Past Events & Archived News
“On Labor Day we must remember that this nation is founded to do away with classes and special privilege; that employer and worker have the same interest, which is to see that everyone in this nation has a life worth living.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt, in her syndicated newspaper column “My Day”, September 2, 1940
BC DEMS Endorse Corvallis Ballot Measures & Ward 8 Candidate
With the upcoming Benton County special election on November 2, on September 2nd the Benton County Democrats voted to endorse three Corvallis ballot measures and Tracey Yee, Corvallis city council candidate for Ward 8. Those ballot measures are:
2-131 Charter amendment extending recruiting process filling vacant City Manager position
2-132 Filling City Council vacancies by appointment
2-133 Amendment to remove gender specific pronouns throughout the City Charter
The last day to register to vote is October 12; ballots will be mailed beginning the next day.
Read about the measures and candidate at Benton County’s election office page
With an Oregon driver’s license, permit or ID card number you can register to vote online at https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/registration.aspx?lang=en
Check or update your voter registration or track your ballot at https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/vr/showVoterSearch.do
BC DEMS ANNUAL PICNIC & PIE AUCTION
A VIRTUAL SUCCESS!
The program was indeed lively, Caesar the No Drama Llama and his partner Larry McCool inspired and entertained us; there were diverse and yummy auction items to bid on, and Gabe Shepherd, our talented auctioneer proved he really can sing.
Our Celebrity Headliners Caesar the No Drama Llama and his partner Larry McCool were a huge hit and a big part of what made the event a resounding success. We did not sell sufficient tickets to meet the deadline needed to hold the drawing and have Caesar announce the winner of our Blue Wave Victory Raffle, however. So we pivoted to Plan B and are delighted to report that enough tickets were sold to hold a drawing at the BC Dem Raffle Reveal meeting on August 19 as announced. The holder of the winning ticket has been notified.
Never underestimate the commitment the people of Benton County to democratic values and their willingness to step up when needed. Together we are strong and when times get rough we come together and win elections!
All BC Dems events, virtual and nonvirtual, are powered by volunteers. If you’d like to help with events and other tasks needed to defend democracy in these difficult times, sign up to help.
BC DEMS PROGRESSIVE LEGACY AWARDS CELEBRATION GETS RAVE REVIEWS
OH WHAT A LOVELY NIGHT we had celebrating our wonderful awardees at our virtual ProgressIve Legacy Celebration!
Primed by updates on our legislative victories and challenges ahead by State Senator Sara Gelser and Rep. Peter DeFazio, together, we learned:
- what our awardees’ superpowers would be if they could choose (“invisibility” and “teleportation”);
- the wonderful contributions of our awardees outside of the BC Dems to our communities & what they do lift to lift their spirits (there’s real nerd cred among the incredibly dedicated folks in this group);
- their plans for the future and what keeps them involved with the BC Dems (“The People” was the unanimous answer and there was not a dry eye on the Zoom).
We were honored with remarks from Cliff and Jo Ann Trow (Do you know the connection the Trows have with the Progressive Legacy Celebration? Learn in our PROGRAM).
Finally, there might have been a “you heard it here first!” But we were sworn to secrecy! ;).
Next up: Our virtual Picnic & Pie Auction, August 14 – see you there!
Remember, if you want to volunteer to join the fun AND help in all the work needed to defend democracy in these difficult times, here’s the link.
Congratulations to the winners of the Benton County Democrats 2020-21 Lifetime Achievement Awards
Congratulations also to the winners of our May 18 School Board election
The Corvallis School Board Equity Slate : “Building the Future with Every Student”
Congratulations also to supporters of the successful Benton County Levy Renewal!
And a big thanks to everyone who joined us on May 1st
to celebrate the first 100 Days of Progress made by the Biden-Harris Administration and to power up for the successful Benton County Special Election.
Once again “Democracy has prevailed” right here in Benton County! Let’s do it again in 2022!
Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, 46th President of the United States, and Vice President Kamala Harris, January 20, 2021 photos: @USCCR
“We must tell our children that acts of violence and rebellion against our representative government and its institutions are cowardly and unacceptable acts”
Statement regarding the events in Washington DC and Salem, Oregon on January 6th, 2021:
We, Benton and Linn County community leaders & local elected officials, stand united in this statement in condemning by the strongest terms these acts of domestic terrorism that were witnessed in Salem and Washington DC Capitol buildings. We stand united that in order for our Union to stay strong, we must accept that civil dialogue and representative democracy are the only ways to enact change.
Every citizen, parent, and community member should stand united against this attack on Democracy. Some of us ran for election and lost, but in the very act to run for office, we opt into the idea that we are running for something larger than ourselves. We are deeply disturbed by this attempted attack on our democracy.
Tonight, we must remind ourselves and our children that we cannot take democracy for granted. We must tell our children that acts of violence and rebellion against our representative government and its institutions are cowardly and unacceptable acts.
Signed:
Alex Johnson II, Mayor of Albany
Angel Harris, Corvallis/Albany NAACP President
Ann Gaidos-Morgan, Benton County Democrats Secretary
Biff Traber, Mayor of Corvallis
Brenda Sterner – Linn County Democrats Executive Committee
Charles Maughan, Corvallis Ward 2 City Councilor, Executive Committee Benton County Democrats, ORCA
Chris Smith – Linn County Democrats Vice Chair
Dan Rayfield – State Representative
Frank Bricker, Linn Benton Lincoln ESD board member
Genny Lynch – Linn County Democrats Executive Committee
Heather Brice, Benton County Democrats Vice-Chair 2 & SCC Delegate
Heather Carmichael, Albany Student Advocacy Project
Holly Shutta, Executive Committee Benton County Democrats, ORCA
Jackie Montague – Linn County Democrats Treasurer
Janet Quinn – Linn County Democrats Vice Chair
Jason J. Dorsette, Corvallis/Albany NAACP President-Elect
Jerred Taylor – Linn County Democrats Chair
Jessica McDonald – League of Women Voters President
Jennifer Ward, Greater Albany Public Schools Board of Directors
John Haroldson – Benton County District Attorney
Jodi Yoder, Education Chair, NAACP
Justin Roach, Albany School Board member
Keith Kolkow – Former Candidate Albany City Council
Kim Butzner, Greater Albany Public School Board Chair
Linda Ramsey, Neighborhood Leader Program Chair, Benton County Democrats
Liv Gifford, Executive Director, Corvallis Public Schools Foundation
Lisa Harlan, Greater Albany Public Schools Assistant Superintendent
Luhui Whitebear, Corvallis School Board member
Melissa Goff, Greater Albany Public Schools Superintendent
Melissa Harder, Corvallis School District Assitant Superintendent
Michael Ostrom, Pastor, Luther House Campus Ministry @ OSU
Michael Thomson, Greater Albany Public School Board Member
Miriam G. Cummins, Linn-Benton-Lincon ESD Board Member and 2020 Democratic Nominee for Oregon House District 15
Nancy Wyse, Benton County Commissioner
Renee Windsor-White – Linn County Democrats Secretary
Robert Heald, Benton County Democrats Former Treasurer
Rev. Robert Kirby United Methodist
Rev. Linda Tucker, Lead Pastor of Corvallis First United Methodist Church.
Ryan Noss, Corvallis School District 509J Superintendent
Sara Gelser, State Senator
Sarah Finger McDonald, Vice Chair, Corvallis School Board
Sami Al-Abdrabbuh – Chair of Corvallis Board of Education, President of Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus
Stephanie Newton, DPO Disability Justice Caucus Chair, Vice Chair of Linn County Democrats, Chair of Albany Human Relations Commission
Tanya Shively, Former Oregon DNC Member
Taryn Bazurto, Benton County Democrats Chair
Tina Baker, Corvallis School Board member
Tony Lapiz, Benton County Democrats Vice-Chair 1
Vincent Adams, Corvallis School Board member
Wendy Nilson – Linn County Democrats Executive Committee
Xan Augerot, Benton County Commissioner
MOOD
Thank you for all your work BC Dems!
