Progressive Salem

Category: Canvassing

  • Time to get your yard signs!

    Progressive Salem is supporting Councilor Micki Varney in West Salem in her runoff against MAGA Chris Cummings, and we’re supporting Councilor Mai Vang’s write-in campaign in East Salem to unseat Betsy Vega. Your support is critical to each of these campaigns!
    If you live within Ward 6 or Ward 8, hosting a yard sign is a great way to provide visible support for both Mai and Micki. Not sure if you live in Wards 6 or 8? Find out which Ward you live in by using this address tool.

    Ward 8 – West SalemIf you are in West Salem and wish to request a Micki Varney sign, please e-mail Tina Calos (tinacalos@msn.com) your street address. A volunteer will deliver a Micki sign.
    If you wish to support Micki’s campaign other than a yard sign, please contribute to Micki’s campaign and plan to join her this Sunday, September 13 at 1 PM at Brush College Park (2650 Doaks Ferry Rd NW) for Micki’s canvass kickoff. Look for Micki’s team in the covered area!

    Ward 6 – East SalemIf you’re in East Salem and wish to host a Write-In Mai Vang sign, please fill out Mai’s quick online form. Responses to this form are immediately emailed to Mai’s team and signs are delivered within 48 hours. 

    If you wish to support Mai’s campaign other than a yard sign, please contribute to Mai’s campaign and plan to join us this Saturday, September 12 at 10 AM at Royal Oaks Park (4882 Carriage Ct NE). Ample street parking is available near Royal Oaks Park. We’ll be joined by special guests: longtime Ward 6 resident, our former mayor, and Progressive Salem Chair, Chris Hoy; Marion County Commissioner candidate Sara Duncan; and Salem’s mayor-elect canvassing extraordinaire, Vanessa Nordyke! 

    Thank you so much for your awesome support of progressives on the Salem City Council. Hear from both of these great candidates at the Progressive Salem general membership meeting tomorrow night, September 9 at 6 PM. Progressive Salem will meet in the SW corner of Bush Park in the picnic area (corner of High & Leffelle). Please bring a chair!

  • Upcoming Progressive Salem events

    Please mark your calendar for the following upcoming Progressive Salem events:

    First Tuesday

    Tuesday, September 1, 2026, 4:30–6:30 pm
    Taproot Lounge, 356 State St, Salem
    Councilor Mai Vang will be our featured speaker. She will update us about her write-in campaign to defeat Betsy Vega in the November election. Hope to see you at the Taproot Lounge on State Street on September 1.

    General Membership Meeting Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 6 – 7:30 pm

    (Note time & location change!) Bush’s Pasture Park, SW Corner Picnic Area – Bring Your Own Chair
    Join us to learn about the Ward 6 & Ward 8 City Council races for November, and how you can help!

    East Salem Canvass Kickoff

    Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 10 am
    Royal Oaks Park, 4882 Carriage Rd NE, Salem, OR
    Join Councilor Mai Vang and Special Guests to officially kick off our canvass of East Salem! 

    West Salem Canvass Kickoff

    Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 1 pm

    Brush College Park, 2600 Doaks Ferry Rd NW
    Join Councilor Micki Varney to kick off our canvass of West Salem!

    Presentation: Socialism, Communism, and American Politics

    Saturday, September 19, 2026, 3:00–4:30 pm
    Salem Public Library, Anderson Rooms
    Professor Bill Smaldone, will speak on Socialism, Communism, and American Politics today. What is Socialism? What is Communism? How are they relevant to American politics at this crucial moment in our history? Bill Smaldone, Professor of History at Willamette University and former Salem City Councilor, will examine the history of the stark differences between socialism and communism and how they are relevant to our current policies. Join us in the Anderson Rooms at the Salem Library on September 19! This promises to be a very interesting, important talk.

    First Tuesday

    Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 4:30–6:30 pm
    Taproot Lounge, 356 State St, Salem
    Councilwoman Micki Varney will speak on her re-election campaign. Because neither she nor her opponent garnered over 50% of the votes in the May election, a run-off between Micki and her opponent is required. Come join us for some fun and a discussion about her campaign. Join us at the Taproot Lounge on State Street on October 6.

  • Events April 27-May 3

    It’s a busy week! We hope to see you out there!
    Get more details on these events at Link Tree

  • Join the organized people who beat organized money in Salem

    Let’s get out and talk to the voters that will make the difference for Salem.

