The Multnomah County Voter Guide, set to be mailed to voters next month, is filled with endorsements from advocacy groups, community leaders, elected officials, and labor organizations. However, one highly anticipated endorsement is notably absent: Working for a Better Portland, a newly formed political action committee (PAC) aimed at uniting multiple unions behind a slate of candidates, did not unveil its picks in time for candidates to submit earned endorsements by the Sept. 9 deadline.
Instead, key labor groups like the NW Oregon Labor Council and SEIU have made independent endorsements, supporting candidates ranging from established figures such as City Commissioner Dan Ryan to up-and-comers like Tiffany Koyama Lane, a teacher and union organizer gaining traction in District 3. The absence of a joint endorsement from the PAC suggests a less centralized approach from labor unions in this election cycle than many had anticipated.
Though Working for a Better Portland did not finalize endorsements for the voter guide, the PAC is still expected to invest in key races. It recently received a $10,000 contribution from LiUNA 737, a labor union representing construction workers and public employees in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Both NW Labor Council and LiUNA 737 back Candace Avalos, Jamie Dunphy, and Steph Routh in District 1; Elana Pirtle-Guiney and Jonathan Tasini in District 2; Chris Flanary and Steve Novick in District 3; and Olivia Clark, Tony Morse, and Eric Zimmerman in District 4. However, while NW Labor Council has endorsed Carmen Rubio for Portland mayor, LiUNA 737 recently withdrew its endorsement after reports surfaced regarding Rubio’s history of traffic violations.
