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Sami Al-Abdrabbuh
Sami Al-Abdrabbuh (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Oregon House of Representatives to represent District 16. He lost in the Democratic primary on May 21, 2024.
Al-Abdrabbuh was a 2016 Progressive candidate for District 16 of the Oregon House of Representatives. Al-Abdrabbuh's party registration was independent, but he was nominated for election by the Progressive Party.[1]
In January 2017, Al-Abdrabbuh was appointed as an interim member for position #7 of the Corvallis School District Board. He won election to position #1 of the school board in May 2017. Al-Abdrabbuh began serving as vice-chair of the school board after his election to position #1.[2]
Biography
Sami Al-Abdrabbuh was born in Tucson, Arizona. He earned a bachelor's degree from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals in 2010, a graduate degree from Oregon State University in 2015, and a Ph.D. from Oregon State University in 2020.[3]
Al-Abdrabbuh's professional experience includes teaching engineering at Oregon State University. He also worked as a projects engineer for General Electric and founded the startup Crispy Science, which describes its mission as "creating informal learning opportunities for children and youth." As of 2022, Al-Abdrabbuh was the chair of the Corvallis School District Board and the president of the Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus. He has also been affiliated with the following organizations:[4]
- Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center, board president
- Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, steering committee member
- Corvallis Public Schools Foundation, member
Elections
2024
See also: Oregon House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Oregon House of Representatives District 16
Sarah McDonald defeated Michael Beilstein in the general election for Oregon House of Representatives District 16 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Sarah McDonald (D / R) ![]() | 82.8 | 24,894 |
![]() | Michael Beilstein (Pacific Green Party) | 15.9 | 4,781 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 1.3 | 388 |
Total votes: 30,063 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 16
Sarah McDonald defeated Sami Al-Abdrabbuh in the Democratic primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 16 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Sarah McDonald ![]() | 50.7 | 5,095 |
![]() | Sami Al-Abdrabbuh | 49.1 | 4,932 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 20 |
Total votes: 10,047 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Andrew Struthers (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 16
Sarah McDonald advanced from the Republican primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 16 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Sarah McDonald (Write-in) ![]() | 11.0 | 22 |
Other/Write-in votes | 89.0 | 178 |
Total votes: 200 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Al-Abdrabbuh in this election.
2022
See also: Oregon's 4th Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Oregon District 4
Val Hoyle defeated Alek Skarlatos, Levi Leatherberry, Jim Howard, and Michael Beilstein in the general election for U.S. House Oregon District 4 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Val Hoyle (D / Working Families Party) | 50.5 | 171,372 |
![]() | Alek Skarlatos (R) | 43.1 | 146,055 | |
![]() | Levi Leatherberry (Independent Party / L) ![]() | 2.7 | 9,052 | |
Jim Howard (Constitution Party) | 1.8 | 6,075 | ||
![]() | Michael Beilstein (Pacific Green Party / Progressive Party) | 1.8 | 6,033 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 490 |
Total votes: 339,077 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Oregon District 4
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Oregon District 4 on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Val Hoyle | 63.5 | 56,153 |
![]() | Doyle Canning | 16.1 | 14,245 | |
![]() | Sami Al-Abdrabbuh ![]() | 6.9 | 6,080 | |
![]() | John Selker ![]() | 5.4 | 4,738 | |
![]() | Andrew Kalloch ![]() | 4.9 | 4,322 | |
G. Tommy Smith | 1.4 | 1,278 | ||
Jake Matthews | 0.7 | 607 | ||
![]() | Steve William Laible ![]() | 0.3 | 292 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 0.8 | 663 |
Total votes: 88,378 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Zachary Mulholland (D)
- Joshua Welch (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Oregon District 4
Alek Skarlatos advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Oregon District 4 on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Alek Skarlatos | 98.3 | 58,655 |
Other/Write-in votes | 1.7 | 1,021 |
Total votes: 59,676 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Garrett Hoppe (R)
- Jeremy Van Tress (R)
2016
Elections for the Oregon House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 17, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 8, 2016.
Incumbent Dan Rayfield defeated Judson McClure, Sami Al-Abdrabbuh and Andrew Freborg in the Oregon House of Representatives District 16 general election.[5][6]
Oregon House of Representatives, District 16 General Election, 2016 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
58.16% | 17,921 | |
Republican | Judson McClure | 21.01% | 6,474 | |
Progressive | Sami Al-Abdrabbuh | 16.01% | 4,934 | |
Libertarian | Andrew Freborg | 4.82% | 1,484 | |
Total Votes | 30,813 | |||
Source: Oregon Secretary of State |
Incumbent Dan Rayfield ran unopposed in the Oregon House of Representatives District 16 Democratic primary.[7][8]
Oregon House of Representatives, District 16 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | |
Democratic | ![]() |
Judson McClure ran unopposed in the Oregon House of Representatives District 16 Republican primary.[7][8]
Oregon House of Representatives, District 16 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | |
Republican | ![]() |
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Sami Al-Abdrabbuh did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Sami Al-Abdrabbuh completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Al-Abdrabbuh's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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|I hold three degrees in engineering, worked for General Electric as projects engineer for safety monitoring systems in the energy and water industries, and started Crispy Science, a startup focused on creating informal learning opportunities for children and youth. I teach engineering design, problem solving, engineering economics, engineering computation and programming, project management, and work systems design at Oregon State University. I hold a doctorate in Industrial Engineering with a focus on human systems and decision making in emergency management.