LET’S GO BENTON DEMOCRATS!!!
In memory of a great American and inspiration to millions
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 1933-2020
Successful Virtual Pie Auction
Thank you to everyone who organized, donated to, attended and bid on items at our annual Picnic and Pie Auction Party 2020 Virtual edition.
If you missed out on the pie auction but want to support the Auction Warehouse and efforts to raise money for our voter outreach activities, donate here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/benton-county-democrats–or–1?refcode=pie2020bid.
In Solidarity: Black Lives Matter
A message from the chair:
We are all witnessing the legitimate anger and anguish of our sisters and brothers in the Black community. Many of us are asking, “What can I do?” We can begin by listening—bearing witness to pain that too many of us have been ignorant of or protected from by our privilege.
To that end, I am asking you to read the statement by Rosa Colquitt, PhD, Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon’s Black Caucus wrote in response. Please reflect on her words:
My reaction as a Black mother was to hold my adult son to my bosom, to never release him, to protect him with my very life. I am incapable of speaking the fear inside of me for my Black son. I know I voice the sentiments of black mothers all over the country. Whites express grief: “How horrible, how wrong, yet again — it must stop.” Black Americans say, “Oh yes, again, who’s next?”
May we all reaffirm our commitment to our values of justice, equity, and a better future for all.
May we all reaffirm our commitment to listening and learning, which often means standing in our own discomfort.
May we all reaffirm our commitment to acting in the name of shared values & shared humanity.
Yours in solidarity,
Taryn Bazurto
Benton County Dems, Chair
It is on all of us to do the work to end the scourge of racism.
Please avail yourself to a few resources below. More can be found through web searches.
Local Racial Justice Chapters
Corvallis/Albany NAACP Chapter https://www.naacpcorvallisbranch.com/
Corvallis SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) https://corvallissurj.org
Anti-racism Resources:
Anti-racism resources for white people, a Google doc collection of resources
An Antiracist Reading List by Ibram X. Kendi at the NY Times
A message from Rosa Colquitt, PhD, Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon Black Caucus:
On May 26, most Americans woke up to the news of a disturbing video showing 46-year-old George Floyd pinned to the concrete with the knee of a Minneapolis police officer on his neck. After more than seven minutes being pinned under the pressure of the officer’s knee, Mr. Floyd ultimately died.
My reaction as a Black mother was to hold my adult son to my bosom, to never release him, to protect him with my very life. I am incapable of speaking the fear inside of me for my Black son. I know I voice the sentiments of black mothers all over the country. Whites express grief: “How horrible, how wrong, yet again — it must stop.” Black Americans say, “Oh yes, again, who’s next?”
Weeks earlier, America witnessed the unspeakable trauma and grief over the killing of 26-year-old EMT Breonna Taylor while sleeping in her home in Louisville, Kentucky, by police officers serving a no-knock arrest warrant on her boyfriend. And more recently, the killing of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery while jogging in Glynn County, Georgia, by an armed father-son duo, supposedly for a “suspected robbery.” No doubt this is a month of national reckoning for Black people and for all conscientious Americans, all in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic that is disproportionately killing Black Americans.