    If you have never canvassed or feel nervous about canvassing, we can pair you with a more experienced canvasser.  If you want to canvass in your own neighborhood, we can cut a custom turf for you.  If you have mobility issues, we can give you a small turf in a flat neighborhood.  Let us know ahead of time by responding to this email.  

    We talk to targeted voters that are likely to vote in a May election and are likely to vote for our candidates.  They want to know, and need to know, which are the more progressive candidates.

    Canvassing Schedule

    • Saturday 3/28 – 10 AM – Marion County Dems, 245 High Street NE
      Canvass for Vanessa Nordyke with Linda Nishioka (Ward 2, South Central Salem) or Mai Vang (Ward 6, East Salem)
    • Sunday 3/29 – 1 PM – Ward 4 Canvass – 341 Mountain View Drive.
      Canvass for Vanessa Nordyke & Dave Inbody in Ward 4 (South of Kuebler)

    Join the No Kings Rally on Saturday 3/28

    Beat the crowd.  Come to the Democrats Office at 10 AM to pick up a turf and literature.  You can secure a parking spot downtown before other protestors and can complete your turf later in the day or on Sunday. The Democrats’ office is only four blocks from the protest.

    Next Week -We are adding new canvassing times.

    • Wednesday 4/1 5 PM – Marion County Dems, 245 High Street NE
      “Walk The Ward Wednesday” with Mai Vang & Vanessa Nordyke (Ward 6)
    • Saturday 4/4 10 AM – Marion County Dems, 245 High Street NE
      Canvass for Vanessa Nordyke with Linda Nishioka (Ward 2) or Mai Vang (Ward 6)
    • Saturday 4/4 1 PM – West Salem, Paul Evans’ Office – 1320 Edgewater St, Suite 120 (Tentative Location)  We will keep you posted.
      Canvass for Vanessa Nordyke with Micki Varney (Ward 8)
    • Sunday 4/5 1 PM – No Canvass – Easter Sunday
      Dave Inbody, Ward 4, may choose a Saturday time instead. We will keep you posted.

  • Please Join Us for Canvassing Every Weekend Until May

    Canvassing for Progressive Salem

    This is how we win — by knocking on doors and talking to friendly voters who vote Progressive. We’ll be doing it every Saturday and Sunday until the election in May.

    On Saturdays at 10 am
    Meet at the Marion County Democrats Headquarters
    245 High St. NE Across from the Transit Mall
    We canvass for Vanesa Nordkye for Mayor and for Linda Nishioka, Mai Vang, and Micki Varney for City Council

    On Sundays at 1 pm
    Canvass for Dave Inbody in Ward 4

    If you are new to canvassing we can pair you up with an experienced canvasser. Please join us!

  • Saturday, February 7: Canvassing 101, with Ron Morgan

    Organized People Can Beat Organized Money…

    …but not if there are not enough organized people. In the last Salem mayor’s race, an unprecedented surge of organized money beat the best progressive mayor Salem has had in a couple of decades.

    Be part of the organized people who beat organized money in May 2026. Start the New Year off right by attending Canvassing 101 with guest instructor Ron Morgan from DPO on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Ron will share best-known canvassing practices, and a panel of extraordinary local canvassers will share their tips.

    Ron Morgan, DPO

    Canvassing 101, with Ron Morgan

    Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 10 a.m.
    Marion County Dems Office
    245 High Street NE

    Canvassing Mentors Needed

    Be part of expanding Salem’s organized people. To win a mayor’s race, re-elect three outstanding progressive city councilors and win one more progressive seat on the council, we need more organized people knocking on doors.

    If you are an experienced canvasser, volunteer to have a less-experienced person walk with you to make canvassing seem less mysterious.

    If you would like to become a mentor, contact Kathy Graham at
    kgraham@willamette.edu or text or call 503-510-7123.

    Organized People Still Need Some Money

    Help Progressive Salem help our candidates. Send a check to:

    Progressive Salem
    P.O. Box 224
    Salem, OR 97308

    Or donate via ActBlue (also see link at the top of this page).
    If you have not yet paid your $25 dues for the 2025-2026 election year, you can send a check to the same address or pay online at the link above.
    Thank you for helping make Salem more progressive.