The 2026 election season is here, and we anticipate a surge in fearmongering about crime as candidates push for voter support. We’ve already seen ads with dire warnings about defunding the police. Crime has dropped in Portland for four straight years, and gun violence is way down, so why do some campaigns rely so heavily on the fear of crime to win over voters?

This panel brings together experts who will dig into this topic to help voters cut through the noise of this season’s election ads. Join us to get informed and get ready to ensure that our elections express a vision of real community safety - and not a conservative reaction to fear tactics.  

Our panel:
Candace Avalos, District 1, Portland City Councilor
Joy Alise Davis, Imagine Black
Alice Lundell, Oregon Justice Resource Center