As we count down the final weeks of this election season, we are ramping up our profiles of progressive candidates. This week we are profiling Farrah Chaichi (she/her/hers), a democratic socialist representative in Oregon running for reelection. This queer millennial of color and Iron Maiden superfan has a history of activism, fighting for causes such as labor rights, Black Lives Matter, and human rights. Farrah is passionate about delivering access to health care, addiction services, education, and clean water to her constituents in her hometown of Beaverton, which is a mix of working class and middle class neighborhoods.

Where are you based?
I am a lifelong Beavertonian, who serves as the state Representative for HD35, which covers parts of Beaverton and Aloha.

What is your position/what position are you running for?
I am running for re-election to return to Salem as the representative for HD35.

How would you briefly summarize your platform?
My platform is centered on protecting fundamental human rights, of which the top three priorities are housing, healthcare, and a habitable planet. I have dedicated much of my adult life to the fight for justice and human rights. In a world of growing instability, inequality and intolerance, we must continue to insist on the inherent worth and dignity of every human being.

What inspired you to run?
As a working class woman of color and lifelong advocate for social justice, I sought this office to improve the lives of working class people. My campaign is about ensuring that vital human needs are guaranteed and a higher priority than keeping tax rates low for the wealthiest people and corporations. Protests and rallies were some of the first political actions I engaged in and where I continue to feel very comfortable and at home. Over the last decade, I have been politically involved, attending meetings, joining organizations, hitting the pavement for candidates, protesting in the streets, and was appointed to serve on the Beaverton Human Rights Advisory Commission. My time serving on the Commission gave me a chance to examine some of our local issues through the lens of social justice. However, the commission has no direct power to substantively address those issues, as it’s an “advisory” commission, which is why I got involved in electoral work and showing up for candidates who would make changes. When the question came up for me to engage further, and after careful consideration as a young, outspoken, working class, queer woman of color, who rents, I decided to run for office myself.

What change are you hoping to bring to your district and country?
I bring the experiences of my friends and constituents to Salem, the experiences of living paycheck to paycheck, of food insecurity, of being a renter facing ever increasing housing costs while wages stagnate, of coming from a family of new Oregonians, asylum seekers, refugees or immigrants. I take these stories with me and the lived experience of being on the outside looking in, powerless to control the systems that determine our success or failure in life. I carry those experiences into the halls of power, into the rooms where decision makers sit. Ensuring the voices of working class Oregonians are represented is just the first step. I plan to continue to do this important work so people in my district, and all Oregonians, can thrive, not just survive.

How long have you been in office? What do you consider to be your major accomplishments so far?
I was sworn in January 2022. As I mentioned above, bringing the voice of people who are disenfranchised to Salem is the most important accomplishment so far.

But the 82nd Legislative Assembly has also passed landmark policies. I am super proud to have stood up for access to reproductive and gender affirming care for all Oregonians. We’ve made historic investments in Behavioral health and substance abuse treatment to begin addressing some of the root causes of the crises facing us. We’ve made massive investments in Education, getting us closer to fully funding our schools to the level they need for preparing students to be productive and thoughtful in a changing world, because strong public schools create strong communities! We also passed significant legislation to divest from thermal coal.

Fighting for our district, I co-sponsored a bill to create a statewide education plan for students who are asylum seekers, refugees or immigrants, and a bill that will connect patients and providers with language interpreters to ensure that all Oregonians are able to receive adequate and accurate medical care AND that the interpreters are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

I also fought for major investments coming back to our community, including $13.9 million for Washington County’s substance use treatment and support services center for adults, known as the Center for Addictions Triage and Treatment. In addition, $5.5 million of investments in City of Beaverton water projects, like the Purple Pipe project, which I have been following locally since before I ran for office.

What do you feel are the most important issues right now, why, and how do you plan to tackle them?
In the next session, I plan to continue to address the housing and homelessness crisis, as well as investments in green transportation infrastructure, education, and of course, projects that impact my district.

America is extremely divided these days. How would you hope to bridge that divide with your constituents to better unite Americans?
Our struggles as individuals in this world make us closer than we are different. There are so many problems, but what I hear most from constituents is that they want what is in the best interest for the family, friends, and neighbors. While we may have differing analyses on how to get there, we agree that the current system is not adequately serving the best interests of everyone.

How do you see your unique identity and background to be an asset to you in office?
Recently, my colleague Rep. Khanh Pham spoke to the importance of having my voice in the legislature. To sum it up, there are so many people who are currently disengaged with the political process, who do not feel represented in the current political system, and who do not see themselves and their life experiences reflected in the considerations of our decision makers. In short, representation matters, and I intend to bring a courageous voice for the marginalized and those who have been left out of the process for far too long.

What is your motto in life?
A better world is necessary and possible

Where can we find out more about you?
https://www.chaichifororegon.com/

Socials: Facebook, Instagram, X

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Farrah Chaichi, Oregon House of Representatives District 35