A Democrat represented Oregon’s 22nd House District for 18 years until 2022, when Republican Tracy Cramer won the seat with 542 votes. The district includes Woodburn, North Salem, Gervais, Brooks and Labish Village.
Cramer is being challenged in the 2024 general election by union organizer Lesly Muñoz.
The Statesman Journal requested interviews with both candidates. Cramer was unavailable but responded to email questions. The candidates are arranged alphabetically.
Rep. Tracy Cramer, R-Gervais
Cramer, 35, was a political newcomer when she was elected. She had never previously held elected office.
Cramer was born and raised in the district she represents and describes herself as a wife, mother and small business owner. She grew up as a farmhand for her parents, graduated from Gervais High School and later worked as a dental assistant.
She said she initially ran for office on a platform of accountability, transparency, competition and increased funding for education.
“I have taken the lead on this in the Legislature and we have made some progress, but much more needs to be done to overcome the educational institution,” Cramer wrote. “I’m excited and ready to take what I’ve learned and accomplished and build on it in 2025.”
She said she is committed to supporting police and reducing crime. Cramer said she has spoken with the Marion County District Attorney and District Attorney Association about tools lawmakers can provide law enforcement to control gang activity and address gun violence among youth, including tougher penalties for committing crimes in conjunction with a criminal street gang. She also said the changes in Measure 110 did not go far enough.
Cramer said she would work to build on the $376 million housing package that gives cities the ability to expand their urban growth boundaries, establish a revolving loan fund and allocate financing for construction projects. She would work to increase housing supply to lower costs and reduce homelessness by lowering regulations and fees for new housing construction, she said.
If re-elected, Cramer said her priorities would include addressing issues she believes are top priorities for her district’s residents, including homelessness and the cost of groceries and goods.
Cramer served on the House Committee on Education and the Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services.
She said she fought for more funding for school staff and would continue to do so. She specifically mentioned the removal of school staff from Salem-Keizer Public Schools. That decision was made in 2021 by the superintendent of Salem-Keizer Public Schools, and not by state lawmakers.
Cramer said she was working on legislation to improve school nutrition in elementary schools and to eliminate the 3% virtual school cap. Under state law, school districts can block a transfer if the student population currently enrolled in virtual public charter schools outside the district exceeds 3%.
She described Muñoz as “another activist” whose experience is limited to working for “Oregon’s political establishment” and whose focus is on priorities. Cramer said this would put communities at risk and increase costs.
Cramer’s campaign website says she is endorsed by the Salem Police Employees Union, Marion County Sheriff Nick Hunter, the Oregon Chiefs of Police Association, the Oregon Hispanic Business Association, the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, the Oregon Family Farm Association and Marion County Farm. Desk.
Lesly Munoz
Muñoz is a 48-year-old mother of four children. She lives in Gervais and has not previously held political office.
She has worked as a labor organizer for twelve years, involved in union negotiations and negotiations and in facilitating recruitment. Her experience includes representing the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees and the Oregon School Employees Association. She now works with the Oregon Education Association, the union for public education workers, which represents teachers and classified workers.
Muñoz said she became a labor representative because she was inspired by her parents, who taught her the values of hard work and the power of quality education. Her parents are immigrants from a small Mexican town. After immigrating to Oregon, her father worked as a landscaper and laborer, and her mother held numerous jobs, including an instructional assistant, medical assistant, and volunteer.
She said she was motivated to run after noticing that many of the decisions about what happens for the average Oregonian are made at the Legislature.
“I decided that I’m going to use the skills I’ve acquired over the past 12 years as a labor representative to… use my skills to see how much more we can do for all Oregonians,” Muñoz said.
She said she understood the challenges families face: rising costs, a lack of access to quality and affordable housing and stagnant wages.
“I am running for State Representative to expand economic and educational opportunities for families, build more affordable housing, reduce homelessness, fully fund our public schools, protect workers’ rights, and address our mental health crisis to tackle,” she said.
Muñoz said knocking on thousands of doors and talking to residents reinforced her commitment to focus on affordable housing, labor rights and protections and education. She said she would also prioritize stronger mental health systems, which are often linked to homelessness and addiction.
There has been a common theme at the negotiating table during her work over the past five years with the Oregon Education Association: the lack of adequate funding for Oregon schools, she said.
“As a person who grew up with very little, education actually lifted my sisters and I out of poverty,” she said. “And I believe in education. I believe it is a vehicle for good things… and that’s why I want Oregon to have a strong education system so that all students can thrive.”
Muñoz said she has spent her career as a union representative and education attorney fighting tirelessly for better wages and working conditions.
“It is imperative that we have representation that shows up every day and listens to residents’ concerns,” Muñoz said. “As an organizer, I know how to meet people where they are and build coalitions to achieve results.”
She has been endorsed by former Rep. Leon, Oregon’s farmworker union PCUN, the Oregon AFL-CIO union, the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas.
How much money did Tracy Cramer and Lesly Muñoz raise for the HD22 race?
Cramer has raised $609,626 as of Oct. 11, according to campaign financial records. She has a negative ending cash fund balance of $15,833. Her major contributions include a total of $190,710 from the political action committee Bring Balance to Salem (associated with Nike co-founder Phil Knight); $117,858 from House Republicans’ Evergreen PAC campaign committee and $91,526 from Oregon Realtors’ Political Action Committee.
Muñoz had received $322,940.55 in contributions as of Oct. 11, according to campaign finance records. She had a cash balance of $32,157.63. Trop donors include House Democrats’ political action committee Future PAC, House Builders, which has donated more than $60,000; the Oregon League of Conservation Voters which donated $26,700; and $30,000 from her former employer, the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees.
Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on X @DianneLugo
This article originally appeared in Salem Statesman Journal: Lesly Muñoz and Tracy Cramer vying for House District 22
