Standing Up for Oregon Against Salem’s Broken Leadership

Hello, I’m David Howard Elton, and this is my Oregon story.

My parents, Michal David Elton and Kay Strong Elton, moved our family to Lake Oswego in 1972 when I was just six years old. They chose it as the best place to raise a family. A decision that shaped my life. My father built a successful business right here in town, providing for us and instilling values of hard work, community, and responsibility. Growing up in that stable, beautiful environment taught me what makes Oregon special: strong families, opportunity, and neighbors looking out for one another.

I graduated from Lakeridge High School in 1984, attended Portland State University in 1988, and attended Stanford Law School for a year. My early political roots trace back to supporting President George H.W. Bush in 1988 and working with Moore Information in 1990 under Bob Moore. Through my work at Elton Research from 1988 to 2023, I watched our beautiful state change. Not always for the better.

Today, I call the stunning Oregon Coast home. I live at Shawshank BnB, a large cliffside home in Lincoln City overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Here, the real Oregon thrives: majestic waves, towering trees, resilient small towns, and neighbors who truly care for one another. This is the Oregon worth fighting for.  Far from the chaos gripping Portland.

Portland’s Crisis Under Failed Leadership

Under Governors Kate Brown and now Tina Kotek, Portland has become a national symbol of failure. Homelessness has exploded across the state. Recent Point-in-Time counts show statewide homelessness rose nearly 35% from 2023 to 2025 – jumping from around 20,100 to 27,119 people. Multnomah County has borne the brunt, with the Portland metro area seeing a staggering 61% increase to over 12,000 homeless individuals in the 2025 count, despite billions spent on programs that haven’t stemmed the tide.

Billions of taxpayer dollars have been poured into programs that haven’t worked. Crime, open drug use, tents everywhere, businesses fleeing, and families leaving. All while radical policies from Salem let the problem fester. Governor Kotek has extended the homelessness state of emergency multiple times, most recently in January 2026, admitting the crisis persists despite her efforts. Portland’s pain should never define our entire state.

Real Impact: Micro-Philanthropy That Actually Helps

That’s why I founded the Shawshank Foundation in 2020 as Executive Director. Through the Elton Family Charitable Trust and my direct efforts, we’ve committed over $2.7 million to hands-on help. No bureaucracy, just real results. The foundation focuses on education, human services, and community support, primarily in Oregon communities like Lake Oswego, Lincoln City, and Tigard.

• $16,000 donation to save and support the Lincoln City Playhouse for Youth. Enabling productions like Anastasia: The Musical and keeping arts alive for our kids.
• Regular food drives for struggling families right here in Lincoln City.
• Direct support for Oregonians on the coast who need a hand up, not a handout.

Unlike wasteful big-government spending in Portland, this is community-first change: person-to-person, where it matters most. On the Oregon Coast, we’re building stronger communities through local initiatives that truly make a difference.

Leaders Who Understand the Real Oregon

I’m proud to stand with proven fighters against Kotek’s failed agenda: Christine Drazan, who nearly defeated Kotek in the 2022 gubernatorial race with her focus on fiscal responsibility and public safety; Ed Diehl, a dedicated state representative battling for rural Oregon in the legislature; and Chris Dudley, the former NBA player and 2010 gubernatorial candidate who champions opportunity and accountability. They get it – Oregon’s greatness lives in our rural communities, small towns, and coastlines, not in Portland’s endless crises. They fight for accountability, public safety, lower taxes, and opportunity for every Oregonian.

At eltonfororegon.com, we’re shining a light on Portland’s decline so we can protect and strengthen the rest of our state. Join me in building a movement for common-sense leadership that values every corner of Oregon. From the Pacific cliffs to the Cascades.

Join the Movement for a Better Oregon

Together, we can restore the promise of the real Oregon – safe, prosperous, and free from Salem’s failed policies. Get involved today: share your story, volunteer, or spread the word. Let’s stand up for the Oregon we love.