A Level Playing Field for All
Photo Credit: Tim Mossholder
About
We are ordinary Oregonians from all corners of the state who are volunteers working together to end closed primaries.
We believe no one should be required to join a political party in order to vote or seek office in public elections. Our mission: To realize an electoral system that is equal, free and fair — restoring healthy competition for a healthy democracy.
We believe in the values of fairness, equality, inclusivity and impartiality. All who hold these values are welcome to join our team and help us advance this work! Please contact us today to learn more.
All Oregon Votes is a nonpartisan state action committee organized for voting rights and electoral reforms that support a healthy democracy.
We do not endorse candidates or represent special interest groups. All contributions are publicly reported to the Oregon Secretary of State. (PAC ID: 21761)
We can be reached at Info@AllOregonVotes.org.
We’re launching a brand new citizen’s initiative for the 2024 ballot alongside a new partnership, All Oregon Votes.
Oregon Open Primaries is proud to welcome all legacy supporters to this exciting new statewide campaign, All Oregon Votes.
State Committee
Growing up in New Hampshire Mark developed an interest in politics. After earning a degree in engineering Mark served in the U.S. Air Force, based in Texas. Moving to Oregon in 1988 he attended Lewis & Clark Law School and then practiced intellectual property law in private practice and as in-house counsel for 30 years. Now retired, Mark has reignited his interest in politics to promote fair and representative elections.
Committee Director, Finance
Mark Porter
Robert Close
A resident of Portland, Robert recently retired as an adjunct physics professor at Clark College and Washington State University. He and his wife raised three boys, and Robert is still an Assistant Scoutmaster for BSA Troop 24. He joined Oregon Open Primaries in December 2020 in accordance with George Washington’s plea “to moderate the fury of party spirit”. He has studied voting methods for conducting primary and general elections.
Committee Member
Karen Lowrey
After living in California, Arizona and Texas, Karen is proud to call the beautiful state of Oregon home for the past 10 years. Her diverse background includes working in the semiconductor industry, a chamber of commerce, print journalism, and support of early childhood education for low-income, preschool children in Southern Oregon. Karen lives in Central Point, enjoys spending time with family, including 11 grandchildren, and exploring places and ideas.
Committee Member and Chief Petitioner
Mike Eng
Mike is retired from a career as a public servant. He’s been a research diver for Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Mike also worked for the National Park Service on the underwater archeology team and as a Superintendent. Mike lives in Wallowa County, near the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area, with his wife Monica. He’s been active in organizing their community’s Lostine Canyon Firewise.
Committee Member
Mike Newman
Committee Director, Legal Affairs
Mike served as an elected Circuit Court Judge in Grants Pass, Josephine County, for over 14 years before returning to Corvallis in retirement. Prior to working as a judge, he was a deputy district attorney in Grants Pass for over 12 years, specializing in child welfare matters and child abuse prosecutions. He earned a law degree at the University of Oregon and worked in private practice as well as in public law in the Willamette Valley for several years before moving to southern Oregon. Mike grew up in Denver and graduated from Stanford University.
Richard Carroll
Committee Member
An Oregonian since age five, Richard grew up in communities on the southern Oregon coast, in Central Oregon and in the Willamette Valley. After graduating from the University of Oregon with degrees in Computer Science and General Science, he moved to Portland in 1978, married his wife Louise and put down deep roots. Richard has 40 years of management experience in information technology across supply chain, consulting, education, manufacturing, and electric utility sectors. Since retirement in 2016, he spends time volunteering and on automotive hobbies.
Michael Calcagno
A native Portlander, Michael graduated from the University of Oregon in Eugene. His background includes experience in journalism, small business, local elected office, state government and public policy. Michael served on the Board of Directors for Mt. Hood Community College and for the Oregon Secretary of State. He lives in Southeast Portland with his partner and their two daughters. Read more.
Committee Chair and Chief Petitioner
Joshua Marquis
Committee Member
coming soon…
John Gilbert
Committee Member
coming soon…
Devon Lawson-McCourt
coming soon…
Committee Member
Andrew Kalloch
A graduate of Harvard and Harvard Law School, Andrew has served as a Staff Attorney at the ACLU’s New York chapter and a policy advisor in government and the private sector. Andrew recently ran for Congress as a Democrat in Oregon's 4th Congressional District. While he lost the primary, he is proud to have earned the endorsement of many in the community, including Andrew Yang and the Forward Party, for his anti-partisan approach to governance, including his support for nonpartisan primaries. Andrew is the President-Elect of the City Club of Eugene and the proud father of three children who are fifth generation residents of the Southern Willamette Valley.
Jeff Mapes
Committee Member
jeff Mapes is a retired journalist who covered politics in Oregon, Washington, D.C. and California for more than four decades. In 32 years at The Oregonian and 6 years at Oregon Public Broadcasting, he frequently wrote about the history and mechanics of Oregon’s electoral system. Oregon has a long record of leading the way when it comes to such things as the direct election of senators, presidential primaries and automatic voter registration. He believes it is now time for new reforms. Oregon’s troubled primary system fails to represent the voices of the growing number of voters who are not registered with either of the two major parties.”
Committee Member and Chief Petitioner
Kim Sordyl
Committee Member
coming soon…
Rich Vial
Committee Member
coming soon…