Rev. Dr. Bernice King, youngest daughter of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. tweeted a picture of the police officer kneeling on George Floyd’s neck alongside a picture of Colin Kaepernick kneeling at a football game to protest the shootings of unarmed Black men by police. She wrote in part, “If you’re unbothered or mildly bothered by the first knee but outraged by the second, then in my father’s words, you’re more devoted to order than to justice.” Bernice King speaks profoundly to a nation so badly in need of healing.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden spoke to the nation this afternoon about the killing of George Floyd. After speaking with Mr. Floyd’s family, Biden addressed the lack of presidential leadership in his speech, as well as the history connected to Floyd’s death. Part of the Vice President’s speech follows:
“Once again we heard the words, ‘I can’t breathe.’ An act of brutality so elemental, it did more than deny one more black man of America his civil rights and his human rights, it denied him of his very humanity, it denied him of his life … The same thing happened with Arbery, the same thing happened with Breonna Taylor, the same thing with George Floyd … they’re the latest additions to the endless list of stolen potential, wiped out unnecessarily. It’s a list that dates back more than 400 years, black men, black women, black children. The original sin of this country still stains our nation today, and sometimes we manage to overlook it. We just push forward with a thousand other tasks in our daily life, but it’s always there. On weeks like this, we see it plainly that we are a country with an open wound, and none of us can turn away, none of us can be silent. None of us can any longer — can we hear the words, ‘I can’t breathe,’ and do nothing.”
Biden went on to say it’s not a time for tweets and encouraging violence, but a time for leadership in a national crisis.
The leadership of the Democratic Party of Oregon strenuously rejects the unwarranted killings of Black Americans. The very core of both our Platform and our belief system as Democrats is about the equality of all. But in the wake of yet another senseless killing, we face the sad reality that our advocacy and even our most heartfelt, passionate beliefs were not enough to save George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the thousands who came before. The most virtuous beliefs mean nothing if they are not lived; the most comprehensive of policies are feckless if they are not promoted and enforced; and our visions of marching toward a truly more perfect union will go dark without all of us forging a path forward together.
May our passion and commitment, as well as our rage and grief, bring all of us together to fight this horrific and deadly disease that is racism.
May 19th: Thanks to everyone who joined us at our virtual primary night party!
A special thanks to the businesses and individuals who donated for our virtual auction – and the folks who bid on them!
It was a good night for democracy, and a great night for Oregon Democrats!
Results from the Benton election office: https://www.co.benton.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/elections/archive/6956/2020may19_cumulative_results.pdf
Results from the Oregon Sec of State: https://results.oregonvotes.gov/
Thursday, November 19: Join us at our monthly meeting!
Out of concern for the health and well-being of our members & community, our May meeting of the Benton County Democrats will be online (again!) via the zoom.us online conferencing app.
You can participate via a web browser, smartphone, tablet, or listen in by phone. A registration link for the Zoom meeting will be sent prior to the meeting along with a “Best Practices” mini guide for Zoom.
Thank you for your understanding as we adapt to these challenging times & thank you for adhering to social distancing guidelines. We are flattening Oregon’s curve–let’s keep it up and support All our front line workers!
Resources:
Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 Page
Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 Page
Legislative Wins for all Oregonians in 2019:
Campaign Finance Reform – Student Success Act – Expand Rural Broadband
The 2019 Legislative session resulted in the passage of many bills that will improve the lives of Oregonians!
How did your Benton County representatives vote? Read more here…
Biden/Harris Campaign Signs available at the office. 
10 Days to Nov 3rd: Want to get out the vote (GOTV) in Benton County?
Wanna make sure DeFazio is re-elected? Wanna make sure we have a Democratic Secretary of State who oversees redistricting next year? Then please join us for a short-term commitment to GOTV in Benton County!
Task 1: Adopt some of your neighbors who have yet to vote & remind them to vote and the last day to mail their ballots in to be counted (0ctober 27th).
Task 2: As we get close to Election Day, remind your neighbors to vote Democrat up and down the ballot!
Precinct 2: Downtown area (see here)
Precinct 3: South East Corvallis (see here)
Precinct 4: Around OSU (see here)
Precinct 5: Mid-town (see here)
Precinct 6: Between Walnut and Grant (see here)
Precinct 7: Western Corvallis between Walnut and Harrison College Hill-ish (see here)
Precinct 8: North West Corvallis (see here)
Precinct 9: North Corvallis around 99 (see here)
Precinct 10: Philomath (see here)
Precinct 16: All around Corvallis, outside the city limits (see here)If you live in rural Benton County, I guarantee we have a place for you!
There are neighbors in every precinct that need help getting their ballots in!
