Hi Friends,
As the Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon, I have been challenged and humbled by the demands and opportunities of this position, and I have done my best to give it my all since you first elected me to serve. Most significantly, I have been inspired by you and the dedicated, often unsung work you put in to elect Democrats at every level of office. Together, we have achieved a great deal of success despite extraordinary odds. As Democrats, we share a true passion for a better world. We feel electoral wins and losses with every fiber of our being, and now in 2023 we have an elevated awareness of how dangerous the right-wing machine is, and how important it is to elect strong Democratic advocates for the greater good.It is because of the challenges we face as a state and as a nation that I am running for a final two-year term as DPO Chair. To meet the requirements of this unique position, I bring my political experience, a history of success, a drive to better the lives of all Oregonians, and strong relationships across all regions of the state and nation. Continuing my commitment and specific efforts to broaden the diversity of the Democratic Party, increase Rural engagement, expand the Neighborhood Leader Program, and support county parties in your efforts to elect local Democrats have been and still are my highest priorities. At the national level, I am striving to both secure ongoing resources to support local Democrats, as well as working to ensure that Oregon is not one of the forgotten "assumed blue" states of 2024.
As the state which had the HIGHEST voter turnout in the nation in November 2022, we can be proud of what we have achieved together. We retained Democratic seats despite the storm of Republican cash crashing into us. But that success is only a steppingstone on our path to creating an Oregon in which all can thrive.
When I was elected DPO Chair in 2019, none of us could have foreseen the impact of the coming pandemic which would kill over a million Americans and greatly increase our societal ills. Together, we must face the current crises of Republican leadership in Congress and across the country which exacerbates economic inequality, racism, homophobia and trans-hate, climate change, access to voting rights, and debilitates safety net programs such as Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid for millions of people. As a Party leader, I am energized to confront these challenges together with you as we elect policy makers who share our progressive visions.
It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve you. It is my sincere hope that you will support me as I seek to serve a final term as Chair. In unity, we must continue the fight for a Blue Oregon that can be a champion for all people and the planet.
Sincerely,
KC Hanson
Chair
Democratic Party of Oregon
503-312-1970