- Climate justice now! I am committed to: Passing the Green New Deal and building climate justice solutions that invest in Oregon-based clean energy production, transmission, and storage technologies. Using an equity lens in climate change mitigation solutions that invests more in jobs and economic development opportunities for rural communities, communities of color, and low-income communities. Passing a bicameral and bipartisan legislation strengthening Senator Merkley’s Wildfire Resilient Communities Act to address wildland fire management in certain at-risk communities that are at high risk from wildfire.
- Democracy for all! Access to the ballot, taking money out of politics, and preventing conflicts of interest are crucial to reinvigorating our democracy. We need to protect the right to vote, stop gerrymandering, and limit corporate campaign contributions. I have successfully backed election reform measures such as ranked choice voting, which promotes the candidate with the most voter support. In Washington, I will: Champion federal vote-by-mail legislation, Ban stock trading by elected officials to ensure secure and easy access to the democratic process for all voters, and Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
- Healthcare is a human right! No family should have to declare bankruptcy because of illness or injury. Our dysfunctional system of private hospitals and insurers has left us poorly equipped for the global pandemic. I strongly support Medicare for All. As the board chair of the Corvallis School District, I passed a resolution that demands Congress and the Oregon legislature provide a universal form of healthcare. I am deeply committed to continuing this work. I will: Introduce an action plan to achieve a universal, affordable, high quality health care system in the country. Expand Medicare for all to cover mental health, hearing, vision, and dental care. Address the skyrocketing prescription drug prices.
I understand how important education is to our communities. As an educator and school board chair, I have witnessed the growth and development of students from various backgrounds and with different needs and talents. I have been floored by teachers’ dedication to learning and to their profession. We need an immediate plan for educator retention that includes full funding for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) law, giving teachers and school workers fair pay, and reducing class sizes. We must invest in school infrastructure to increase student and teacher safety. I want to free our college graduates from the crushing debt of predatory student loans and advocate for opportunities for a free college education. I will continue working with my partners and supporters in public and higher education to:
Cancel student loan debt.
Invest in free community college for all.
Finally fully fund IDEA and hold school districts accountable to provide students with disabilities their right of a free and appropriate public education
Ensure Title I funds are fully and appropriately allocated
Equity-focused. I am a passionate advocate for equity and inclusion. In 2018, as undocumented students around Oregon faced renewed threats of deportation, I spoke out in support of a resolution to protect students, faculty and staff who felt marginalized by the political climate. As a member of the Higher Education committee and an AFT (American Federation of Teachers) delegate in 2018, I voted in support of AFT Resolution 19 supporting sanctuary schools and campuses in Oregon. I spoke on the convention floor in support and, afterwards, the measure went to a vote and passed unanimously.
2. Belief in democracy. My love of democracy is fueled by my lived experience and what I have seen while living abroad. While living in Bahrain, I witnessed a series of anti-government protests in the 2011 uprising. I saw the lives of people I knew change overnight and it had a profound impact. I believe in the power of democracy as a supreme power that is vested in the people, and exercised by them directly or indirectly through elected officials. I believe that democracy has the ability to enhance the dignity of everyone.
3. Great Communicator
In Sami’s community work he has clearly demonstrated his desire to build communication and connections between communities. Sami’s philosophy is that physical borders may exist, but it is the walls between communities that need to be bridged by open communication and tolerance.
4. Passionate Advocate
One thing that is clear about Sami is that he is passionate about people. In 2015, Sami embarked on a cross country journey talking to citizens from Sacramento to NYC by train. As he listened to the stories, he was moved by their challenges, victories, and their willingness to share about their lives. This project ” gave him the opportunity to hone his impressive talent for listening to people by staying authentic, accepting other opinions, staying in the moment, and listening for clarity (not to respond). We will bring that advocacy to Congress
5. Problem Solver
Being a delegate bringing up the voice of the people to Congress.
While in college, I was passing Tucson with the college solar vehicle team to a competition. I remember seeing the Sentinel Peak (commonly known as “A” Mountain) and get a flashback of a memory. I was with my parents watching fireworks in a parking lot near the letter ‘A’. I messaged my father inquiring that if such memory can be true knowing that we have left Tucson to Phoenix when I was a couple of years old and then to Saudi Arabia when I was six and never came back to Tucson. I learned that indeed it was the fireworks of Fourth of July when I was a three months years old toddler.
