Each election cycle, OSEA endorses candidates in state and local races whose positions on education and labor issues align with ours. OSEA members on interview panels, the Government Relations Committee and the Board of Directors go above and beyond to vet candidates through a thorough, fair and member-driven process.
The first step is a questionnaire, sent to all candidates in January of the election year. We ask broad questions about why candidates are running and how their platform will help education workers. We ask specific questions about OSEA priorities, including whether candidates will defend the "just cause" protections we won for classified school employees in 2023. The questions are the same for all candidates in a given race, whether or not they are an incumbent or were endorsed by OSEA in a previous race. Every candidate is evaluated from the same starting point and no one wins our endorsement automatically.
Next comes an interview with a panel of OSEA members. These members review each candidate's written responses before meeting with them in-person to ask about their voting record, background and views on our key issues.
OSEA has a unique third piece to our endorsement process: candidates participate in a "listen and learn" activity with OSEA members. Instead of answering our questions, candidates ask members about our real experiences on the job, the challenges we face and the changes we want to see in our schools and education programs. Our lived experiences are powerful, and whether or not a candidate earns our endorsement or wins the election, they come away more educated about the injustices OSEA members may face.
After the interview and listening session, our member-interviewers share their thoughts with OSEA's Government Relations Committee (also comprised of members). The committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors, who make the final endorsement decision by voting.
This member-led endorsement process means these important decisions come from the ground up. Our endorsed candidates for the 2026 election cycle are listed below. (Additional endorsements may be made before Election Day.) Each candidate listed participated in our process from start to finish and impressed members with their commitment to education and labor.
Your perspective is important, and you can be a part of our endorsement process! Email the government relations team if you would like to participate on an interview panel.
2026 Election Endorsements
Statewide Offices
Governor: Tina Kotek
State Senate
SD 3 (Ashland): Denise Krause
SD 6 (Fall Creek): Sierrah Williams
SD 8 (Corvallis, Albany): Sarah Gelser Blouin
SD 10 (Salem): Deb Patterson
SD 11 (Keizer): Virginia Stapleton
SD 13 (SW Metro): Courtney Neron Misslin
SD 17 (W Metro): Lisa Reynolds
State House of Representatives
HD 11 (Lebanon): Ivan Mulaski
HD 14 (W Eugene, Veneta): Julie Fahey
HD 15 (Albany): Joanna Robinson
HD 16 (Corvallis): Sarah Finger MacDonald
HD 17 (Detroit, Stayton): David Nelson
HD 18 (Silverton): Roy Kaufmann
HD 20 (Monmouth): Paul Evans
HD 21 (N Salem): Michael Welsh
HD 22 (Woodburn, Hayesville): Lesly Muñoz
HD 25 (Tigard): Ben Bowman
HD 35 (NW Beaverton, Aloha): Farrah Chaichi
HD 39 (Clackamas, Happy Valley): April Dobson
HD 40 (Gladstone): Michael Sugar
HD 41 (Milwaukee): Mark Gamba
HD 42 (E Portland): Rob Nosse
HD 46 (SE Portland): Willy Chotzen
HD 47 (Outer E Portland): Andrea Valderrama
HD 49 (Troutdale, Gresham, E Portland): Zach Hudson
HD 52 (Gresham, Hood River, The Dalles): Hank Sanders