John Wilson (Benton County Commissioner Board Position 1, Oregon, candidate 2026)
John Wilson (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Benton County Commissioner Board Position 1 in Oregon. Wilson is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on May 19, 2026.[source]
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Biography
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Elections
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Benton County Commissioner Board Position 1
Incumbent Pat Malone (D) and John Wilson (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Benton County Commissioner Board Position 1 on May 19, 2026.
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| Pat Malone | ||
| John Wilson | ||
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Endorsements
Wilson received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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Campaign website
Wilson's campaign website stated the following:
PLATFORM
Housing
Services for the Unhoused
With more than 20 years as a social worker, John brings firsthand knowledge of what it takes to support vulnerable residents. As Commissioner, he will work with state and local providers to expand the Benton County Coordinated Homeless Response Office (CHRO) and increase emergency shelter capacity, with a particular focus on the county’s unhoused population.
Workforce Housing
On the Adair Village City Council, John championed infrastructure improvements that opened the door to new housing developments. As Commissioner, he will deepen collaboration between the county and cities to build workforce housing — because people who work in Benton County should be able to live here.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
Benton County is one of the few remaining counties in Oregon that does not permit ADUs on rural residential properties. John will pursue county code changes to allow rural ADUs, expanding housing options and helping multigenerational families stay together.
Climate
A lifelong environmental activist, John has worked with communities recovering from Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, protested nuclear proliferation, and served as a volunteer ranger with the National Park Service. As Commissioner, he will bring that commitment to concrete climate action, including:
- Integrating climate resilience into county land use and infrastructure planning
- Supporting county-level greenhouse gas reduction goals and tracking
- Partnering with Oregon state agencies and neighboring counties on regional climate initiatives
Coffin Butte Landfill
John has served as a Benton County Planning Commissioner for four years. Last year, after reviewing thousands of pages of evidence, listening to both Republic Services and community members, and carefully evaluating all the evidence in the record, John voted against expansion of the Coffin Butte Landfill. John stood firm in that position even as the Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 to override the Planning Commission’s recommendation and approve the expansion. Now, the Board has finally made the right call and voted to deny the expansion — a victory for the Benton County community that John was proud to fight for.
Transportation
As a Benton County Planning Commissioner and member of the Corvallis Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), John has spent years shaping how our county grows and moves. As Commissioner, he will prioritize:
- Expanding safe infrastructure for cyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders
- Growing the county’s EV charging network, especially in underserved areas
- Coordinating with CAMPO and ODOT to align county transportation planning with regional goals
Public Engagement
The best decisions come from hearing directly from residents. John is committed to accessible, ongoing engagement throughout Benton County:
- Town halls in communities across the county — not just in Corvallis
- Open office hours for residents to meet one-on-one with their Commissioner
- Transparent communication on how resident input shapes county decisions
Meeting Fiscal Challenges
As Federal funding faces an uncertain future, John will be fiscally responsible with the way we spend our funds and seeks engagement with the public in how our money is spent.
Responding to Federal Overreach
Sanctuary Protections
John strongly supports Oregon’s sanctuary state laws and their prohibition on local law enforcement cooperating with ICE. He believes these protections are essential to keeping Benton County communities safe, united, and free from fear — and he will uphold them without exception.
Election Integrity
In Oregon, elections are administered at the county level — and John will keep it that way. He will resist any federal effort to interfere with vote by mail or to override Oregon’s well-established, secure election system.
LGBTQ+ Rights
As the father of a transgender child, John has a personal stake in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality. As Commissioner, he will ensure that Benton County’s policies, services, and culture are inclusive and affirming — and he will push back against any attempt to roll back the rights of LGBTQ+ residents and all marginalized communities.
— John Wilson's campaign website (April 2, 2026)
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
