SEIU makes the difference in key primary races

SEIU makes the difference in key primary races

SEIU member support made the difference in several hotly contested races in the Oregon primary and helped boost Barack Obama's totals in the state.
As The Oregonian's Jeff Mapes put it in his blog on Primary Night, "This is a union you want on your side."
The Winners
Work by SEIU members across the state led to victory for U. S.Senate nominee Jeff Merkley, Oregon Attorney General nominee John Kroger, and mayoral victors Sam Adams in Portland and Denny Doyle in Beaverton as well as State Legislative candidates Chris Garrett (House District 38). Michael Dembrow (H.D. 45) Nick Kahl (H. D 49).

SEIU Members Rocked the Vote
Members donated time and resources to talk to friends, coworkers and neighbors on behalf of pro-working family candidates. SEIU members conducted phone banks in Portland, Salem, Corvallis, Eugene, Roseburg, Tillamook, Coos Bay, Grants Pass, Medford, Bend, Hood, Lincoln City, Albany, Burns, John Day, Klamath Falls, Newport, Hermiston, Ontario, Baker City and Pendleton - and knocked on doors across the state.

SEIU members and staff made 160,000 phone calls, knocked on 31,250 doors, worked more an 1400 volunteer shifts, and sent over 300,000 pieces of mail to primary voters.

United with more than 30,000 workers in Change to Win and other unions to get out the vote, they helped Obama amass statewide plurality of nearly 90,000 votes en route to a 58.6-41.4% victory over Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Thank You!
"We could not have won this race without the support of SEIU members across Oregon," said Merkley. "SEIU has been a strong ally in the legislature on increasing access to affordable health care, strengthening education and creating quality jobs. I look forward to continuing to work with the members of SEIU in the U. S. Senate."

Merkley said the primary will make him a stronger candidate in the fall, expressed appreciation for the support of his principal opponent, Steve Novick, and offered praise in return. "My hat's off to Steve Novick," he said. "He ran a great race, a creative race. He's a class act."

"The members of SEIU were the bedrock of my campaign," Adams said. "It means a lot to me to have the support of men and women who work hard every day and are focused on the same issues I'm focused on - improving education, creating living wage jobs, and keeping our city a great place to live."

"This campaign would not have been possible without SEIU, and especially the City of Beaverton employees who showed courage when they supported Denny over the current mayor," said Colin Cochran, Denny Doyle Campaign Manager. "SEIU members knocking on doors, making phone calls and talking with co-workers allowed us to win this race and together we will be able to build a more open Beaverton."