Sign up here: https://bentondemocrats.org/
Let’s make the Blue Wave 2.0–We will wash them away with our awesomeness!
Help Wanted: Volunteers for Victory Homestretch–Get Out the Vote
No experience phone banking or text banking necessary. Give it a try & help ensure victory in November! These great Democratic candidates are doing get-out-the-vote phone banks: Peter DeFazio, for Congress, 4th District; Miriam Cummins, for House District 15 State Representative; and Bernadette Hansen for Senate District 12. All phone banking can be done at home.
Here are the sign-up links:
• Sign up to phone bank for Peter DeFazio
•Sign up to phone bank for Miriam Cummins
• Text bank for Bernadette Hansen daily at 5:30 via Zoom
Election Alert
There have been 2 reported incidents in Corvallis on Friday October 9, one of several ballots found on a street in south Corvallis that had apparently been taken from peoples’ mail boxes (both just delivered and one completed and put out to be picked up by the mailperson); and also of an overfull drop box.
Rumors spread quickly, both in size and dissemination. We have devised a protocol to try to keep things factual and response effective.
- Verification: If you see or hear of something to do with ballots or dropboxes that seems not right, the first step is to verify the information.
- If this is something you’ve seen or experienced yourself, please document it with a photo, if possible. Note specifics: location, time, date and other witnesses.
- If this is something you’re hearing from someone else, please ask them to document it (see above). If it is something they have heard but not witnessed, try to follow the chain of repetition until you get to the person who witnessed or experienced it first-hand.
- . Reporting: After verifying the information to the best of your ability, please report it to either Janet Wolf-Eshe, who is coordinating our Election Observation program, or to Taryn Bazurto, our party Chair or Linda Ramsey, our NLP Coordinator. Their contact information is:
Janet (916)730-6790
Taryn (541) 250-1819
Linda (541) 990-2961
Click for a message from the chair. TIME TO VOTE!
Benton County Democrats Slate Card here.
Read about the candidates.
The Benton County Commissioner races will use ranked choice voting for the first time. Learn about it here.
The League of Women Voters’ 2020 information. Read it here. Drop your ballot in a ballot box. Here’s what to look for.
Voting if you’ve been evacuated. Statement from the Secretary of State
Additional Voting Information
In Oregon if you are registered to vote you will automatically receive a ballot.
Check your registration here.
https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/myvote.aspx?lang=en
The last day to change or to register is October 13
If you haven’t received your ballot by Thursday, Oct. 22, call the Benton County Elections 541-766-6756
The on-line Oregon Voter’s Guide: http://oregonvotes.gov/voters-guide/pdf/book6.pdf
What is your plan to vote?
Please vote EARLY, preferably the day you receive your ballot.
If you return your ballot by mail – vote and mail early. Ballots must be received by 8pm on Nov. 3rd. Postmarks don’t count.
If you put your ballot in a drop box – locations for boxes can be found at
https://www.co.benton.or.us/elections/page/november-3-2020-general-election-ballot-dropsites
Biden/Harris Campaign Signs–IN STOCK
DeFazio Campaign Signs — IN STOCK
Fagan Campaign Signs (thanks Lane Co Dems) — IN STOCK
Thank you to Benton County Democrats who purchased a Biden/Harris sign! Please feel free to contact our HQ ((541) 250-0065), for more information on which signs are available. Currently, we have signs for Biden/Harris, Peter DeFazio Shemia Fagan, Xan Augerot, Bernadette Hansen, Nancy Wyse and Jeff Merkley
Candidate Miriam Cummins dropped off a limited supply of handmade RBG masks. Suggested donation is $10. 
Keep showing your Democratic pride, folks!
Campaign Kick-off : Miriam Cummings
Please join candidate Miriam Cummings, who is running for election to the Oregon House of Representatives to represent District 15, today!
Virtual Campaign Launch Fiesta for July 17th from 6-7:30pm via Zoom.
