, 2026]]>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:33:20 GMThttps://www.linncodems.org/news--updates/april-26th-2026
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Banner Brigade messaging continues

Eighteen Albany Banner Brigaders provided messages April 25 over I-5 from the Santiam Highway overpass, including this one referring to the landslide defeat of Hungarian autocratic leader Viktor Orban earlier this month.
]]><![CDATA[April 25th, 2026]]>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 23:59:17 GMThttps://www.linncodems.org/news--updates/april-25th-2026
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The Albany Banner Brigade's message for northbound traffic April 25.

Economic day of action planned May 1

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  The Albany Banner Brigade promoted an economic day of action with a "GENERAL STRIKE MAY !" banner facing I-5 northbound traffic from the Santiam Highway overpass April 25.
  Indivisible is part of a coalition of more than than 200 organizations calling for the day of action this Friday, May. 1, urging people to say no: 
 "No School. No. Work. No Shopping."
   Carolyn Laubach, who promoted the general strike with the Banner Brigade,  is taking the message to heart.
  "I will not shop,  I will not use my phone," said Laubach, a retired cosmetic company sales representative who now creates "unusual gems" and loves to sew and cook. (She mentioned 120 recipes, "most of which I've developed.") 
  "It (May 1) will also be a day of protest," added Laubach, a regular at the Albany Honk & Wave protests from 4 to 6 p.m. every Friday at Fourth Avenue and Ellsworth Street. The Lebanon Honk & Wave protest is scheduled for the same hours May 1 at Academy Square along Main Street.
  This statement about the May Day economic actions appears on Indivisible's website:
  "This type of action is new for Indivisible — our national movement has never done this type of economic disruption before. But we need to be prepared to do it in the future. 
  "We know that Trump and his cronies are going to try to sabotage the election. And when that happens, it won’t be enough to pull from our regular playbook. We 
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Albany Banner Brigader Carolyn Laubach promotes the economic day of action from the Santiam Highway overpass April 25.
will need to demonstrate a widespread backlash that lets Trump know that we won’t just go along while he tries to rig our democracy. 
  "So we’re taking inspiration from the powerful organizing in Minnesota. When ICE began terrorizing the Twin Cities they didn’t just march, they disrupted. Hundreds of businesses shut their doors. Tens of thousands of people did not go to work or school and refused to spend any money. They made it clear they would not continue business as usual while ICE brutalized their neighbors. ​​
Indivisible's May Day Participation Guide
]]><![CDATA[April 24th, 2026]]>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:38:14 GMThttps://www.linncodems.org/news--updates/april-24th-2026Friday Honk & Wave protests continue;
​'coal-rolling' driver gets maximum fine in Lebanon
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Albany Honk & Wave
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Lebanon Honk & Wave
  The weekly Honk & Wave protests are scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. Fridays on Ellsworth Street at Fourth Avenue in Albany and along Main Street at Academy Square in Lebanon. The Honk & Waves are organized by Albany Region Indivisible in Albany and East Linn Indivisible in Lebanon.
***
  East Linn's Indivisible's Karen Schueller provided this timely news on April 9: "In a local win for our side, yesterday in Lebanon Municipal Court, a man who thought "coal rolling" (diesel-smoke spewing) the participants of Lebanon's Friday Honk & Wave was a good idea was taught a lesson we hope will be passed on to others. After five people who experienced the coal-rolling incident were subpoenaed and testified in court, the judge increased the original fine from $115 to the maximum fine of $250. In addition to the five people who testified, there were an additional 10 people from East Linn Indivisible in the courtroom to show support for our members."
  Way to go, East Linn Indivisible!
]]><![CDATA[April 11th, 2026]]>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:45:34 GMThttps://www.linncodems.org/news--updates/april-11th-20267207799
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]]><![CDATA[April 11th, 2026]]>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:26:14 GMThttps://www.linncodems.org/news--updates/april-11th-20269200662
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Town Halls April 18 and 25 focus on impacts
​of federal actions on Oregonians

   Join concerned Oregonians from across the political spectrum at upcoming town halls as we prepare for the midterm elections. Learn about critical topics such as Health Care, Housing, Education, Affordability, State Economy, Voting Integrity, Public Safety in the age of ICE, and more. Break-out sessions led by informed speakers will examine how current and future federal actions affect the welfare of Oregon families.More information about the events and speakers can be found HERE.
     The town halls are scheduled for:
  • Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m.  to noon, Riverfront Community Center, 489 Water Ave. N.W., Albany.
  • Saturday, April 25, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm - Corvallis(Corvallis  Community Center, 2601 N.W. Tyler Ave., Corvallis.​
  A number of peole are needed to help each day run smoothly. Please sign up to greet, usher, prepare and cleanup refreshments, and more at these events HERE.
 Thanks to the organizing Task Force with members of the Rural Organizing Project, Indivisible Salem-Keizer, Indivisible Benton County, League of Women Voters, and Linn Benton NAACP Branch. 
 For more information, contact Political Action Committee Event Co-Chairs: Tuesday Danielle Simenc and Greg Koerper.
]]><![CDATA[April 11th, 2026]]>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:05:27 GMThttps://www.linncodems.org/news--updates/april-11th-2026
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Neighborhood Leaders to hear from
​AG Rayfield, candidates on April 12 Zoom

  We hope you'll join us at 6:30 p.m. this Sunday, April 12, to hear from Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and state candidates Sierrah Williams, Senate District 6, and Rep. Sarah Finger McDonald (House District  16). The meeting will be on Zoom. (To receive Zoom access, contact Nancy Greenman.) And we'll share the plan for our voter outreach, and of course we'll have a role play. 
  Also:
  • The Statewide Neighborhood Leader Primary Launch with Gov. Tina Kotek via Zoom will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 23. Register to receive the link here:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Y15EQjrKR6eTdxAKIJo4iw 
  • Last week, Secretary of State Tobias Read spoke with OPB & Oregon Center for Public Policy about the federal threats to our elections and Oregon's response. You can access those conversations here and here. 
  Most of all, remember that we are not alone, and that the work we do engaging our neighbors in elections checks all the boxes for defending our democracy! 
  Hope to see you on Sunday, 
  — Brenda, Carol, Steve, Carrie, Mark, Linda, Susan & Nancy
     Linn Benton Democrats Neighborhood Leader Team
]]><![CDATA[April 09th, 2026]]>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 22:23:45 GMThttps://www.linncodems.org/news--updates/april-09th-2026
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Albany Honk & Wave
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Lebanon Honk & Wave

Friday Honk & Waves continue;
​'coal-roaling' driver gets maximum fine

  The weekly Honk & Wave protests are scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. Fridays on Ellsworth Street at Fourth Avenue in Albany and along Main Street at Academy Square in Lebanon. The Honk & Waves are organized by Albany Region Indivisible in Albany and East Linn Indivisible in Lebanon.
                                                                           ***
  East Linn's Indivisible's Karen Schueller provided this timely news on April 9: "In a local win for our side, yesterday in Lebanon Municipal Court a man who thought "coal rolling" (diesel-smoke spewing) the participants of Lebanon's Friday Honk & Wave was a good idea was taught a lesson we hope will be passed on to others. After five people who experienced the coal-rolling incident were subpoenaed and testified in court, the judge increased the original fine from $115 to the maximum fine of $250. In addition to the five people who testified, there were an additional 10 people from East Linn Indivisible in the courtroom to show support for our members."
  Way to go, East Linn Indivisible!
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