2020 General Election Recap

This year’s election was unlike any other in history — with a record turnout of voters exercising their right of civic involvement, the first statewide land use planning goal, Goal 1.

1000 Friends has been monitoring results of local races in addition to statewide competitions, and we’re pleased to say that nine of our Land Use Leadership Initiative cohort members are now city councilors in Josephine and Jackson counties. 

We endorsed four measures on this year’s ballot: 

All of the measures — with the exception of the Portland Metro transportation bond — passed decisively. A loss has never deterred us: we will continue to advocate for transportation investments throughout the state that include an equity lens as this measure did.

While Measure 26-218 ultimately did not pass, 1000 Friends of Oregon remains proud of the work we and others in the Getting There Together coalition did to help design the measure and fight for its passage. We know that after COVID, traffic will be back and worse than ever, and the Portland Metro Region must invest in affordable transportation options that help people — especially those traditionally left out of transportation decisions — get where they need to go.

What’s next? Our work is never done: land use planning requires vigilant protection every hour of every day. With numerous new city councilors, mayors, representatives, senators and other elected officials taking office in the new year, 1000 Friends will continue to form partnerships and alliances, and educate Oregonians about the value of our land use planning system.

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