Salem, OR – Salem City Councilor Virginia Stapleton filed to run in the 2026 Democratic primary for Senate District 11 on September 12, 2025. The seat is held by Senator Kim Thatcher, who is not seeking another term. Councilor Stapleton announced her campaign on her website.
As a lifelong Oregonian and middle class working mom, Virginia Stapleton is running for State Senate to deliver solutions for Marion County families struggling with rising costs and cuts to essential services while the billionaires and big corporations get more tax breaks.
Working families in Oregon are doing everything right—working hard, raising kids, paying taxes—but still can’t get ahead. Meanwhile, Republican politicians are stripping away our healthcare access and taking away critical resources that our students, seniors and families rely on. Oregonians deserve better.
On the City Council Virginia led efforts to improve quality of life in our community by taking action to address our homelessness crisis, build more affordable and middle housing, and improve our transportation systems.
In the State Senate, she will continue to put people over politics and prioritize real solutions to bring down costs for families, protect healthcare, solve our housing crisis, and fully fund our public schools.
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