Measure 26-200 protects politicians’ 95% re-election rate

Portland’s Ballot Measure 26-200, campaign finance reform, helps protects the 95% re-election rate of politicians.

The re-election rate of politicians nationwide has been 95%.

Arbitrary money limits to campaigns like Measure 26-200 hurt ordinary citizen challenger candidates TWICE as hard than sitting politicians already in office.

Incumbent Politicians have all the basic money they need because you and I taxpayers pay for their offices, websites, salaries and public relations staff. They get endless free press from the media anytime they want.

Simply put, politicians start every election race far ahead of challengers. So when Measure 26-200 caps some donations at $500 it hurts challenger candidates more than sitting politicians who already start ahead.

Measure 26-200 blocks ordinary citizens from raising funds necessary to create a level playing field.

Imagine if you were a candidate. Could you produce a TV ad and raise a million dollars through small donations as Measure 26-200 requires? You can’t! The voice of ordinary candidates will vanish under Measure 26-200.

Sitting politician don’t need million dollar TV ads. They can get free continuous media attention anytime they want because of the office they hold.

Measure 26-200 handicaps ordinary citizens running for office. It is not campaign finance reform, it is campaign handicapping.

The current 95% re-election rate is proof the system is unfair. Measure 26-200 makes it more unfair by punishing ordinary citizen candidates.

Vote No on Portland’s Measure 26-200

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