City Council Candidate Julia DeGraw Picks Up Key Endorsements

It's hard to remember, but there is an election coming May 19.

Julia DeGraw.
By Nigel Jaquiss

Amid the chaos of COVID-19, it can be hard to focus on anything else.

But candidates on the May 19 primary ballot are trying to move toward election day in somewhat normal fashion. Today, Julia DeGraw, one of 18 candidates vying to succeed late City Commissioner Nick Fish, announced she's picked up endorsements from two substantial organized labor groups.

Today, DeGraw, who ran against Fish in 2018, garnering 33 percent of the vote, announced the endorsement of the Portland Association of Teachers. That comes on the heels of an earlier endorsement DeGraw received from American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 189, which represents city workers.

"Considering the public health crisis that we are facing in our community and around the world, it is more important than ever that we have elected leaders like Julia DeGraw, who have a proven commitment to working with impacted communities to solve problems; rethinking systems that perpetuate inequality; and taking action to support our public schools, workers and the public services," said Suzanne Cohen, PAT president.

WW interviewed Dan Ryan, another candidate in the race for Fish's seat, in today's edition.

Related: He Survived a Plague. Now He's Running for Office During Another.

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