Final Report

Electoral loss and campaign wins

Dear friend,

Most of the votes are in (a small number of ballots remain to be “cured” when missing signatures are added). My vote count fell short of the close race for which we hoped. Read on for a geeky analysis of where we struggled and why, and where we shone – because we did. It was thanks to you and other volunteers and supporters that we mounted such an impressive campaign.

The overall win was our strong, visible campaign with important, multi-channel messaging about a prosperous economy, wise climate action, housing and healthcare access, reproductive rights, inclusion, genuine public safety, and improving people’s relationship with government. Most importantly for this rural district, center-left voters know they are not alone…an assumption voters shared again and again as I met them “on the doors.” Despite a loss, our 40% result shows a significant Dem-leaning voter block.

Challenges

The reasons for election results are multi-faceted. Here is what we know:

• Republican and red-leaning non-affiliated voter turnout was strong, as voters hoped to elect Republican Christine Drazan governor (she was narrowly defeated).
• My opponent raised $482,000 (mostly from corporate PACs coordinated by Republican leadership) to my $69,000 (mostly from individual donors, a more time-intensive fundraising process). Lack of money dampened my ability to build name recognition and communicate business, agriculture, and public safety chops – key themes in the district.
• My opponent had legislative experience due to an earlier appointment in a strongly-Republican district.
• My opponent was given ~20 non-competitive business, agriculture, and law enforcement endorsements. Only two business endorsement were competitive, where I was invited to apply.
• In his voter pamphlet statement, my opponent removed MAGA-aligned endorsements and belief statements present on his website and social media (staunchly anti-choice, a Timber Unity endorsement, “parent choice” (anti-diversity), and “medical freedom” (anti-masking)). His website was down at the time of the election.
• Democratic endorsement applications are time-intensive, involving extensive policy-specific questions (sometimes 16-20!) requiring significant research and writing time.
• Door-to-door canvassing and personal contacts, where Democratic campaigns shine, were impacted by extremely hot and sometimes smoky weather.
• Due to my financial situation, I needed to work 3 days (24-30 hours) per week, which took time away from canvassing, endorsement applications, and fundraising.

 That’s the bad news. Now for the good news!

Successes

• While vastly outspent, my candidacy compelled Republican funders to invest heavily in this race (it ranked 7 of 15 in Republican funding vs. 14 of 15 in Democratic Party support/funding – see a spreadsheet overviewing all Oregon Senate races here). This may have given breathing room to other Dem legislative races that won by a hair.
• Donors: 240 individual donors shared up to $250; 34 donors shared more than $250. We simply could not have done it without you. We are so very grateful!
• Canvassing wins: Due to collaborations with the campaigns of Darcy Long (HD 52), Jamie McLeod-Skinner (CD-5), Catherine McMullen (Clackamas County Clerk), and Libra Forde (Clackamas County Commission) we were able to boost our canvassing impact in this large, rural district. By best calculations, given multiple shared canvassing events, we reached at least 8,020 doors. County results: Clackamas: 2,629, Hood River: 2,156, Multnomah: 423, Wasco: 2,811.
• Although only Catherine McMullen from our canvassing cohort won, our shared voter turn-out efforts may have contributed to Tina Kotek keeping Oregon’s governorship blue, which was absolutely crucial.
• The DCCC’s choice to withdraw support from Jamie McLeod-Skinner’s extremely close race during final weeks of the campaign may have cost Democrats a majority in the U.S. Congress. Seeking a bright side, perhaps this will lead to improved DCCC decision-making in the future, characterized by greater transparency and deeper understanding of individual campaigns.
• In our campaign, 115 amazing volunteers sent 12,741 handwritten postcards to rural neighbors (who are hard to canvass in person).
• Phone bank calls: 1,675.
• Generous donors Eileen Kiely and IBEW Local 48 allowed us some cutting-edge digital outreach to help boost name recognition via Bel Strategies (interest-based Facebook ads) and El Toro (showing ads to specific voters through IP address matches; we may have been the only 2022 Oregon campaign to use this advanced technology).
• Thanks to last-minute donations we ran 5 different radio ads on multiple stations in the Gorge – a geographically distinct and cost-effective market. Here is my favorite.
• Through numerous in-person forums and newspaper articles, I was able to stand up for caring, evidence-based, and practical Democratic values.
• We garnered a number of key organizational endorsements, plus statements of support from many individuals. A logo-roundup of endorsers is below. Head to MasonforOregon.com/endorsements for the full list.
• My supporters in the Gorge (where my opponent and I both live) wrote far more letters to the editor in the Columbia Gorge News. Thank you, all!
• Since “social proof” is especially important in rural campaigns where people know their neighbors, we were pleased to lead in banners and lawn signs.

Finally, the personal experience of campaigning was a joyful, even if sometimes challenging, privilege – mutual hard work in the company of great people, learning and communicating on essential issues, and empowering others to become more engaged in their communities. 

Onward and thanks again,
Raz 

 Next steps: Whatever you already do in the political realm,
please deepen your engagement.
Your participation and wisdom are so needed!

• I’ve started the Triple-2 campaign, self-chosen weekly political engagement that offers stress-relieving goals of “enough.”
• Please follow me on Substack (and see other Substackers I recommend). I’m excited to continue sharing socio-political lessons learned.
• Follow and support The Intercept for vital investigative journalism found there first or only.
• Here are two other great projects – Democracy Happens (Columbia Gorge-related; Bonnie Walker is a campaign supporter) and Marian Broida’s “Saving Democracy in 5 Minutes a Day” (Subscribe link in upper left).
• If you aren’t already doing so, please get involved with your county Democratic party, Indivisible chapter, or statewide Dem caucus (links are to Oregon examples; find info for other states here).

 The best antidote to political anxiety
is earnest engagement with wonderful people!

THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS! Whether you donated, put out a yard sign or banner, wrote postcards, phone banked, designed graphics/videos, reposted on social media, canvassed door-to-door, hosted a house party, or any combination of these – THANK YOU!

Key Endorsers

Thank you again.

Please stay in touch.