February 2026 President's Update

The Path Forward in Hyper-Partisan Times

As I visit with League members around the state, one type of question is often repeated.  "Isn't it time we vociferously call out anti-democracy actions and definitively attribute them to the perpetrators by their common affiliation or shared identity?"  It is easy when faced with transparently unreasoned, callous, or unjust behavior to justify stating our facts and truth with judgement and blame.  We are better than that. 

The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) provides us the strategies and tools on how to lead with non-partisanship and civil discourse in these hyper-partisan times.  Each quarter through the midterm elections the LWVUS Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative provides a detailed playbook for specific action supporting the campaigns goal to reach 8.5 million new voters, 112,000 in Oregon.

The League of Women Voters non-partisan and civil discourse credo call on each of us to rise above the fray, to focus on our informed positions, the facts, and to reach out to those willing to listen and to learn.  Arguing with the ill-informed and intractable simply gives voice to their position.  We go the other way, we register, inform and empower voters, not enflame the fooled or ill intended.  Nearly a third of registered Oregon voters did not vote in the last general election. They need support, motivation and facts they can rely on, and they are our audience. 

In most every hyper-partisan circumstance or disagreement, facts speak clearly for themselves. Communicating facts with the intent to grow collective understanding is often the best path to common ground.  Impassioned argument, opinion or emotional pleas have their place but aren’t as proven as civil dialog using repeated data and transparently verifiable facts. Neurolinguistics studies show on average people need to hear something seven times before it informs notable change in their perception or belief, much less behavior.  And we want them to vote!  So, let us not expend energy arguing with those who are ill-informed, ill-intended or unwilling to listen or learn.  We are better served to focus on mobilizing the educable.  Nearly a third of Oregon registered voters did not vote in the past general election.  The unmotivated, periodic or disaffected non-voters deserve our undivided attention. 

LWVUS Unite and Rise 8.5 strategy has four pillars supporting quarterly playbooks or action plans, check them out and motivate your League to take them on. The legal and policy advocacy pillar asks us to challenge unconstitutional actions, to fight voter suppression and demand protections of due process.  Mobilizing the public and building coalitions is the pillar that calls on us to raise our collective voice by collaborating with others defending democracy.  Civic education and engagement through outreach campaigns can be leveraged by the two previous pillars where we call out anti-democracy and reach new audiences through allies.  And, the last pillar calls on us to shore up our democracy infrastructure for democracy resilience.  Our voter service, communications, advocacy and observer corps are just such actions.  Advocacy for legislative or legal support of democracy is another way to improve and support our institutions resiliency.  

For over 105 years LWVOR has forged this path. It is the path we are on and it’s the same one going forward. It’s not about doing more as much as about how we forge ahead.  It’s time to do a little paving.  We will administratively support our volunteers so more of their heartfelt and informed effort is placed on reaching that 8.5 million new voices of democracy.  We can effectively leverage allies and collaborate to reach a broader audience.  We will use the resources in Unite and Rise quarterly playbooks to amplify and make the Leagues message more consistent and repeated nationwide. We will continue to hold elected officials at all levels of government and private institutions accountable to justice and the rule of law through observer corps, holding public forums on critical issues, reviewing, educating and advocating for just legislation, and yes, filing suit in courts of law in support of democracy. 

This is the path that traditionally provides us a respected non-partisan voice of practicality, reason, justice, equity and principle.  We will prevail, hope is not a strategy, it’s what happens when you’ve got one, and we do.  

"It's easier to fool one than to convince them they've been fooled. Get to them before they’re fooled.”  - Samuel Clemons

In League,

Mark Kendall

LWVOR President