Voters reject corporate Democrats in favor of candidates who understand the needs and concerns of working families 

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Working Families Party (Oregon WFP) is proving that fighting for working families is a winning strategy as its endorsed candidates swept Democratic primaries in Washington County and across the state. In an historic upset, Oregon WFP candidate Myrna Muñoz unseated Democratic incumbent Oregon Sen. Janeen Sollman, despite outspending Muñoz two to one.  

Of the Party’s 46 endorsed races, 28 Oregon WFP candidates won their primaries, with eight races still too close to call and three of three Oregon WFP-endorsed local ballot measures winning voter approval.

“This is a groundbreaking primary election in Oregon. We’ve never seen anything like this,” said Annie Naranjo-Rivera, State Director of Oregon WFP. “Farmers, educators and immigrant communities stood up in solidarity with Oregon Senator-Elect Myrna Muñoz (D-15) and others to reject billionaire tech CEOs, data centers, outside corporate influences, and the same old policies that have led working families to abandon the Democratic Party.”

“I’m humbled by the intergenerational, multicultural, and mixed-gender coalition of working families that came together to demand leadership focused on community needs instead of corporate interests,” said Muñoz. “We organized, we came together, and we took our power back. Together, we win.” 

In her campaign, Muñoz took on incumbent Sen. Janeen Sollman (D-15), chair of the Senate’s Energy and Environment Committee, over her embrace of data centers and attempts to give away millions in corporate tax breaks during the last legislative session. Sollman, who was backed by major corporations like Walmart, Chevron, and Google, was also assailed by voters for her tepid response to the presence of ICE in Oregon. The last sitting Democratic Senator to be successfully primaried was Rod Monroe, who lost his seat in 2018. Oregon WFP helped to build Muñoz’s campaign operation. 

Other Washington County Oregon WFP champions were also victorious, including Tammy Carpenter in HD-27, who beat the anointed successor of the corporate Democrat who previously held the seat. Nafisa Fai prevailed in her race for Washington County Commission Chair, moving to runoff in November.

In important races for seats in the Oregon State Legislature, Oregon WFP champions Michael Sugar, a civics teacher, secured the Democratic nomination in HD-40, and Virginia Stapleton, a former Salem City Councilor, won her competitive race in SD-11. 

The Marion County Commission and the Deschutes County Commission both have potential for working-family majorities, with Oregon WFP candidates prevailing in crowded fields filled with MAGA-aligned candidates and corporate Democrats. 

Oregon WFP provided endorsed candidates with cutting edge campaign tools and training, texting, door knocking, and coordinated canvasses. Along with Oregon WFP’s “Wolf Pack” of volunteers, the Party and its endorsed campaigns knocked 130,224 doors, made 289,617 phone calls, and sent 191,827 texts. 

Oregon WFP emphasized that the wins reflect the outcome of a healthy democracy, where voters have the power to elect those who they believe represent their values and priorities–and vote out those who don’t. Oregon WFP says these victories are a referendum on corporate Democrats across the state who continue to curry favor with ultra-wealthy Oregonians and mega-corporations at the expense of working families. 

“It’s exceedingly difficult–and rare–to unseat Democratic incumbents in Oregon,” said Naranjo-Rivera. “But everyone is feeling the harmful effects of the Trump Administration. We need champions right here in Oregon to fight for the things voters actually care about. The affordability crisis is only getting worse with the rising cost of virtually everything, from gas and utility bills, to child care and health coverage. Voters understand who’s to blame and they made their voices heard. Status quo, establishment politics for the benefit of the ultrawealthy and corporate donors are not what voters want, on either side of the aisle. These primary races show that.”  

Many of today’s winning candidates participated in the 2025 Working Families Campaign School last fall, where working-class candidates and campaign staff gained the skills to run successful, values-driven campaigns and enter this election cycle ready to deliver real results across Oregon.

Oregon WFP built robust coalitions with MotherPAC, Oregon AFT, CWA 9701, ILWU Local 8, East County Rising, Latino Network Action Fund, Tribal Democracy, PCUN, and APANO action, as well as other progressive labor coalition partners and community organizations. 

Note: Link to a list of all Oregon WFP-endorsed ballot measures and candidates who won or are awaiting the final results.

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About Oregon Working Families Party

The Oregon Working Families Party (Oregon WFP) is about building an Oregon that works for all of us, not just the wealthy and well-connected. Oregon WFP is a minor political party that uses fusion voting, which allows the Party to cross-nominate candidates from major parties if they support our values and our issues. Working Families-endorsed candidates mean you know that they have our seal of approval, and you can vote for them with the confidence that they will do the best job of fighting for working people.