For Immediate Release
Contact: Molly Woon
press [at] dpo [dot] org
October 28, 2019
Statement from KC Hanson, Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon, on Congressional District 2 Open Seat
Democratic Party of Oregon Chair KC Hanson released the following statement this afternoon, following an announcement from Republican Congressman Greg Walden that he would not seek re-election to Oregon’s Second Congressional District:
“We welcome the news of Rep. Walden’s retirement from the U.S. Congress. The Second Congressional District is at a crossroads and all signs indicate that voters are ready for a Congressperson that fights for working people and puts the interests of Oregonians ahead of corporate donors.
“The Second Congressional District is home to an array of exceptional Democratic leaders who have advocated for their communities — any one of whom would be an excellent representative at the federal level.
“By contrast, Walden’s actions have become increasingly out of step with voters. He sold his constituents out in 2017, voting to take health care away from 23 million Americans, including 300,000 Oregonians and nearly 65,000 people in his own district. And after being elected by his tightest-ever margin in 2018, Walden told reporters that his district “sure as heck ain’t getting any redder.” Now Walden has seen the writing on the wall, and is retiring rather than risk defeat in 2020.”
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