The Mother PAC is excited to share our 2026 endorsements for the May 19, 2026 primary election! Meet the child care champions running for election that our endorsement committee vetted, interviewed, and endorsed below.
The deadline to register to vote or update your registration is April 28, 2026. This includes updating your voter registration with a specific political party. Oregon has closed primaries, meaning the Democratic and Republican party each holds a separate primary election to determine their nominees for the general election in November.
Ballots will be mailed to voters starting April 29, 2026. Ballots must be postmarked or dropped off at an official ballot drop site by 8pm on Election Day, May 19, 2026. Find an official ballot drop box near you here. For more information, read our Voter Registration Guide here.
Statewide Races
Governor — Tina Kotek
✅ Supports universal preschool
✅ Supports access to abortion without restriction or limitations
✅ Will protect the Oregon Pay Equity Act
Governor Kotek has demonstrated a willingness to listen when caregivers and parents organize and speak up, and we will continue to push for bold policies that benefit all families. This endorsement reflects our belief that transformative change is driven by the voices of mothers and caregivers, and we’re ready to ramp up the fight for the care economy together.
“One of my priorities for my second term will be to expand affordable childcare and universal preschool to every corner of the state. I will be relying on experts, legislators, and community leaders and caregivers to help me craft the best way to make this a reality.” — Tina Kotek
Meet Tina and her campaign at tinafororegon.com.
Legislator Races
House District 27 (Beaverton, Cedar Hills) — Tammy Carpenter
✅ Supports universal preschool
✅ Supports access to abortion without restriction or limitations
✅ Will protect the Oregon Pay Equity Act
✅ Committed to joining the Oregon Legislature Child Care Caucus
Dr. Tammy Carpenter has proven she will center the voices of parents and caregivers in the Oregon Legislature. Her commitment to fully subsidizing child care, protecting Paid Leave Oregon, and fighting for universal healthcare reflects our vision for an Oregon where every family has economic security and the time to care for their loved ones.
“I support increasing taxes on corporations and high-net worth individuals to ensure that families have safe and caring places for their children when they return to the workforce. We are told that we can’t afford to pay caregivers a living wage because we need to keep it “affordable” for working families. I refuse to accept the notion that we must pit working families against each other. The state must fully subsidize this important work.” – Tammy Carpenter
Meet Tammy and her campaign at tammyfororegon.com.
House District 38 (Lake Oswego, Tigard, Durham, South Portland) — John Wasielewski
✅ Supports universal preschool
✅ Supports access to abortion without restriction or limitations
✅ Will protect the Oregon Pay Equity Act
✅ Committed to joining the Oregon Legislature Child Care Caucus
John Wasielewski’s commitment to dedicated revenue streams for childcare, protecting Paid Leave Oregon, and progressive tax reform aligns with our vision of an Oregon where all families can achieve economic security and have the time to care for their loved ones. As a public school teacher, he has seen firsthand how care and caregiving is essential to what teachers do in middle schools every day. John understands that we can’t keep relying on the same broken budget processes that leave working families behind.
“My commitment to care is rooted in three principles: leave working families stronger, leave the state in a better fiscal situation, and make sure everyone pays their fair share. I support local options like the Portland Preschool For All that created a dedicated revenue stream for families accessing childcare.” – John Wasielewski
Meet John and his campaign at wazfororegon.com.
County Races
Washington County (Banks, Beaverton, Cornelius, Durham, Forest Grove, Gaston, Hillsboro, King City, North Plains, Portland, Rivergrove, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin, Wilsonville)
Chair — Nafisa Fai
✅ Supports universal preschool
✅ Supports access to abortion without restriction or limitations
At The Mother PAC, we know that transformative change requires leaders who understand that care work is the backbone of our economy. Nafisa Fai has proven she centers those voices in every decision she makes. Her commitment to treating care as infrastructure, protecting reproductive justice, and expanding access to affordable childcare aligns with our vision of an Oregon where every family has economic security and the time to care for their loved ones.
“Care is infrastructure. Caregiving, reproductive justice, and family stability must be treated as essential to the health of our communities and our economy, not as private burdens carried mostly by parents, caregivers, and families of color.” – Nafisa Fai
Meet Nafisa and her campaign at nafisaforwashingtoncounty.com.
Position 2 — Blayne Soleymani-Pearson
✅ Supports universal preschool
✅ Supports access to abortion without restriction or limitations
As a working father and domestic violence prosecutor, Blayne brings a unique perspective on how policy failures impact families at their most vulnerable. His commitment to universal preschool, direct-cash support for new families, and fully funded county health clinics reflects our vision of an Oregon where every family has economic security and the time to care for their loved ones.
“My commitment to care is rooted in three core areas: community safety, housing stability, and transportation access. Care is infrastructure—caregiving, reproductive justice, and family stability must be treated as essential to the health of our communities and our economy, not as private burdens. When we invest in care—childcare, housing, transit that connects families to job centers—we invest in every family’s ability to thrive.” – Blayne Soleymani-Pearson
Meet Blayne and his campaign at blaynefororegon.com.
Why We Endorse
Since 2010, The Mother PAC has partnered with For All Families Oregon Action, our sibling political nonprofit, to work with mothers and caregivers to pass policies like Preschool for All in Multnomah County, paid family and medical leave, pay equity, and raising the minimum wage.
Many mothers and caregivers across Oregon face discrimination and disproportionate hardship. Even more struggle to provide and care for their families and loved ones due to a lack of economic security and insufficient support. Despite this, finding elected officials who understand these issues and prioritize them while in office is a challenge.
We attribute the lack of representation and support for families and caregivers to systems of systemic sexism and racism that allow care work to remain invisible and under-appreciated. Caregivers lift up our community and economy. They make all of the other work possible, as they are the workforce behind the workforce. As such, we endorse and support candidates who will prioritize care for every Oregonian.
