The Case Against Alek Skarlatos

"Shady Alek Skarlatos would be nothing more than a rubber stamp for the MAGA Republican agenda in Washington. Skarlatos' support for overturning Roe and banning abortions, as well as ripping away protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions is completely out of step with Oregon voters. He doesn't stand a chance against Val Hoyle, a proven fighter for Oregon workers, families, and the environment," said DCCC Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney.

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To: Interested Parties
From: Johanna Warshaw, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: May 17, 2022
Subject: The Case Against Alek Skarlatos

After being rejected by Oregonians at the ballot box last election, Alek Skarlatos is once again running for Oregon's Fourth Congressional district in order to bring his toxic agenda to Washington. Whether it's opposing minimum wage laws, saying Republicans should "go for it" on overturning Roe v. Wade, or defending the deadly January 6 insurrection, Skarlatos has repeatedly proven again that he is too extreme for Oregon.

The failed candidate has even more baggage this time around after Skarlatos was caught using his shady nonprofit meant to help veterans as slush fund for his "political ambitions," prompting widespread criticism from ethics watchdogs and local veterans.

Shady Skarlatos's record stands in stark contrast with Val Hoyle, who has been a champion for Oregon workers, families, and the environment. In 2018, Val was elected to serve as Oregon's Labor Commissioner, where she ensures that workers are paid the wages and benefits they are owed under the law, oversees enforcement of civil rights and housing discrimination protections for Oregonians, and has jurisdiction over apprenticeship programs that provide workforce training across the state. She previously served as majority leader in the Oregon legislature and led successful efforts to increase the state's minimum wage, provide paid sick leave for workers, and reduce carbon emissions.

It's a devastating matchup for Skarlatos in a district that became more favorable to Democrats post redistricting. With Skarlatos' toxic baggage and Hoyle's record of fighting for hardworking Oregon families, Skarlatos is set up to lose once again this November.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Associated Press: Once a hero, Oregon congressional candidate funds questioned [Associated Press, 10/2/21]

KEZI: "Once considered a hero soldier, Alek Skarlatos is now being questioned for using funds from his non-profit for his newest campaign" [KEZI, 10/4/21]

National Journal Hotline: "After losing to Rep. Peter DeFazio (D) last year, 2020 nominee Alek Skarlatos (R) founded a nonprofit for veterans with $93,000 in leftover campaign funds, but the organization 'has done little since then to advance that cause' and instead has been used to nurture 'Skarlatos' political ambitions.'" [National Journal Hotline, 10/5/21]

Oregon Public Broadcasting: Alek Skarlatos faces campaign finance complaint for $65,000 transfer from nonprofit [OPB, 10/18/21]

Eugene Weekly: "[Skarlatos'] extreme views and his refusal to speak to nonconservative media outlets is prompting concern from local political leaders on if he would be able to represent all people in an Oregon district." [Eugene Weekly, 6/24/21]

Oregonian: Vote for Val Hoyle as Democratic nominee in 4th Congressional District [Oregonian, 4/18/22]

Oregon Public Broadcasting: "Oregon Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio on Thursday endorsed Val Hoyle in the race to fill the 4th District Congressional seat […] He pointed to Hoyle's record of winning elections to the Oregon House and House Majority Leader." [OPB, 1/23/22]

SHADY ALEK SKARLATOS IS TOO EXTREME FOR OREGON

An Affront to Veterans Across the Country

Skarlatos faced widespread scrutiny last year after a bombshell report revealed he may have broken federal laws by using his veterans nonprofit as a slush fund to finance his "political ambitions." Meanwhile, the charity did "little" to advance its stated mission of advocating for veterans.

After his election loss in 2020, Skarlatos shifted $93,000 from his campaign to the 15:17 Trust, a purported veterans charity that he controlled. Then, when Skarlatos decided to run for Congress again in 2022, he funneled $65,000 of that cash back to his now reopened campaign account. As one former Federal Election Commission lawyer put it simply, "You can't do that."

To make matters worse, the nonprofit aimed at helping veterans in need "has shown few outward signs of activity." It's an affront to veterans across the country - and a stain on Skarlatos' record that he can't explain away.

Down the Far-Right Rabbit Hole

Skarlatos has long been delving into extremism, including backing GOP efforts to rip health coverage away from millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions and cut over $500 billion from Medicare. But in the wake of the 2020 election, Skarlatos has only gone further down the far-right rabbit hole. He downplayed and even defended the shameful January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol that extremists like himself helped incite, which resulted in the death of 5 people, injured 140 law enforcement officers, and sowed extreme distrust in our nation's elections.

Skarlatos refuses to accept the results of the 2020 election, despite security officials reporting it was the most secure election in American history. He instead has chosen to join extreme Republicans in dismissing President Biden's victory and spreading Trump's dangerous lies about election fraud, which spurred the deadly insurrection and stoked further division in this country.

Skarlatos "joked multiple times" about the violent mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6, and even went as far as to question the loyalties of the National Guard stationed at the U.S. Capitol in the aftermath of the deadly riot. His extreme views have prompted concern from local leaders who wonder if "he would be able to represent all people in an Oregon district."

The stakes of this election are clear - while Democrats like Val Hoyle fight for hard working Americans, Republicans like Alek Skarlatos are catering to extremists and insurrectionists and are simply too dangerous to serve in Congress.

Skarlatos is Bad News for Oregon Women, Workers, and the Environment

Skarlatos has led the charge to roll back women's reproductive rights - saying 'go for it' on overturning Roe v. Wade, despite the fact 77 percent of the American people support keeping Roe in place. Skarlatos proudly accepted the endorsement of Oregon Right to Life, an extremist group that opposes a woman's right to abortion even in cases of rape or incest and backs a Texas law that would put bounties on anyone that helped a woman seek an abortion. On top of that, Skarlatos wants to defund Planned Parenthood, making it harder for Oregon women to access basic health care services like birth control, cancer screenings, and preventative care.

Skarlatos said he doesn't support minimum wage laws at all. If he had his way, wealthy corporations could decide how little a worker should be paid - with no paycheck protections for hardworking Oregon families. And despite Oregon facing some of the most severe wildfire seasons in history, Skarlatos said it was "up for debate" whether man-made climate change was real and was a member of Timber Unity, an extremist group that launched "aggressive efforts to block legislation that addresses climate change."

While Alek Skarlatos wages war on Oregon women, workers, and the environment, Val Hoyle has been a champion for hardworking Oregon families. As Oregon's labor commissioner, Val fights to ensure workers are paid the wages and benefits they are owed, and oversees enforcement of civil rights and housing discrimination protections. During her time in the legislature, Val led successful efforts to expand Oregon's Clean Fuels program to reduce carbon emissions and pass a first-in-the-nation requirement for health insurers to cover 12-month supplies of birth control.

PATH TO VICTORY

Oregon's Fourth Congressional District became more friendly to Democrats in redistricting, with a 2.5 point improvement in the share of registered Democrats and a decline in Republicans. In fact, Democrats in the new OR-04 consistently perform around 4 points better than in the previous configuration when looking at past election results.

The new district also includes the college towns of Eugene and Corvallis, both of which are top opportunities to turnout younger Democratic voters. With a boost from redistricting and grassroots momentum, Democrats will be able to keep this seat blue.

Oregonians already rejected shady Alek Skarlatos once because they know his extremist agenda would be a disaster for Oregon - and this November, they'll do it again.

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