PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) – Four candidates for Oregon’s Third Congressional District held a press conference on Tuesday denouncing dark money in their race and claimed they were “excluded” from a similar joint press conference with fellow candidates.
During Tuesday’s press conference, called “We are Also Running,” District 3 candidates Michael Jonas, Nolan Bylenga, Ricky Barajas, and Rachel Rand laid out their platforms and called for transparency in campaign financing.
The press conference was in response to a separate press conference held by two other District 3 candidates – Susheela Jayapal and Eddy Morales – held May 2, in which they denounced dark money supporting fellow candidate Maxine Dexter.
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“The influx of dark money and outside spending in our primary race is an afront to our democratic values. These shadowy groups often backed by undisclosed donors are trying to buy influence and shape the outcome of this election without transparency or accountability. This is not the kind of politics that the people of District 3 want or deserve nor are accustomed to given [outgoing Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s] high-level integrity,” Jonas said.