Defending Democracy

The past several years have seen some of the worst attacks on our democracy in American history. Lies about the legitimacy of our elections and our institutions continue to poison public trust, as conspiracy theories take root and, in some cases, lead to violence. Tragically, our state is no stranger to this trend. A report by the Oregon Secretary of State found that, despite being 27th in population, Oregon experienced the sixth-highest number of extremist incidents in America in the past decade.

On January 7, 2023, as a member of the People's House, I took an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." It is my constitutional obligation to fight back against extremism, shore up our institutions, and defend the pillars of our democracy. Fortunately, Oregonians enjoy one of the most accessible and secure voting systems in the United States. However, voters in other states – especially non-white voters – face greater barriers to the ballot box. Congress must act to protect the right to vote for all citizens, and I will continue to push for the passage of strong voting rights legislation.

I’m also proud to champion campaign finance reform. In one of my first acts as a member of Congress, I cosponsored the Democracy for All Amendment, a constitutional amendment that would overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. I’m also a cosponsor of the DISCLOSE Act, which would reform the American campaign finance system to increase transparency, crack down on foreign participation in our elections, and get dark money out of politics.

I’m committed to doing my part to restore trust in our institutions, which is why it’s essential for me to be accountable only to the people of Oregon’s Sixth District. I do not own any individual stocks and I’ve pledged not to trade or purchase any stocks as a member of Congress. Your interests – not special interests – will always come first.