Friends, Republicans and Oregonians

"Friends, Republicans, and Oregonians - Lend me your ears - I have come to bury Jeff Merkley, not to praise him."

(William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, specifically Act III, Scene II - modified)

The career politicians in Washington have had their day. For too long, they've clung to power, recycled the same tired ideas, and put party loyalty above the hardworking families of our state. Jeff Merkley has been in office for nearly two decades—a lifetime in politics—delivering more of the same failed policies that have left Oregon struggling with high costs, crime, homelessness, and division.

I'm not one of them.

I'm Russ McAlmond: a U.S. Marine veteran who ran toward the fight when others ran away, a successful businessman and financial planner who's built real companies from the ground up, a husband and father of three, and the founder of the Center for Human Equality.

I've never made a career out of running for office every cycle. I've spent my life serving in uniform, creating jobs, advising families on how to build wealth, and standing up for individual rights—not chasing the next election.

That's exactly why Oregon Republicans need me to take on Merkley this November. We need a fighter who can actually win—a proven leader with common-sense solutions, not another insider who talks a big game but delivers nothing. I'm the only veteran in this race, and I'm ready on day one to bring the toughness and integrity Oregon deserves to the U.S. Senate.

As the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu wisely said in The Art of War: "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles."

In this political battle, we must study and understand the weaknesses of our opponents—the Democratic Party's full embrace of collectivism. They judge people not by their individual character or merit, but by the groups they belong to, pushing DEI policies that divide us by race, sex, and identity, treating unique individuals as mere representatives of categories rather than the distinct human beings we are.

We know our enemy: their agenda promotes group-based preferences over personal achievement, fosters division instead of unity, and stifles the innovation and opportunity that built Oregon strong.

And we know ourselves: Oregon Republicans stand for freedom, hard work, personal responsibility, and judging every person on their own actions and potential.

The cure is Ethical Individualism: the belief that every person should be judged on their own merits, their own actions, and their own potential—not as a member of some favored or disfavored group. When we embrace Ethical Individualism, we reject harmful DEI quotas, identity-based preferences, and the collectivist mindset that pits neighbor against neighbor. We lift up every Oregonian by rewarding hard work, innovation, and personal responsibility—regardless of background.

Together, we can end the era of division and return to what made America—and Oregon—great: opportunity for all, earned through individual effort and mutual respect.

This November, let's send a message to Washington. Let's bury the career politicians and their failed collectivist agenda. Let's elect a Marine, a businessman, a fighter for individual rights. I'm Russ McAlmond, and I'm asking for your vote. Together, we'll bring common sense, courage, and real equality back to the Senate.

Thank you, and God bless Oregon!