ALEX ON THE ISSUES
ALEX ON THE ISSUES
HOMELESSNESS & DRUG CRISIS
Our parks and streets are not campgrounds. Oregon’s homelessness and drug crisis demands real leadership — not more excuses. As Governor, I will lead the creation of Hope Meadows communities in every major city across our state, offering real housing, addiction recovery, mental health care, education, job training, and support services. These aren’t shelters or camps. They are permanent, self-sustaining neighborhoods where recovery is mandatory and dignity is restored.
Each standard Hope Meadows will house up to 4,000 residents, while Portland and Salem will receive double-sized campuses to meet the higher need. Construction costs will average $400 million per site, funded through a mix of HUD grants, vacancy and large landlord taxes, gaming revenue, clean energy revenue, private investment, and modest municipal bonds. Operations will be sustained through tiered rents, healthcare partnerships, on-site business revenues, and grants—generating $48–55 million annually per community, with a net surplus of $15–20 million. Portland and Salem’s larger campuses will generate over $100 million a year once operating, with a net surplus of $30-40 million each.
At Hope Meadows, residents must participate in treatment, education, or community service to stay — because real recovery requires structure, not slogans. We will reclaim our streets, protect our public spaces, and help thousands of people rebuild their lives. This is how Oregon begins again: with courage, compassion, and a clear plan for lasting change.
IMMIGRATION
Oregon has long been a place of welcome—where people from all over the world come to build better lives for themselves and their families. I believe in protecting that spirit. Immigrants are vital to Oregon’s economy, culture, and future. At the same time, our policies must evolve to meet today’s realities.
I believe we can be both compassionate and responsible. If someone is in the country without legal status but is working hard, staying out of trouble, and contributing to their community—they deserve a fair and attainable pathway to legal residency and, ultimately, citizenship. But if someone is convicted of a violent crime, regardless of status, they must be deported.
Oregon’s current sanctuary law was crafted with good intentions—to foster trust between immigrant communities and public institutions. But when that policy results in individuals who commit serious violent crimes avoiding accountability simply because of a lack of coordination between agencies, it undermines that trust for everyone.
This isn’t about division or fear—it’s about fairness and safety for everyone who calls Oregon home. I believe we can honor our values and protect our communities at the same time.
ADOPTION
Every Oregonian deserves to know where they come from. As Governor, I will push for legislation to open all adoption records—past and future—so that adoptees have full access to their birth records, family histories, and medical information. For too long, adoptees have been denied the basic right to their own identity in the name of secrecy and outdated systems. It's time to recognize that transparency is healing, and truth belongs to everyone.
This policy will apply retroactively and moving forward, with protections in place for both adoptees and birth parents. Opening adoption records helps people reconnect with their roots, understand hereditary health risks, and find closure. It is not about disrupting families—it’s about empowering individuals. Oregon can lead the nation in reforming adoption practices by replacing shame with honesty, and secrecy with compassion. The era of closed doors and lost histories must end.
SENIORS
Oregon’s seniors and disabled residents have waited long enough. They’ve paid into the system, carried this state through hard times, and now many are forced to live on federal checks that barely cover rent—let alone food, medicine, or transportation. That’s not dignity. That’s neglect. And as Governor, I won’t stand for it.
I’m proposing that Oregon double Social Security and disability payments—not by replacing the federal system, but by creating a state-funded monthly supplement for all Oregonians receiving Social Security Retirement (SSR), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This would give our seniors, disabled individuals, and survivors twice the income they currently receive, lifting them out of poverty and ensuring they can actually live—not just survive.
This is not a giveaway—it’s a return on the lifelong contributions of our most vulnerable residents. Oregon should be the first state in the nation to treat Social Security and disability recipients with the respect they deserve.
CHILDCARE
As Governor, I will launch a Pilot Program in Portland, Salem, Eugene, and Bend for free childcare.
Childcare is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for working families and a foundational investment in Oregon's future. I support publicly funded childcare for all families earning up to $120,000 per year. This policy would relieve financial pressure on thousands of parents, allow more people to return to work or pursue education, and ensure that every child—regardless of income—has access to a safe, supportive start in life.
We will pay for this by using a layered and responsible funding strategy. Additionally, we will seek state and federal grants, partner with local businesses to create public-private childcare centers, and explore a voter-approved Childcare for Oregon Bond if needed. Later, it will be funded by Solar City revenues.
Every dollar we invest in childcare returns exponentially in long-term economic growth, improved public health, and educational success. This is not just a policy—it's a promise to working parents, to children, and to Oregon's future. With bold leadership, we can become a model state for family-centered public policy.
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
Alex backs the Police and wants to redirect existing funding to better support them in doing their jobs.
Oregon is currently spending over $2 billion on homelessness and crime-related services, including more than $700 million specifically for shelters, outreach, and harm reduction programs. In Portland alone, over $500 million was spent last year with little to show for it—homelessness is rising, crime is increasing, and overdose deaths are spiraling out of control. These funds are being absorbed by nonprofits, administrative costs, and short-term fixes that don’t address root causes. The system is broken—and taxpayers are footing the bill for policies that fail to protect the public or help those in need.
As Governor, I will redirect those funds toward real, structured solutions. I’ll invest in state-run communities that provide mandatory drug treatment, mental health care, job training, and secure housing—not open-air chaos. I will double police pay, expand mental health crisis teams, and establish civilian oversight in every major jurisdiction. We will stop enabling criminal behavior and start restoring public order, while still offering compassion and support. With long-term revenue from Solar City, we’ll have the resources to expand these programs without raising taxes. Oregon can—and must—do better. I will make sure we do.