-You will need to register for the event: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fnsgvKE4TQOtmTmVxsF5-w
Out of concern for the health and well-being of our members & community, we are taking our April 16th Benton County Democrats Central Committee Meeting virtual and hosting it via ZOOM.
A registration link for the ZOOM meeting will be sent 4/15/2020, along with a “Best Practices” mini guide for ZOOM.
Thank you for your understanding as we adapt to these challenging times & thank you for adhering to social distancing guidelines. We are flattening Oregon’s curve–let’s keep it up and support All our front line workers!
Be safe, be calm, & support each other (from a responsible) distance,
Taryn Bazurto
Benton Co. Democrats, Chair
Resources:
Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 Page
In honor of St. Patrick’s legendary leadership in ejecting the snakes from Ireland, we invite you to join with us to do the same for the snakes in Washington, D.C.
Our top priority is establishing a home base for the fight to support our national and local Democratic candidates.
Here’s why:
The need for a Democratic Trifecta has never been more urgent.
This fall, the Supreme Court will hear a case that could end Obamacare as we know it.
Unless Democrats take control of the House, Senate, and Presidency, people could lose their access to health care.
Think of what that could mean to you, your friends, your family….
We need all hands on deck to keep this from happening.
Please join with us and donate today
A message from our chair:
Out of concern for the health and well-being of our members & community, we are cancelling our March 19th Benton County Democrats Central Committee Meeting.
I have full confidence in our organization and committees, in collaboration with the Democratic Party of Oregon, to develop a set of best practices for voter outreach and engagement in a mail, phone and social media environment.
As the outbreak situation is fast-devolving, please avail yourself to reliable information & take extra care at this time. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication. The fight for Victory in 2020 goes on!
Taryn Bazurto
Resources:
Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 Page
Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 Page
Reminder from our chair:
Out of concern for the health and well-being of our members & community, we are cancelling our March 19th Benton County Democrats Central Committee Meeting.
Together, with our Officers and Executive Committee, we are exploring ways to get our organization’s business done through virtual and other means. We will keep you updated.
Right now, best practices for Democrats is to heed the recommendations of healthcare professionals: engage in social distancing, good hygiene and sanitation routines, and to remember, we are in this together.
Together, we will flatten the curve & adjust.
Together, we will think globally & act locally.
Together, we remain engaged, informed, and will not give into fear.
Be safe, be calm, & support each other (from a responsible) distance,
Taryn Bazurto
Resources:
Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 Page
Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 Page
Six at Seventh on Fourteenth
January 14 at 6pm: Six presidential hopefuls will be on the debate stage for the seventh DNC debate. We’re closing in on the February 3rd Iowa Caucuses – and that means the upcoming debate is in Iowa. Candidates met the fundraising and polling thresholds are Senators Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren, along with former VP Joe Biden, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Tom Steyers. The debate, hosted by CNN and the Des Moines Register, will be at Drake University in Des Moines.
The Democratic Presidential Primary
More details, along with links to all the candidate web sites at The Race for the Democratic 2020 Presidential Nomination.
The next four primary debates will be held in each of the first four states to vote in 2020: Jan.14 in Iowa, Feb. 7 in New Hampshire, Feb. 19 in Nevada and Feb. 25 in South Carolina.
Jan 4: Sen Wyden Town Hall
“Resolved, That Donald John Trump, President of the United States, is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors…”
On the evening of December 18, 2020, the US House of Representatives passed the two articles of impeachment.
No one is above the law.
Thursday: Primary Debate Night #6
It’s an historic week in DC, but out west the DNC’s next televised debate takes place at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles on Thursday, December 19, beginning at 5pm.
The event is co-hosted by PBS and Politico and will be broadcast on PBS stations and streamed at PBS.org (among other places).
As we close in on the first 2020 contest, only(!) seven candidates will take the stage: Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, Elizabeth Warren, and Andrew Yang.
Earlier this week the DNC announced dates for the next four debates – one in each of the first four states to vote in 2020: Jan.14 in Iowa, Feb. 7 in New Hampshire, Feb. 19 in Nevada and Feb. 25 in South Carolina.
