Here’s How Basic Rights Oregon PAC’s Endorsements Work

Now that we’re in the full swing of election season, it’s time for political endorsements. Basic Rights Oregon PAC makes endorsements in a variety of statewide, legislative, and county- and city-level races across Oregon. We also weigh in on school board elections.

Endorsements are an important part of the democratic process, and BRO believes in making civic engagement and elections as accessible as possible. 

Each organization chooses its own criteria and processes for making endorsements. In an effort to build community understanding of our endorsement process, here’s an overview of how it works in 2024.

Understanding Our PAC Board

Basic Rights Oregon PAC is a separate entity from Basic Rights Oregon, and has a board that is separate from our general board. This is done to ensure we are following election law, and to achieve as much diversity of perspective within the LGBTQ+ community as possible in our endorsements. 

Our current PAC board is made up entirely of LGBTQ+ Oregonians, and is majority-BIPOC. None of our board members work or have worked for Basic Rights Oregon, but they do all have lived experience in progressive advocacy in Oregon. Each member is a volunteer, and each new member is voted on by sitting board members.

Endorsements are solely the decision of our PAC board. Basic Rights Oregon staff assists in coordinating and facilitating PAC meetings, but does not directly weigh in on PAC endorsement decisions.

We value the deep knowledge, experience and wisdom that each member brings to our PAC board.

The Endorsement Process

When a candidate wants our PAC to consider them for an endorsement, they contact our PAC directly or reach out to info@basicrights.org. We send them an endorsement questionnaire, along with a deadline for completing it and turning it back in.

Because BRO is a statewide advocacy organization, our PAC gets asked to consider endorsements for many candidates each election cycle—often that number is in the hundreds! This year saw an unprecedented number of requests for endorsements at the local level, because of Portland’s new ranked-choice election system.

In some races, BRO PAC will hold endorsement interviews in addition to candidate questionnaires. In other races—such as this year’s Portland City Council races—our PAC board does not have capacity to interview each candidate, and will instead rely on the questionnaire. 

Our questionnaires and interviews cover a wide range of issues that impact members of Oregon’s LGBTQ communities. That includes access to healthcare, nondiscrimination policy, housing and homelessness, public safety and policing, addiction and mental health, and others. 

We’re proud that Oregon is among the most welcoming and safe states in the country for LGBTQ+ folks, and that we’ve built up a strong bench of queer elected officials, from the Governor’s Office to school boards. That is due in part to the advocacy work of Basic Rights Oregon staffers over the years, and so many other LGBTQ+ and ally Oregonians. Because of the progress we have made in political representation, we receive requests for endorsements from many LGBTQ+ candidates each election cycle—and have the pleasure of endorsing many of them.

BRO believes that political representation is one effective tool, among many, we can use to advance LGBTQ+ rights in Oregon. Our PAC board does ask and consider whether candidates identify as LGBTQ+ themselves. This is one factor among many the board considers when weighing endorsements.

In addition to a candidates’ answers, our PAC board also takes into account a candidate’s previous record of work, decisions and statements, whether or not they have held elected office before. We strive to endorse candidates who use their power and privilege to uplift the most underserved members of our communities.

Our PAC board members meet to discuss each candidate who requests an endorsement, then vote on each candidate. Each PAC board member has an equal vote. 

Respectful Disagreement

Sometimes, PAC board members will disagree on a candidate, and a respectful and impassioned dialogue happens before voting occurs. Often, PAC board members gain insight through listening to their fellow members. 

Similarly, sometimes LGBTQ+ folks in our communities will disagree with an endorsement decision. This is to be expected: LGBTQ+ people are certainly not a monolith, and each person holds different lived experiences and political priorities. BRO works for the rights of all LGBTQ+ Oregonians, but we can’t claim to speak with one voice for everyone. We welcome a respectful public debate about our endorsements, and about elections in general.

We believe BRO PAC endorsements are one helpful guide when considering how to vote. We also encourage our supporters to check other organizations’ endorsements and media endorsements, and to engage in discussions with their friends, family and neighbors about both local and statewide races. 

Regardless of endorsement status, Basic Rights Oregon and our PAC board are always open to working with any elected official or candidate in passing policy that will improve the lives of LGBTQ+ Oregonians. 

Take part in the democratic process! Make sure you’re registered to vote with the correct address here.