The Threat
Bend has surged to 107,000+ residents — nearly half the county. Without geographic districts, at-large elections let Bend's voting bloc control all five commissioner seats. La Pine, Redmond, and Sisters lose their voice entirely.
The Fight
The Deschutes Defend Our Democracy Coalition — Bend-based activists, Commissioner Chang, and the Source Weekly — are campaigning to kill the district map. Their goal: keep at-large elections so Bend picks every commissioner.
The Solution
Map C creates 5 geographic districts. Each elects one commissioner who actually lives in that community. Sisters, Redmond, La Pine, and Bend each get a voice. Five other Oregon counties already use this proven model.
The Map They're Trying to Kill
What's at Stake
On February 4, 2026, the county commission voted 2-1 to place a five-district map on the November 3 ballot. Almost immediately, a Bend-based activist coalition declared war on the map. Their deputy campaign manager announced: "We are going to do everything we can to beat this map."
Why? Because under at-large elections, Bend's 47% of registered voters can control 100% of commissioner seats. The district map would limit Bend to 2 of 5 seats — proportional to its population, but no longer total domination. The ranchers in La Pine, the farmers near Sisters, the families in Redmond would finally have commissioners who live in their communities and answer to them — not to Bend.
The county has swung from Trump +3.3 in 2016 to Harris +10.4 in 2024 — driven almost entirely by Bend's growth. Left-wing activists see a narrow window to lock in control of the entire county government through at-large elections before districts give rural communities a permanent voice. That's what this fight is about.
The communities outside Bend aren't asking for special treatment. They're asking for any representation at all on a commission that controls a $728 million budget affecting their roads, water, wildfire response, land use, and way of life.
Don't Let Them Silence Your Community
Vote in the May 19 primary. Vote YES on the district map November 3. Fight back today.
Take Action Now