MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Plan to come to the first-ever all ages mayoral forum at the Salem Public Library on Sunday, April 12th at 2 pm. Bring the whole family! Send in a question using the QR code below.
Join Progressive Salem for First Tuesday; meet Vanessa Nordyke and Micki Varney
Taproot Lounge and Cafe
356 State Street, Salem
Tuesday, March 3, 4:30 to 6:30Special guests:
Micki Varney, candidate for city council
and Vanessa Nordyke, candidate for mayor
Join like-minded progressive friends and meet Micki and Vanessa in a small group setting
Fascism and the US: A discussion with Professor Bill Smaldone
Bill Smaldone, Professor of European History at Willamette University led a timely discussion January 31 on fascism’s defining features, how they appear in past and present, and what ordinary people can do when democratic norms come under strain.
A video of the presentation and discussion is available here.
Join Progressive Salem for First Tuesday, February 3
Taproot Lounge and Café
356 State Street, Salem
4:30 to 6:30
David Inbody, will be our special guest. David is running for election to represent Ward 4 in May. Ward 4 includes most of Salem south of Kuebler. This seat is currently held by Deanna Gwyn, a Republican and real estate agent, with a narrow perspective.
Meet David, learn about his background and what he can bring to Salem, and how you might help with his campaign.
Happy Thanksgiving and Hmong New Year!
Hello Salem!
With Thanksgiving around the corner, I wish you and your family the very best. A great time to spend with family, appreciate and count our blessings, and acknowledge the colonial history that is deeply tied to our Indigenous people.
This time of the year is also Hmong New Year! Hmong New Year is not a specific day but rather a time period that follows the lunar calendar. Hmong New Year is celebrated between mid-October to the end of December. Each Hmong community celebrates it differently but all have some sort of community event.
Hmong New Year is to celebrate this year’s harvest, give thanks and appreciation to our ancestors who continue to look after us, and also to welcome good fortune into the new year. It was an honor to be invited as a speaker for Oregon Hmong New Year this year.
Nyob zoo xyoo tshiab (Happy Hmong New Year!)!
MaiSaturday, 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.
Canvassing 101, with Ron Morgan
Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 10 a.m.
Marion County Dems Office
245 High Street NECanvassing 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 97308Or 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.Save the date: Vanessa Nordyke campaign kick-off party
Time & Location
Jan 10, 2026, 6:30 PM
Spinning Room @ Willamette Heritage Ctr, 1313 Mill St SE, Salem, OR 97301
Please RSVP here
About the event
Join Us for an Evening with Vanessa Nordyke—Salem’s Next Mayor!
Salem is growing, and we need a leader who’s ready. Join us for an evening with Vanessa Nordyke—current Ward 7 City Councilor, child advocate, and proven community champion—as she shares her vision for Salem’s future.
Vanessa has the experience to tackle our biggest challenges: affordable housing, public safety, and smart growth that preserves our community’s character. As Executive Director of CASA of Marion County and former Assistant Attorney General, she’s spent her career fighting for those who need it most. From serving on the Citizens Budget Committee to advocating for mental health and veterans’ services, Vanessa has been working for Salem families for decades.
Support the future of Salem in an evening of fun and hope.
This is a family-friendly event. Refreshments provided with cash bar.
RSVP here
Mark your calendar for First Tuesday with Mai Vang
Meet up with your Progressive Salem friends at First Tuesday, December 2nd, 4:30-6:30 at the Taproot Lounge and Café, 356 State St., Salem. Join us for a conversation with Mai Vang, Ward 6 Council member, who faces re-election in May.
Learn how you can get involved with her re-election. Hope to see you there!
First Tuesday at the Taproot Lounge and Cafe
Please join us for First Tuesday at the Taproot Lounge and Cafe at 356 State Street, Salem, on November 4, 2025 from 4:30 to 6:30. Come in after work to share some snacks and conversation with like-minded people.
Linda Nishioka, Ward 2 City Councilor, will join us at 5 p.m. to tell us about her candidacy for re-election and answer your questions.Hope to see you there!
Join us on Labor Day to support workers
Look for Progressive Salem’s booth at the protest!
September 1, 1:00-4:00 at The Capitol, Center and Summer Streets