ABORTION
I support enacting a 8-week limit on elective abortions in Oregon, with clear exceptions for cases of rape, incest, severe fetal abnormalities, and when the life or serious health of the mother is at risk. This policy respects both the right of a woman to make deeply personal decisions in the earliest stages of pregnancy and society’s interest in protecting developing life beyond a point where science shows a fetus can respond to pain and exhibit human form.
At 8 weeks, we strike a compassionate balance—preserving access in urgent or tragic circumstances while ensuring that late-term abortions are not used casually or without medical justification.
Oregon currently has some of the most permissive abortion laws in the country, with no gestational limits at all. I believe we can do better—by protecting both unborn life and vulnerable women. This 8-week framework is not about punishment or control; it's about drawing a moral line that reflects our shared values of responsibility, compassion, and care for the voiceless. We can support mothers, expand healthcare access, provide free birth control and childcare—and still say: after 8 weeks, unless there’s a tragic reason, we protect the life growing inside.
STATE PARKS
Oregon’s parks are sacred spaces—vital to our health, our communities, and our future. I believe every Oregonian deserves access to clean, safe, and well-maintained public parks, trails, and green spaces. As Governor, I will prioritize investment in park infrastructure, expanding and renovating community parks, upgrading restrooms and water facilities, restoring trails, and ensuring ADA accessibility across the state. Parks are not just recreational areas—they are natural classrooms, cultural gathering places, and sanctuaries for mental wellness.
To protect and preserve these shared spaces, I will push for the hiring and training of more park rangers with expanded authority and visibility. These rangers won’t just enforce rules—they will serve as stewards of public lands, ambassadors for conservation, and frontline responders in emergencies. I will support funding for modern ranger equipment, increased presence in high-traffic areas, and programs that involve rangers in youth education and environmental initiatives. Parks should be places where families feel safe, wildlife is respected, and Oregon’s natural beauty is protected for generations to come.
JOB CORPS
I strongly support the mission and expansion of Job Corps as a cornerstone of workforce development in Oregon. Job Corps provides essential career training, education, and life skills to young people—especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds—helping them gain the tools to achieve independence, stability, and long-term success. As Governor, I will fight to fully fund Oregon’s Job Corps centers, enhance program offerings, and ensure every eligible youth has access to free vocational training in high-demand fields such as healthcare, renewable energy, construction, and information technology.
I will also work to better integrate Job Corps with Oregon’s broader economic development strategy. That means forming stronger partnerships with employers, unions, and community colleges to create clear pipelines from Job Corps training to real, good-paying jobs. I will push for increased wraparound services like mental health support, mentorship, and housing assistance to ensure students can focus on their futures. Job Corps is not a charity—it’s a smart investment in Oregon’s workforce, economy, and youth.
LGBTQ+
As a gay man, my stance on LGBTQ+ rights is not political—it’s personal. I’ve lived the challenges that come with being openly gay in a world that still too often marginalizes, erases, or attacks who we are. As Governor, I will be a consistent and unapologetic advocate for LGBTQ+ Oregonians, not just during Pride Month, but every day I serve.
LGBTQ+ deserve the same dignity, safety, and opportunity as anyone else—and under my leadership, we will protect it.
RENT AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE
Too many Oregonians are just one missed paycheck away from eviction or living without power. While large-scale housing and energy reforms are critical, we must also deliver immediate, direct relief to those struggling right now. As Governor, I will implement Direct Rent Payments and Direct Energy Payments for low- and middle-income Oregonians—fast, flexible assistance that helps people stay housed, safe, and stable.
Under my plan, eligible residents will receive monthly Direct Rent Payments to cover up to $250 of their housing costs based on income level and rent burden. Landlords will be required to accept these payments, and in exchange, must agree to freeze rent increases and comply with basic habitability standards. This approach ensures tenants get support, landlords get paid, and neighborhoods stay intact. No bureaucracy, no delay—just money where it’s needed, when it’s needed.
I will also launch Direct Energy Payments, covering up to $350 per household per month in electricity, gas, or heat expenses during qualifying hardship periods. These payments will be funded through a combination of new revenue streams—including a carbon offset fee on major polluters and an AI Workforce Replacement Tax—ensuring that working Oregonians are not the ones footing the bill. In a modern society, no one should have to choose between heat and food, or rent and survival. These payments are not just relief—they're a reset.
PRODUCER'S LEGACY FUND
Implementing the Producer’s Legacy Fund will be a top priority in my first year as Governor. This program will be created through state legislation and funded through a dedicated combination of revenue sources, including a luxury sales tax, a real estate transaction fee on large commercial and out-of-state buyers, and a portion of Oregon’s AI & Robotics Workforce Replacement Tax. These streams will ensure the Fund is sustainable, insulated from budget cuts, and fully committed to preserving Oregon's working lands and local food systems.
The first phase of implementation will focus on debt forgiveness for family producers facing estate or inheritance taxes. Any farmer, rancher, or fisherman who passes on land, boats, or working infrastructure to a family member committed to continuing the business will have estate taxes fully paid by the Fund, preventing forced sales and generational collapse. In parallel, the Fund will provide zero-interest, forgivable loans to heirs who need to buy out siblings or partners in order to keep land and operations unified. These loans will be forgivable after 10 years of active operation, keeping families whole and land productive.
The second phase will launch the Producer Succession Registry, connecting aging or retiring producers with young, in-state applicants who want to farm, ranch, or fish but lack access to capital or land. When a willing match is made, the Fund can assist with land transition costs, licensing, and startup grants. All participating parties will be required to commit to Oregon residency and land stewardship, ensuring that our food supply and heritage stay in local hands.
The Producer’s Legacy Fund will be administered through a new state-level office in partnership with Oregon’s Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, with advisory input from real producers across all regions of the state. This is not just a program—it’s an investment in Oregon’s future. It will protect our economy