Every Oregonian Counts

Last month, I wrapped up a trip through Eastern Oregon to fulfill the promise I made when I was first elected to the Senate to hold open-to-all town hall meetings in each of Oregon’s 36 counties every year. Totaling 1129 town halls after this trip, I heard from Oregonians in Sherman, Wheeler, Gilliam, Morrow and Wallowa counties about the Trump administration’s gutting of rural healthcare, trampling of due process and lack of transparency.

People back in Washington DC often ask why I go to counties that may have more cows than people. I respond that every Oregonian counts – everyone’s voice deserves to be heard, regardless of where they live. My job as a U.S. Senator is to throw open the doors of democracy with public gatherings so we can exchange ideas on how to tackle important challenges like immigration, the economy and climate change. Oregonians may not always agree with one another, but the “Oregon Way” of solving problems is all about open discussions and finding common-sense compromise with people in our communities.

For example, the first question in my Sherman County town hall came from a man about immigration. I shared my views and the gentleman shared his. I don’t think we walked away in complete agreement with each other, but it was important to take in his perspective. And then after the meeting, I saw that same gentleman sitting down with another man whose views differed to exchange their views. I heard he even got his phone number to continue the conversation later on! That is the Oregon Way indeed.

In Wheeler County, I heard from Oregonians concerned about the danger to public health from the gutting of Medicaid contained in Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill”. The sentiment was echoed by concerned citizens in all of my recent town halls, with some medical providers that attended our Morrow County town hall laying out the possibility of clinics and hospitals closing in Eastern Oregon. In Gilliam County, where sustainable energy generated by windmills and solar farms has seen a huge surge, farmers told me their concerns about our energy grid and the effects of tariffs on the products they harvest like wheat. And finally in Wallowa County, Oregonians told me about how they are concerned that cuts to the U.S. Forest Service will slow response to wildfires.

All great topics for discussions.

And here’s the thread connecting all those conversations at these five latest town halls in Eastern Oregon: it’s not always about agreeing with everything everybody says all the time. If that were the case we should just talk to our own reflections in the mirror. The path forward through these uncertain times relies on expanding our communities and having hard conversations.

There are a lot of issues I heard about in Eastern Oregon. Inflation turbocharged by Trump’s tariffs is jacking up prices for everyday essentials as well as hurting farmers’ margins. Wildfires continue to burn larger and hotter every year due to the disastrous effects of the climate crisis. Cuts to Medicaid will hurt rural hospitals and providers hardest. A shortage of affordable homes locks out entire generations of young people from the housing market. These issues aren’t Democratic or Republican; they affect everyone. I am laser focused on addressing all these issues that threaten the livelihoods of Oregonians struggling to get by.

Change rarely starts from the top and trickles down, and I firmly believe that real, constructive change starts from the grassroots and filters up. That is why I depend on the Oregonians at my town halls to tell me about how Trump’s reckless actions have affected them. Representing Oregon in the U.S. Senate is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I will continue to fight for the rights and resources Oregonians deserve.