Exorbitant health care costs: Our dysfunctional system of private hospitals and insurers has left us poorly equipped for the global pandemic. I strongly support Medicare for All. As the board chair of the Corvallis School District, I passed a resolution that demands Congress and the Oregon legislature provide a universal form of healthcare.
Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth
Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol
Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress
Joint Economic Committee
Appropriations
Education and Labor
Energy and Commerce
Homeland Security
Judiciary
Natural Resources
Science, Space, and Technology
Elijah Cummings
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Al-Abdrabbuh's campaign website stated the following:
“ |
CLIMATE JUSTICE Oregonians are already experiencing the effects of unchecked carbon pollution and climate change – from continuing droughts to the devastating wildfires that displace so many each year. We need immediate action to reduce emissions and protect Oregonians from the consequences of this unfolding disaster. In Washington, I will continue to advocate for the same meaningful climate policies that I introduced in our local communities in Benton County for the past five years: sustainable and profitable solar panels and energy efficient buildings that lower negative impacts on our environment. I am committed to:
Access to the ballot, taking money out of politics, and preventing conflicts of interest are crucial to reinvigorating our democracy. We need to protect the right to vote, stop gerrymandering, and limit corporate campaign contributions. I have successfully backed election reform measures such as ranked choice voting, which promotes the candidate with the most voter support. In Washington, I will:
Healthcare is a human right. No family should have to declare bankruptcy because of illness or injury. Our dysfunctional system of private hospitals and insurers has left us poorly equipped for the global pandemic. I strongly support Medicare for All. As the board chair of the Corvallis School District, I passed a resolution that demands Congress and the Oregon legislature provide a universal form of healthcare. I am deeply committed to continuing this work. I will:
Oregonians deserve a representative voice that focuses on the impact of economic reforms on working people and small and medium businesses. I strongly support investing in economic development initiatives – economic zones that support local communities, bring back jobs and create new jobs and industries. This is why I support prioritizing:
Students should be empowered with the same opportunities for education, no matter where they live or who they are. I understand how important education is to our communities. As an educator and school board chair, I have witnessed the growth and development of students from various backgrounds and with different needs and talents. I have been floored by teachers’ dedication to learning and to their profession. We need an immediate plan for educator retention that includes full funding for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) law, giving teachers and school workers fair pay, and reducing class sizes. We must invest in school infrastructure to increase student and teacher safety. I want to free our college graduates from the crushing debt of predatory student loans and advocate for opportunities for a free college education. I will continue working with my partners and supporters in public and higher education to:
Justice and human rights are not solely for Americans; these are ideals we need to support across the globe. In Washington, I am committed to keeping our country safe by advocating for justice at home and abroad and working with our allies to promote peace and resist fascism and aggression. The current events in Ukraine highlight the need to strengthen bonds with our allies and affirm our stance against military intervention.
The senseless deaths from gun-related violence and suicide in America must end. Oregon’s 4th Congressional District is among the highest in the nation for suicides using a gun. I am the candidate who has done the work most recently by banning concealed carry on school campuses. I will stand up to the NRA to support common sense proposals like universal background checks, banning concealed carry in schools, safe storage laws, and red flag laws to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.
We are experiencing a national economic crisis that ranges from houselessness to rent inflation to income inequality. As the price of housing has skyrocketed in our state, too many Oregonians have found themselves in their own personal housing crisis. It is time for the federal government to end the moratorium on the construction of new public housing to address this crisis. We must increase federal support for public and nonprofit community agencies and reexamine and invest in rental assistance for all who need it. Everyone deserves shelter from the elements.
Freedom from discrimination and prejudice is something we all want for ourselves and for our neighbors, friends, coworkers, and family. As a Congressman, I will stand up to protect the rights of people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and individuals with disabilities. As The Corvallis school board chair, I successfully advocated for protections from hate speech and discrimination based on gender identity, and I invested additional funds to protect people from discrimination. I have implemented local solutions, but we also need federal protections. I will carry my experience and accomplishments with me to Congress to continue the fight for the civil rights of ALL, especially the most vulnerable in our communities.
The American promise of equality will be achieved when discrimination based on gender and sex are fully dismantled. I have a track record of introducing policies and advocating for successful legislation that did just that. I have been endorsed by reproductive healthcare advocates because of my clear records – from science-based and inclusive sex education; free access to menstrual products in schools and public places; affirming women’s rights to full access to abortion and reproductive health. In Congress, I am committed to:
|
” |
—Sami Al-Abdrabbuh's campaign website (2022)[10] |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Candidate Oregon House of Representatives District 16 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted through email on September 29, 2017
- ↑ Corvallis School District, "Meet the School Board," accessed October 11, 2017
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 18, 2022
- ↑ Sami Al-Abdrabbuh for Congress, "Press release," May 17, 2022
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "November 8, 2016 General Election official results," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Oregon Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed March 9, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Oregon Secretary of State, "May 17, 2016 Primary Election Abstract of Votes President," accessed August 2, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Sami Al-Abdrabbuh for Congress,Issues, accessed April 21, 2022