Statement on Congressional District 6
Oregon’s new congressional district is an opportunity for communities of color in Oregon to receive the kind of representation they deserve. But centrist Democrats and the wealthy few have their own ideas about CD6.
Carrick Flynn is running for Congress, despite only voting twice in the last 14 years and only living in Oregon as an adult since 2020. Flynn has no prior political experience and last week’s campaign finance reports showed that less than 3% of his donors were from Oregon. Without a base of support in Oregon, he’s still raised more than $800,000 and received millions in independent expenditures. Flynn is backed by a PAC founded by cryptocurrency billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried and a federal PAC associated with Nancy Pelosi - these groups have respectively spent $5 million and $1 million on ads for Flynn in the past weeks.
Flynn has been described as a phantom candidate: he was raised in Oregon, but as an adult he spent a decade in the nebulous world of nonprofit consulting and Washington DC research, and cast his only votes as an Oregonian in 2008 and 2022. Voters will have to take him at his word about his values, given his lack of track record. Flynn has declared a commitment to gender and racial equality, but has chosen to challenge 3 women of color who are each categorically more qualified than him.
Oregon's 6th Congressional district desperately needs a candidate with the lived experience to advocate for all its residents, and we’re proud to endorse Andrea Salinas, a candidate with a proven history of fighting for all working people and the experience necessary to legislate effectively.
She has a career of political experience, and has already advocated for residents of this district for 5 years in the Oregon legislature. She championed Oregon’s farmworker overtime bill this legislative session. Over the years, she’s fought for healthcare, reproductive rights, and has been a leader in the push for a just transition to a green economy. We know that Andrea’s integrity, dedication and empathy are what we need in Congress. We encourage all eligible voters to vote for Andrea in the May 17th Democratic primary.
