On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, The Mother PAC Endorsement Committee voted to rescind their endorsement of Teresa Alonso León, candidate for Oregon State Senate District 11. After learning of her campaign’s close work with former State Representative Diego Hernandez, the Endorsement Committee convened and, independent of any influence from external parties, voted unanimously to rescind their endorsement. Below is a joint statement from the Endorsement Committee on their decision to rescind their endorsement:
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The Mother PAC was built by and for mothers and caregivers. Since 2010, we have worked to elect candidates committed to fighting for families who champion policies like paid family and medical leave, affordable quality childcare, reproductive justice, and economic security for all.
Our Endorsement Committee is made up of mothers and caregivers who represent the diverse communities we serve. We have worked closely with Teresa Alonso León over the years and consider her a close partner in the Oregon Legislature. When Alonso León sought The Mother PAC’s endorsement earlier this year, she did not disclose that she was actively collaborating with Mr. Hernandez on her campaign.
The onus was on Teresa to disclose this information. Throughout the endorsement process, she was given ample opportunity to share her relationship with Hernandez. Given his history — documented allegations of sexual harassment and abuse; his 2021 resignation from the Oregon House of Representatives; and The Mother PAC’s own statement calling for his resignation in 2020, stating he should not hold office — this was critical information we needed to make an informed decision.
We want to be absolutely clear: we are not holding Teresa accountable for Diego Hernandez’s actions or abuse. However, our endorsement committee members were also unequivocal: her decision to not divulge this information to The Mother PAC’s Endorsement Committee was a conscious breach of trust that makes our endorsement untenable.
Transparency is foundational to trust, and trust is foundational to our work. We do not offer endorsements lightly. Community members, constituents, and partners who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault deserve the choice to remove themselves from situations where they may be unsafe.
By not disclosing this information, Teresa took away their ability to choose. She prioritized protecting someone with a history of abuse over the safety and wellbeing of survivors. Her lack of transparency put the responsibility back on the community to hold her accountable for her actions. We believe accountability, repair and restoration are possible but they require transparency, consent and community trust.
“At The Mother PAC, we center parents, mothers, and caregivers in everything we do. Our vision is a world where all families can thrive with dignity, safety, and opportunity. Transparency and trust are not optional; they are essential to building the power we need to make that vision real.
This lack of transparency is antithetical to supporting our vision. We owe it to our members, to survivors, and to our community to hold the line, especially when accountability for harmful behavior is lacking in so many movement spaces.”
— Candice Williams, Executive Director of The Mother PAC
