Ethics Before Politics

Ethics Over Politics: The Moral Imperative for Oregon Voters

In an era where political campaigns often prioritize slick messaging, attack ads, and promises of grand solutions, one fundamental truth stands above all else: ethics must come first. For voters in Oregon’s Republican primary for U.S. Senate, the choice on May 19, 2026, is not merely between candidates with different resumes or policy platforms.

It is a choice between integrity and expediency, between trustworthiness and deception. Russ McAlmond embodies the principle that ethics must guide every decision in public service, while career politicians like his opponent David Brock Smith demonstrate why a lack of ethics disqualifies anyone from earning the public’s trust.

Voters deserve leaders they can believe. A dishonest or unethical candidate cannot be trusted to deliver on any promise—tax reform, border security, economic growth, or national defense—because their very character undermines every commitment they make. If a candidate is willing to bend the truth or smear an opponent to win an election, what assurance is there that they will uphold the Constitution, protect Oregonians’ interests, or resist the corrupting influences of Washington, D.C.?

Ethics is not a secondary qualification; it is the foundation upon which all other qualifications rest. Experience and policy ideas mean nothing without the moral compass to wield them honestly.Russ McAlmond brings that moral compass directly from a career in investment management, an industry built on strict fiduciary standards.

As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Chief Investment Officer of Rogue Russell Investments, McAlmond operated under a rigorous code of ethics that demands absolute honesty and requires professionals to place their clients’ interests above their own. Investment managers must disclose conflicts of interest, avoid self-dealing, and act with integrity in every transaction.

This is not optional; it is a binding professional obligation enforced by regulatory bodies and industry standards. McAlmond lived these principles for decades, building trust with clients who entrusted him with their life savings. That same commitment to putting others first—clients, then constituents—defines his approach to public service.

He is not a career politician seeking power; he is a Marine veteran and businessman who understands that ethical leadership is non-negotiable.

Contrast this with the tactics of career politicians like David Brock Smith. Smith, a longtime state legislator, has resorted to deception and personal attacks that reveal a troubling disregard for truth and fairness. He has lied about his own education and launched baseless attacks on McAlmond’s military service—two clear advantages McAlmond holds as a highly educated outsider with proven real-world leadership and a record of honorable service in the U.S. Marines. These are not legitimate policy debates.

They are calculated attempts to deceive Republican primary voters by diminishing McAlmond’s strengths rather than competing on merit. Such behavior is not only unethical; it is a direct insult to the intelligence and values of every voter who expects honesty from those who seek to represent them.

All Republican voters in this primary deserve the truth. They deserve candidates who compete on ideas, records, and vision—not on smears designed to tear down an opponent’s legitimate qualifications. When a candidate attacks another’s military service, he attacks the very men and women who have defended the freedoms we cherish.

When a candidate distorts facts about education or experience, he erodes the foundation of informed democracy. These tactics do not elevate the Republican Party; they diminish it. They signal to voters that winning is more important than principle. Oregon Republicans deserve better.

They deserve a candidate who understands that ethics is not a campaign slogan but a daily discipline.Russ McAlmond’s message is simple and powerful: Ethics first. Experience, policy expertise, and legislative know-how are important—but only after honesty is assured.

A candidate who lacks ethics will inevitably put self-interest or political expediency ahead of Oregonians’ needs. McAlmond’s background in investment management proves he can manage complex responsibilities with integrity. His military service demonstrates courage and sacrifice. His commitment to ethical individualism—judging people as individuals rather than groups—offers a principled alternative to the identity politics and division plaguing our country.

As primary voters head to the polls, the question is not who has the most years in office or the loudest attack ads. The question is: Who can we trust? Who will place Oregonians’ interests above personal ambition? Who will refuse to lie, smear, or deceive even when it might provide a short-term advantage?

The answer is Russ McAlmond.

Oregon’s Republican primary is a pivotal moment. It is an opportunity to reject politics as usual and demand ethics as the first and highest consideration. A vote for Russ McAlmond is a vote for integrity in government—a vote for a leader who understands that without ethics, there can be no trustworthy governance. Oregonians deserve a U.S. Senator who will fight for them with honor, honesty, and unwavering principle.Ethics over politics. Integrity over ambition.

Russ McAlmond for U.S. Senate.