Progressive Salem

Category: Event

  • 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.

  • Meet Mai Vang at Taproot September 1

    A Progressive Salem First Tuesday event.

    Come and hear about Mai’s awesome work on city council, her write-in campaign, and how you can help. Also check out her website.

    Tuesday, September 1 at 4:30
    Taproot Lounge and Cafe
    356 State Street
    Salem, OR 97301

  • Join Progressive Salem for first Tuesday, August 4

    Join like-minded progressive friends for stimulating conversation and fellowship. Our Special Guest will be Chris Hoy, who will discuss plans for November.

    Taproot Lounge and Cafe

    356 State Street, Salem

    4:30 to 6:30

  • Join Progressive Salem for First Tuesday July 7

    Join like-minded progressive friends for stimulating conversation and fellowship.

    Our guest will be Susan Smith, who is part of a progressive religious coalition striving to assure the November election will be free and fair despite threats coming from the right.

    Taproot Lounge and Cafe
    356 State Street, Salem
    4:30 to 6:30
    Tuesday, July 7

  • Summer Potluck Picnic 

    Potluck Picnic

    Please join us next Saturday, June 27th, from 12:00-3:00 at Woodmansee Park for our annual Summer Potluck Picnic! Come enjoy good food and good company, and mingle and talk with our candidates and members. Feel free to invite and bring like-minded friends!

    Please bring a dish to share. Feel free to bring your own dishes, utensils, and a reusable water bottle. We will also have dishes and utensils on hand. We will provide drinks and water.

    Progressive Salem Summer Picnic
    Woodmansee Park
    Saturday, June 27th
    12:00-3:00

  • Join Progressive Salem for First Tuesday June 2

    The election is not over until it is over. We will be looking at election results so far. 

    The count continues. Join like-minded progressive friends for conversation and fellowship.

    Taproot Lounge and Cafe

    356 State Street, Salem

    4:30 to 6:30

    Tuesday, June 2

  • Photos from Tuesday’s election party

  • April 7: Join Progressive Salem for First Tuesday

    First Tuesday at Taproot will include special guests Mai Vang, candidate for City Council, Ward 6, and David Inbody, candidate in Ward 4.  Please join us for a time of fellowship and good fun along with good food and beverages. 

    Hope to see you there.

    Taproot Lounge and Cafe
    356 State Street, Salem
    4:30 to 6:30
    Tuesday, April 7

  • Presentation: Fascism in the United States

    Thursday, March 26 at 7:00 PM
    Marion County Dems Office
    (245 High Street NE)

    Professor Seth Cotlar will speak on the history of fascism in the United States from the 1920s to the present.  Professor Cotlar, a history professor at Willamette, will speak about the national history of American fascism, and will share some of his research on the history of the Oregon Republican Party and the 1930s-vintage fascist and White Christian Nationalist named Walter Huss who led a 20-year grassroots insurgency that resulted in him getting elected chair of the Oregon Republican Party in 1978.  Professor Cotlar’s  presentation promises to be educational and relevant to current events in our nation.

    We hope you will join us Thursday evening.