Salem, Ore. — Grassroots action to engage Oregon voters was instrumental in the election night victories of pro-life candidates against their pro-abortion opponents Tuesday.
As Republicans scored major nationwide victories at the state and federal levels in the Tuesday night general election, pro-life Republican candidates in the Democratic stronghold of Oregon faced tougher headwinds, especially in county commissioner races. Still, pro-life Oregon candidates won in key contests where Oregon Right to Life PAC employed strategic door-to-door canvassing efforts.
In Marion County, ORTL PAC-endorsed incumbents Kevin Mannix (HD 21) and Tracy Cramer (HD 22) won re-election Tuesday night and will remain pro-life champions. The victories demonstrate the power of the pro-life message when contrasted against pro-abortion extremism, as well as the importance of direct pro-life outreach to voters.
“Tracy and Kevin were targeted for defeat from the beginning. Where it counted, the pro-life message won on Tuesday night and we retained our ability to represent the most vulnerable in the Oregon legislature,” Oregon Right to Life political director Sharolyn Smith said. “We’re very proud of the work our grassroots team did to secure these crucial wins.”
From the 2024 primary election through the general election, ORTL PAC’s grassroots team knocked on nearly 21,000 doors, made more than 20,000 direct phone calls, and surveyed almost 9,000 voters in key districts. Volunteers and staff members provided information to undecided voters and energized pro-life Oregonians to cast their ballots for candidates who will represent Oregon’s most vulnerable.
“Our grassroots team is one of the only ones in the state that operates year round, informing Oregonians about abortion and rallying the pro-life vote,” said Oregon Right to Life executive director Lois Anderson. “Advancing the pro-life message in Oregon is challenging. In several races, especially at the county commissioner level, this was not the night we were hoping for. But we have solid wins to celebrate.”
“Where we focus our efforts and resources, we can and do win,” Anderson continued. “Our grassroots team rallied the pro-life vote and created a path to victory for strong candidates like Tracy Cramer, Kevin Mannix, and Darin Harbick in House District 12, who will make a real difference for life.”
In a much-anticipated victory last night, ORTL PAC-endorsed pro-life candidate Darin Harbick solidified his win to represent the people of rural Lane County in HD 12. Harbick’s Tuesday night win came after a historic pro-life primary election victory in which he earned more than 82% of the vote against pro-abortion incumbent Charlie Conrad (R-Dexter).
“We went into the 2024 election mainly to accomplish one thing: Defeat pro-abortion Republican Charlie Conrad,” Smith said. “And we did it to a historic degree.”
Oregon voters not only rejected Conrad over his abortion support, they also opposed abortion extremism in Democrat-leaning districts.
“We knew abortion was going to be the main attack on Tracy and Kevin in Marion County, but 65% of voters in their Democrat-leaning districts think Oregon’s abortion law is too extreme,” Smith added. “These voters support candidates who want to see limits on abortion. They know that Representatives Mannix and Cramer will represent their values.”
For questions or requests for comment, contact Oregon Right to Life Communications Director Ashley Sadler at ashley@ortl.org or (530) 859-1957.