More details, along with links to all the candidate web sites at The Race for the Democratic 2020 Presidential Nomination.
Impeach & Remove Rally Tuesday
Tuesday, Dec 17, 5:30-6:30 at the Benton County Courthouse in Corvallis
On the eve of the anticipated House impeachment vote on Wednesday, join your neighbors and fellow Americans to demonstrate to our lawmakers that their constituents are behind them — that upholding their oath of office leaves them with no alternative but to support impeachment and removal. Organized by Indivisible Benton County, it’s one of hundreds of events nationwide.
Nobody is above the law.
BC Dems Holiday Shindig on Dec 5
Join us at our 2019 Holiday Party
Thursday, December 5th at 6:00pm at the Old School Event Center
(4455 NE Hwy 20, Corvallis, OR 97330)
This event is free for all Democrats to attend.
Please RSVP so that we know you are coming. Those who RSVP will get a free raffle ticket!
With the holiday season fast approaching, The Benton County Democrats are preparing for our annual end of year Holiday Party! Local Democrats gather for this annual event to celebrate the work we’ve done throughout the year, and to raise the funds that will allow us to operate in the year ahead. After the 2020 Primary Election we will be opening a headquarters office in Corvallis. Our headquarters serves as our command center for the November 2020 General Election: hosting office space for local candidates; phone banking outreach; distribution and sales of election swag – bumper stickers, lawn signs, buttons; and launching canvasses to get out the vote!
Can we count on your support for a successful 2020 Election?
Thank you.
On Tuesday, November 5, Benton County voted to modernize its 9-1-1 emergency services in a ballot measure the Benton County Democrats supported.
The residents of northwest Corvallis also elected Paul Schaffer as the new city council member representing Ward 7. Congratulations to Paul – and thanks to all the candidates who ran!
Full results are available from the Benton County Elections Office.
A Dozen Democrats – Presidential Debate Number 4
A dozen Democrats crowded the debate stage for the 4th debate in Ohio on October 15, and the fifth debate is scheduled for November 20 in the Atlanta area, with stricter qualification criteria.
Read more about the 2020 Democratic primary contest
Global Climate Strike!
Sept 20-27: Benton County – and people all over the globe – will join Greta Thunberg and Fridays For The Future by walking out of their schools, workplaces and homes to join the climate kids marching in the streets. Students are demanding climate justice and emergency-scale action in response to the climate crisis, and they and we are asking you –all of us — to respond to their call for adults and all people to stand up with them.“Heightened Oversight of Travel, Eating, and Lodging”
Sept 12: Candidate Debate #3!
The third DNC-organized debate is a one-night affair this time, beginning at 5pm Pacific on September 12th. It’ll be hosted by ABC News and Univision at Texas Southern University in Houston.
To qualify for the debate stage, candidates must have reached 2% support in four separate polls and have the backing of 130,000 individual donors by August 28th. Ten candidates passed that threshold: Biden, Booker, Buttigieg, Castro, Harris, Klobuchar, O’Rourke, Sanders, Warren, and Yang. [Read more]
…One milestone closer to the end of the Trump administration!
Sen Wyden Town Hall in Corvallis
Oregon’s senior US Senator, Ron Wyden, hosted a town hall meeting at the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis on August 21st.
“Senator Wyden pledges open-to-all town meetings in each county in Oregon each year he serves in the Senate. Wyden has held 926 meetings where he refrains from speeches, listens to the concerns of Oregonians, and answers questions.”
Read more in the Gazette-Times: “Health care dominates Wyden visit”
photo from https://twitter.com/RonWyden
BC Dems at the Benton County Fair! July 31-Aug 3
It was great to meet all of you who stopped by our booth!
If you didn’t make it to the fair, the most striking part of the booth was the Democratic primary candidate straw poll, featuring the many, many, many heads of the Democratic presidential candidates. Everyone could cast a vote for their favorite candidate, and hundreds did!
