Candidate Resource Hub

The Washington County Democrats are committed to fielding competitive Democratic candidates up and down the ballot. New to politics? This page is your self-help guide to get started.

Getting Started

Qualified candidates are needed at all levels of government. There are two main tracks discussed here: state elections (namely, State Representatives and Senators) and local elections (Washington County positions, as well as cities, school boards, and special districts).

Am I eligible?

  • Do I meet the legal requirements (age, residency, citizenship)?
  • Do I understand the duties and limits of the office?
  • Have I shown commitment through past community involvement or leadership?
  • Am I comfortable speaking publicly and listening to constituents?
  • Can I handle personal and professional scrutiny?
  • Do I know the top issues facing the community and have ideas to address them?
  • Do I have the time, energy, and family/work support to serve effectively?
  • Can I build a team and raise the resources needed for a campaign?
  • Am I prepared to represent people with views different from mine?
  • Is my motivation grounded in serving the public interest?

Elections are held on the:

  • Second Tuesday in March
  • Third Tuesday in May
  • Fourth Tuesday in August
  • First Tuesday after the first Monday in November (See ORS 255.345)

Eligibility

To run for offivce, you must be a citizen of the United States. Most elections require that you are a resident of the district in which you are running.

  • Click here to find out which state districts you reside in.
  • Click here to find out what County and special districts you reside in.
  • Note: Your USPS mailing address may not correctly identify your city of residence; e.g., Aloha residents might say “Beaverton” on their address, but they do not technically reside in Beaverton.

We strongly urge you to consult the following manuals. See especially “Qualifications.”

☆☆☆ County and State Elections Offices ☆☆☆

WashCo Dems is a political party and is not an official government office. We urge you to seek information from official sources such as those below. These sites will provide election forms, deadlines, and manuals.

 

Oregon Secretary of State – Elections

Run for office: https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/runforoffice.aspx
Manuals & Quick Guides: https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/manuals-tutorials.aspx
All election forms: https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/electionforms.aspx
Orestar: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oim/login?oimAction=login&p_a_cd=EIM&p_fp_gurl=https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/jsp/index.jsp

Washington County Elections

Website: https://www.washingtoncountyor.gov/elections
Physical Address: 2925 NE Aloclek Dr., Ste 170, Hillsboro, OR 97124-7523
Phone: 503-846-5800/TTY 800-735-2900
Email: elections@washingtoncountyor.gov

Partisan and Non-Partisan things to know

If you are running for a primary in a  statewide office, (state senator, representative, gov, etc.)

  1. State Candidate Filing – Fee $25 Due by a March date as given from the Secretary of state. Due on an early March date as given from the Secretary of state.
  2. Voters’ Pamphlet Filing Forms Online Only (Fee $700 or 200 petition signatures. Due in late February as given from the Secretary of state (to give them time to verify signatures).
    • All signatures must be of active registered voters within the district and from members of the same major political party as the candidate.
​If no Democrat runs in the primary then no one can run as a Democrat in the general (November) race. ‘Minor’ parties (any party other than R or D) usually have ‘in house’ primaries and can put up their own candidate in the summer. 

If you are running for something non-partisan / local (school board, city council, county or water board, etc.)

Fill out the forms on the county website and pay fees to the county.

  1. SEL101 – Candidate Filing – Major Political Party or Nonpartisan – Fee $50
  2. Voters’ Pamphlet Filing Forms – JCVP-01 – Candidate Statement – Fee $300

Getting Support

WashCo Dems wants to support viable candidates who align with our Party Platform. You can learn more about what we offer  on our Guidance For Democratic Candidates page. During endorsement season, email endorsements@washcodems.org to start the endorsement process.

In parallel with the party endorsement, consider seeking endorsements from other organizations. Endorsements may be cited in your Voters’ Pamphlet Statement. (See next section.) Search local organizations online using these keywords:

  • Local unions representing teachers, public employees, public safety, construction trades, and healthcare workers
  • Immigrant-rights groups and other social justice and civic groups
  • Women’s rights / reproductive rights organizations
  • Environmental justice groups focused on pollution, water quality, land use, etc.
  • Social service nonprofits (e.g. housing, food security)
  • Business groups such as chambers of commerce
  • Local branches of statewide groups

Step by Step

  1. Research: Select which election you are interested in. Verify your eligibility, including residence. Note the timeline—is there still time to file and mount viable campaign? Identify whether candidates have already filed. Who is the incumbent (person already in office), and are they seeking reelection?
  1. File: Fill out the relevant forms available at the Elections websites above. You can either pay a small fee or collect signatures in lieu of the fee.
  1. Voters’ Pamphlet Statement: Most candidates file a Voters’ Pamphlet Statement. This too requires a small fee or collecting signatures.
    1. Verify deadline: late statements are not accepted
    2. Verify word count: statements that exceed the word count will be cut short
    3. Collect Endorsement Forms: you must submit a signed endorsement form related to every individual and organization that appears in your voters’ pamphlet statement.
  1. Register a Candidate Committee: If you plan on raising or spending more than $1,500, you must file with Oregon Secretary of State to ensure compliance with campaign finance regulation. Visit this webpage to verify whether you are exempt.
    1. While you are there, read up on political disclosures and exemptions.
  1. Launch Your Campaign:
    1. Create a website: Most credible campaigns have websites where voters can see photos of the candidate and learn where they stand on the issues. Even if you lack technical abilities, there are ways to create a simple, inexpensive website with just a few clicks.
    2. Connect with voters: Attend community meetings and introduce yourself. Arrange to participate in candidate forums.
    3. Raise money: Some elections require significant resources. Money is often used to pay for yard signs, buttons, campaign literature, and more. Be sure and comply with campaign finance law (see #4, above). Some people say “Call 100 people and ask them each to donate $100” as a starting point.
  1. Election Day: Most of the time, a clear winner is known within a few hours of an election. Be gracious in victory and defeat. If the election is too close to call, allow for a full counting of votes.