Lincoln City, Ore. –  David Elton, the Lincoln City resident and community advocate, rolled out his new campaign website today at EltonForOregon.com. The launch comes as Elton ramps up his push against what he calls years of failed leadership from Salem that has let Portland’s problems spill over while ignoring the coast and rural counties.

Elton, who has deep roots here on the central coast, says the site is built to show the real divide: Portland under Democratic governors like Kate Brown and now Tina Kotek has seen crime spike, homelessness camps grow, businesses board up, and people leave in droves. Meanwhile, places like Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, and the inland valleys keep grinding—family-owned shops, fishing fleets, tourism outfits, and farms holding the line despite state policies that seem to forget they exist.

“I’ve watched this happen under Brown and now Kotek,” Elton said in a statement released with the launch. “Coastal folks and rural Oregonians aren’t asking for handouts. We just want leaders who stop treating the whole state like an extension of Portland’s experiments. Brown and Kotek have had their shot. It’s time for change.”

The website lays it out plainly. One section highlights Portland’s decline—shootings downtown, fentanyl on the streets, tax dollars funneled to urban fixes while coastal roads crumble and small businesses fight to stay open. Another showcases Oregon’s better side: rugged beaches, working harbors, timber towns, and communities where people still look out for each other.

Elton isn’t running for office himself but is throwing weight behind the Republican field gearing up to challenge Kotek in 2026. He points to Christine Drazan, who nearly pulled off the upset in 2022 and keeps hammering on public safety and taxes; Ed Diehl, the state rep with a track record of standing for conservative principles; and Chris Dudley, the former pro athlete who ran strong in 2010 and brings a no-excuses approach to leadership.

The site includes the campaign’s sharp new logo—Oregon’s outline with stars, a red ridge, and evergreens, plus ways to sign up for updates, donate, or spread the word. Elton says it’s about building momentum from the coast inward.

“Lincoln City isn’t Portland, and neither is Bend, Medford, or Pendleton,” he added. “We deserve a governor who gets that. Let’s back the candidates who will fight for the rest of us.”

Check out EltonForOregon.com for the full rundown. More from Elton and the challengers is expected as the 2026 race heats up.