Democrats for Oregon CD #2--Spenser

     "While the environment and healthcare and infrastructure and water--all those things are incredibly important--the one thing that was important to everybody, across the board, was healing the divisiveness. And it just so happens, that is what I'm qualified to do."

     Alex Spenser, candidate for Congress

An introduction to Alex Spenser. The second in a survey of candidates.

Spenser: campaign photo

Alex Spenser, 55, is a writer, podcaster, and performance coach. She lives in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Her political work included campaign strategy assistance to one of last cycle's CD-2 candidates Raz Mason, leadership with a Woman's March in Klamath Falls, and founding an Indivisible group that merged to become Klamath Indivisible.

She describes herself as a single mother whose experience raising a child on her own gives her special insight into the public debate on health care.

"When we look at the pandemic it is so obvious we need universal health care plans that cover everyone from head to toe. As a single mother, as a woman who chose to stay at home with her child, I had the privilege of the Oregon Health Plan. It was the best health plan I ever had. I support Medicaid for All."

Spenser says her plan is not Medicare for All. Seniors would go off Medicare. Instead, everyone should have something like the Oregon Health Plan, but with improvements. Get rid of the coordinated care organizations, she says. They are "middlemen" who get in between the patient and the physician. We don't need insurance companies, she says. "We need to stop making a profit on the suffering of others."

Spenser's webpage --https://spenser2020.com -- gives readers a general sense of her politics. She says she considers herself more like Amy Klobuchar or Elizabeth Warren than the other presidential candidates. Her website says she supports the Green New Deal. She also supports:

"Common sense gun responsibility, securing everyones rights, while securing everyone safety."

"Effective, realistic, and humane migration policies."

"Tuition assistance for everyone who wants to go to college."

"Campaign finance reform that assures that anyone who wants to serve the people has equal opportunity to run for office."

Democratic voters who want specifics will wonder what exactly she means by "common sense" and "effective, realistic, and humane." Some will feel her heart is in the right place. Others will think her vague and evasive.

Spenser's campaign centers on her listening, absorbing ideas, and hoping to find common ground. Somehow, possibly, there can be consensus if questions are asked inclusively and heard empathetically with a mind open to others. "I want to be your voice in Congress, how your life can be better and stronger because of government."

Your voice? Whose voice exactly?

"Everyones. Democrats, independents, and maybe even some liberal Republicans if there are any of those left," she said.

She observes the Republican candidates in this race, each jostling to assure voters they are on the right side of sharp edged partisan policy divisions.

"I think they are misguided on that," she said. "I see an electorate that wants to get along with their neighbors. What we need in American politics is community. We need to look through a lens of acceptance."

What about the people wearing "Make Liberals Cry Again" tee shirts?

"They aren't going to vote for me," she said.

Spenser's campaign Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/SPENSER2020/

Click here: body autonomy

Her Facebook page includes a short video urging viewers to use the pandemic as a reason to give money, but not to her, at least not to her first. Give it to an organization that helps people in need, she says.

In January, 2020, before social distancing, Jackson County Democrats sponsored a candidate forum in which Spencer participated. Here is a 90 second clip, answering a question about abortion. It will give readers a sense of her manner. 

Can Spenser win? Her campaign appears to be running on a shoestring, which is not a good sign, but it is not evident that any other Democratic candidate has much money to spend. There may be significant low-information voting for a non confrontational woman, for which I suspect there is a niche.  Democratic candidate Nik Heuertz, profiled yesterday, offers specifics in the policy arena, as does Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren in the presidential race. There is a market for that kind of candidate. 

But Super Tuesday's results suggest there is also a market among Democrats for a peacemaker. She has a shot.