John, we’re going to cover a lot of ground in this email, but if you’re strapped for time, here’s the short version:

First: this November is Portland, Oregon’s first election under its new charter and the whole city council is up for grabs.

Second: that, combined with Portland’s Small Donor Election program, presents an opportunity to finally elect committed climate champions to the council.

Third: we’re adding Steph Routh to our slate of Portland City Council Candidates. If you’re a Portland resident, please make a contribution to support her campaign today and take advantage of the city’s public match program. If not, please contribute anyway; your support will still go a long way in the race.

Here’s the longer version. We usually try not to overload our subscribers with a lot of unnecessary detail in these emails, but it is important to us that you know as much as possible about why we’re asking for your support, so please bear with us for a bit of wonkiness.

The 2024 Portland City Council elections mark a huge overhaul of the city's governance and electoral system. They’re moving away from a city commission government with a five-member board which includes the mayor, to a structure where the mayor is no longer part of the city council. Instead, the council will expand to 12 total seats, divided up by 4 districts, with 3 council members representing each district.

Additionally, council members will now be elected via “proportional ranked-choice voting,” without a primary. With every seat up for grabs, this presents an incredible opportunity to upgrade the city council across the board, and to finally elect some brave climate champions to city council.

You may have noticed in our previous emails about Portland that we’ve emphasized how important “small dollar” contributions are, especially from Portland residents. Here’s why — Portland’s Small Donor Election fund will match $20 of every eligible contribution 9-to-1, potentially up to $120,000 for qualified candidates. Specifically:

• Contributions are eligible for these matching funds as long as they are over $5, and come from an individual Portland resident over 18 years old.
• Candidates may unlock the matching funds in three separate tiers. A total of 250 donors can unlock up to $40,000, a total of 750 qualifying donors can unlock up to another $80,000 and a total of 1,250 qualifying donors can unlock the final round of matching funds, of up to a final $120,000.

With this context in mind, here’s our ask: whether you live in Portland or across the country, will you make a contribution to support Steph Routh’s campaign today?

Steph was born and raised in East Portland, and she understands the critical challenges facing her community. Her campaign for City Council District 1 is built on a foundation of climate action, promoting sustainable practices, and advocating for green, equitable transitions that benefit everyone.

Steph is exactly the leader we need to push for urgent climate action in Portland, and her campaign is gaining steam. She’s already reached the first tier to unlock $40,000 in matching funds, but she needs your help to keep up the momentum.

If you are a Portland resident, up to $20 of your contribution will be matched 9-to-1 by the Small Donor Election Fund.

If you’re not a Portland resident, your contribution will still go a long way in propelling Steph to victory, giving her team the resources they need to reach as many Portland donors, volunteers, and — most importantly — voters as possible in this crucial election. You may also help by forwarding this email to as many Portland residents as you can.

Thank you for your time today, and your support. We will keep you posted on our progress in Portland and beyond!

Jane Fonda Climate PAC