MARION COUNTY, ORE. — Voters across Marion County signaled a progressive shift, electing Working Families Party (WFP)-endorsed candidates Virginia Stapleton, Michael Welsh, State Sen. Deb Patterson, State Reps. Lesly Muñoz and Paul Evans, Sara Duncan, Maria Hinojos Pressey and Chelsea Alionar. Voters sent a clear message to MAGA Republicans that the status quo wasn’t working for working families. The Marion County WFP-endorsed candidates flipped two Oregon Legislature seats from Republican to WFP/Democrat. WFP endorsed candidates may still secure two seats in the Marion County Commission and one seat on Kaizer City Council, all still too close to call. 

“Almost all of the candidates we endorsed have won their races or are leading, which is a huge win for working families,” said Annie Naranjo-Rivera, State Director of Oregon WFP. “Voters in Marion County and across the country are fed up with costs rising on everything, from rent and utilities to child care and health coverage. They elected champions who will make Oregon affordable for working families.” 

While votes are still being counted, nearly every Oregon WFP-endorsed candidate in Marion County is leading in their races:

• Oregon Senate District 11: Virginia Stapleton has defeated Republican Tracy Kramer in SD-11, which would flip the seat from Republican to Democrat.
• Oregon House: Michael Welsh (HD-21) has defeated Republican incumbent Kevin Mannix; and incumbent Sen. Lesly Muñoz defeated Republican challenger Noemi Legaspi in HD-22. 
• Marion County Commission: Sara Duncan is in a close race to unseat Republican incumbent Kevin Cameron in the Marion County Commissioner, Position 1 race; Maria Hinojos Pressey is gaining on Republican incumbent Commissioner Colm Willis in the Marion County Commission, Position 2 race. 
• Kaizer City Council: Chelsea Alionar, a labor leader and member of Oregon WFP, is also gaining in the Kaizer City Council, Position 4 race against Maralee Fletchall and Tammy Kunz. 

“This race is by and for the people of Senate District 11 who, for too long, have not had someone in their corner, working for their families,” said Stapleton on election night. “That changes tonight. I will be a fighter for the working class and deliver results for all of us. Para todos.”

Naranjo-Rivera says the two legislative pickups (SD-11 and HD-21) could shift conversations about revenue reform, while defending HD-22 meant protecting a champion from one of the closest races of 2024 (WFP cross-nominated in these races). At the same time, two Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN) candidates for County Commission presented an opportunity to flip the Marion County Commission. In this region, WFP organizers helped to build the state’s strongest coordinated electoral program, raising the standard for Oregon. 

“This campaign has been a testament to what ordinary people can accomplish when they are motivated, organized, and supported by their community,” said Welsh. “And I sincerely hope that this campaign has done something beyond simply putting my name on a ballot. I hope it has encouraged my friends and neighbors in the middle class and working class to take a closer look at local government and recognize that they have a place in it. You don’t have to be wealthy. You don’t have to come from a political family. You don’t have to have connections or special privileges to make a difference. You just have to care enough about your community to step forward and get involved.” 

WFP candidates in Marion County and across the state ran on a clear working families agenda. Naranjo-Rivera says the election tested whether Oregon WFP could protect the champions and governing relationships the party has built while expanding their statewide bench.

“We changed how the community thinks about this race for years to come’” said Duncan. We were told this race was unwinnable, but the community showed up and voted for change.”

In Marion County, Oregon WFP’s campaigns worked with voters and partner organizations to knock on over 73,000 doors and make over 211,000 calls to voters. Campaigns overlapping with SD11 knocked on doors using bilingual materials featuring the Working Families Guarantee. 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’s multiracial coalition in Marion County included PCUN, Oregon AFT, For All Families Oregon Action, OSEA, Latino Network Action Fund, Safety and Justice Oregon, ILWU, IBEW 280, and APANO Action Fund.  Click here for the Oregon WFP Voter Guide, which includes a full list of all Oregon WFP-endorsed candidates and ballot measures.