In this year’s short legislative session, Oregon stands to make huge gains. Small Donor-Funded Elections Legislation introduced in the Oregon state House would, if passed, establish a small donor campaign finance program enabling State Representative and State Senate candidates to receive a 6-to-1 public campaign financing match on small donor contributions.

This sort of legislation has been passed in states, cities and counties all across the country, resulting in more power in the hands of voters and less in the hands of wealthy donors.

The program allows candidates to opt-in and requires that they agree to only accept donations of $250 dollars or less from individuals, organizations or corporations. Each contribution they receive is then matched from a public fund. This changes the way that candidates campaign, requiring that candidates speak to individuals about the needs of their families and communities, instead of spending endless hours calling through rolls of high dollar donor or attending black-tie, closed-door fundraising events.

Small donor-funded elections also create an environment where a diverse pool of candidates can thrive because more diverse donors are empowered instead of outspent. As Jenny Lee, advocacy Director for the Coalition of Communities of Color states:

This is a way to mitigate the impact of income inequality and racial inequities in our economic system, in our democracy. Someone's voice should not receive less attention simply because they don't benefit from this wealth.

The current legislature doesn't reflect the ever diversifying population of Oregon. Corporate money and generational wealth floods state elections, drowning out the needs of everyone else. Each election year, campaign spending hits new, unprecedented and wasteful highs. Small donor-funded elections addresses all  of these issues and more.

Sign the petition: It is time for Oregon to pass Small Donor-Funded Elections legislation and give the power back to the people.