OEA

Unless Attorney General candidate John Kroger has his own personal stash from his five years as a federal prosecutor, it looks like organized labor unions are likely gearing up to throw another wad of cash to his campaign.

Secretary of State candidate Kate Brown recently received large amounts of campaign cash from two prominent liberal organizations. EMILY's List, a national fundraising powerhouse who endorsed Brown over the other pro-choice Democratic candidate Vicki Walker, donated $10,000 last week.

In the race for the 5th CD, Kurt Schrader recently received lucrative endorsements from Oregon AFL-CIO, AFSCME and the Oregon Education Association,  unions with public employees who conveniently allow Schrader's Senate mid-term position as co-chair of the powerful Ways and Means committee in the Oregon legislature to overcome his ardent support for PERS reform back in 2003.

Could such support mean the beginning of the end for Schrader's Democratic primary opponent Steve Marks? Schrader has one of the lowest rated union voting records among his fellow Democrats (even voting against labors precious Majority Sign-Up bill), but seems to keep locking up labor support regardless. Without union support it is unlikely Marks will be able to on what may be as much as $1 million of Schrader's own personal wealth he plans to use to lock up the nomination.

Although the vote went into two rounds, Secretary of State candidate Sen. Kate Brown eventually procured the Oregon Education Association endorsement. And now the OEA is demonstrating just how valuable that endorsement can be.  read more »

Giving their powerful endorsement to State Senator Kate Brown in the race for Secretary of State, EMILY's List, a liberal national organization that supports pro-choice women, gave a clear snub to the other woman vying for the SoS seat, State Senator Vicki Walker. The DC fundraising powerhouse just donated $5000 to the Brown campaign and will likely connect her campaign to many national wealthy donors.