December 23rd, 2022

A letter from Linn County
​Democrats Chair Jerred Taylor

Jerred Taylor

Nov. 15
Today marks one week after an extremely consequential election here in Linn County, in Oregon and across the nation. As results continue to come in, several races have been, or are very likely to be, called once final mail-in ballots are counted this evening (and for others, there is still work to do). We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to our candidates for stepping up and running in an environment that was projected to be challenging for Democrats up and down ballot. 
We successfully elected Tina Kotek as governor, Christina Stephenson as BOLI Commissioner, and Val Hoyle to Congress for Oregon's 4th Congressional District. We re-elected Ron Wyden to the US Senate and Sara Gelser Blouinto the Oregon Senate. We appear to have won all three Albany City Council races with Stephanie Newton, Jackie Montague and Ramycia McGhee all currently leading by decent margins, and Michelle Steinhebel fended off a well-funded write-in campaign for Lebanon City Council. All four of the ballot measures that the Linn County Democrats endorsed also appear to be on their way to passing (but some are close). Ben Watts, Mary Cooke, Tami Cockeram, Cassie Cruze, Scott Bruslind, Ashley Pelton, and Michelle Emmons all ran fantastic campaigns and helped to move the needle throughout Linn County, and Jamie McLeod-Skinner inspired, motivated and activated so many people throughout the 5th Congressional District, and lifted the prospects for Democrats far beyond what they would have been without her on the ballot. 
​On behalf of the Linn County Democrats, thank you all for letting us get to know you, to work with you, to grow with you, and to be inspired by you.
I also want to celebrate each and every one of the folks who knocked doors for our candidates, knocked doors as Neighborhood leaders, made calls or texts to voters, wrote post cards, wrote letters to the editor, donated, staffed the office, observed drop boxes, observed ballot counting, or helped in some capacity throughout the campaign. Even though there were some hard heartaches this cycle, there is a lot for all of us to be proud of. Your efforts made a tremendous difference. Thank you!
Now, for some updates:
• The Linn County Democrats Reorganization Meeting will take place on January 5th at 6:30 PM in the Albany Public Library. This will be an in-person meeting to elect our Officers, State Central Committee Delegation, and Congressional Committee Delegation. If you are a Precinct Committee Person, please plan on attending this important meeting.
• By popular demand, we will be hosting a Democrat 101 (date/location TBD) for folks who are interested in learning how the Democratic Party is structured on the County, State and Federal level, and how Democrats in Linn County, our Precinct Committee People, Officers, and Delegation Members can make a difference in party politics. We'll plan on this taking place sometime before our reorganization meeting, so stay tuned!
• Our office space available through February, so if any folks would like to hold small meetings or use the space between now and then, let us know,
Again, thank you all for your hard work this election cycle, and thank you to our candidates!
In solidarity,

​Jerred Taylor
Linn County Democrats Chair

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