And here’s our top five overall, from our four day totals:
5. former VP Joe Biden, with 76 votes
4. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, with 91votes
3. Sen. Kamala Harris, with 149 votes
2. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, with 214 votes
and your winner, by nine votes:
Sen. Bernie Sanders, with 223 votes
(…If only it was this easy and fun: there’s 460 days of hard work ahead of us between the fair and election day 2020. We can use your help.)
Special thanks to all our volunteers who helped make this happen!
Sen Wyden Town Hall in Corvallis: August 21
Oregon’s senior US Senator, Ron Wyden, will host a town hall meeting at the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis (1112 NW Circle Blvd, Corvallis) on Wednesday, August 21st from Noon – 1:30pm
“Senator Wyden pledges open-to-all town meetings in each county in Oregon each year he serves in the Senate. Wyden has held 926 meetings where he refrains from speeches, listens to the concerns of Oregonians, and answers questions.”
We hope to see you there!
Picnic & Pie Auction: August 17
Come out to Willamette Park this coming Saturday (August 17) at 1:00pm for the Benton County Democrats annual Potluck Picnic and Pie Auction!
Those of you who have attended in past years know this is a chance for us all to relax together, hang out in the park, listen to live music and, of course, eat pie.
This event is free to attend!
As usual, the BBQ items (meat and meatless options), water, soda and ice cream will be provided.
What to bring:
We ask anyone who can to bring a side dish, a pie for the auction, any special drinks you want and a fistful of cash for bidding on the pies! In the spirit of practice what you preach, we are encouraging everyone to bring their own reusable plates, bowls, napkins, etc. We will have a few extra for those who can’t make it happen.
Along with our traditional pie auction we will be adding a couple of new events this year:
- Many of our local elected officials have graciously volunteered to give their faces to the cause, literally. Which means that we will be having a silent auction for the right to shove a pie in the face of our government!
- We also will be having a pie eating contest for our younger members so be sure to bring the kids. (The pies will be special smaller versions of the same pudding and whipped cream pies the electeds will be scraping off their faces.)
The event is open to all Democrats and their guests so feel free to bring anyone you think would enjoy spending the afternoon with us!
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What: Potluck Picnic and Pie Auction
When: Saturday, August 17th at 1:00pm Where: Willamette Park, Rotary Shelter: 1350 SE Goodnight Ave, Corvallis, OR 97333 Who: This event is open to all Democrats Why: Relax with friends, eat pie, and help us raise funds for our 2020 election efforts! |
BC Dems at the Benton County Fair!
It was great to meet all of you who stopped by our booth!
If you didn’t make it to the fair, the most striking part of the booth was the Democratic primary candidate straw poll, featuring the many, many, many heads of the Democratic presidential candidates. Everyone could cast a vote for their favorite candidate, and hundreds did!
And here’s our top five overall, from our four day totals:
5. former VP Joe Biden, with 76 votes
4. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, with 91votes
3. Sen. Kamala Harris, with 149 votes
2. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, with 214 votes
and your winner, by nine votes:
Sen. Bernie Sanders, with 223 votes
(…If only it was this easy and fun: there’s 460 days of hard work ahead of us between the fair and election day 2020. We can use your help.)
Special thanks to all our volunteers who helped make this happen!
BC Dems Condemn Senator Boquist’s Conduct
July 8 – The Executive Committee submitted the following letter as testimony to the Oregon Senate Special Committee on Conduct expressing concern for the recent actions by Senator Brian Boquist – who represents part of Benton County – and requesting his removal from the senate and the joint committees he serves on.
The Special Committee on Conduct met at the Capitol on July 8th and passed several sanctions against Sen. Boquist while an investigation is ongoing. Notably the senator is required to give 12-hour’s notice before entering the building; state police presence at the Capitol will be increased while he is present.
- Read the full letter [PDF]
- Read today’s Statesman-Journal article with details on the July 8th meeting along with background on Sen Boquist’s threats against Oregon State Police and the Senate President.