End the Grey Area — Enforce the Rules Equally

Thank you to everyone who has signed and supported this petition so far. Together, we are making our voices heard.

Yet, there is a grey area that allows party leaders to bend the rules. For example, if a DPO officer—such as the treasurer—speaks at an official party event, in their official capacity, and calls for the re-election of an incumbent, that functions as an official endorsement. Even if it is not labeled as such, it carries the weight of the office, the party, and the event.

This is unacceptable. It creates a double standard:

Challengers are muzzled, stripped of official support.
Incumbents benefit from implicit endorsements by party officers at official functions.
If the Democratic Party of Oregon truly values fairness and transparency, then the rules must be enforced consistently and equally. That means taking action to ensure no officer uses their position, their title, or their official platform to give incumbents an unfair advantage.

We call on the State Central Committee, Rules Committee, and party leadership to end this grey area, hold officers accountable, and guarantee that these rules are enforced the same way for everyone—or better yet, repeal any possible rules, bylaws, or guidelines that protects incumbents, so our elections are open, fair, and democratic.

Our party should not silence voices or protect power. It should stand for fairness, transparency, and real democracy.