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Nick Walden Poublon

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Revision as of 21:53, 5 January 2026 by Victoria Edwards (contribs) (Updated bio)
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Nick Walden Poublon
Candidate, Oregon House of Representatives District 52
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 5, 2024
Next election
May 19, 2026
Education
High school
Harrisburg High School
Bachelor's
Portland State University, 2007
Personal
Birthplace
Springfield, OR
Religion
None
Profession
Educator
Contact

Nick Walden Poublon (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Oregon House of Representatives to represent District 52. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on May 19, 2026.[source]

Walden Poublon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Nick Walden Poublon was born in Springfield, Oregon. He earned a high school diploma from Harrisburg High School and a bachelor's degree from Portland State University in 2007. His career experience includes working as the Student Health Advisor at Portland State University, a legislative aide in the Oregon State Capitol, and a subsitute teacher.[1] He has been affiliated with the Democratic Party of Clackamas County, the Democratic Party of Oregon Healthcare Caucus, and the Oregon Trail Democrats.[2]

Elections

2026

See also: Oregon House of Representatives elections, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on May 19, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 52

David Osborn (D), Hank Sanders (D), Bernard R. Seeger (D), and Nick Walden Poublon (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 52 on May 19, 2026.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 52

Robert Fleming (R), Scott Hege (R), and Darcy Lapier (R) are running in the Republican primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 52 on May 19, 2026.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2024

See also: Oregon House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Oregon House of Representatives District 52

Incumbent Jeffrey Helfrich defeated Nick Walden Poublon in the general election for Oregon House of Representatives District 52 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jeffrey Helfrich
Jeffrey Helfrich (R)
 
51.8
 
18,958
Image of Nick Walden Poublon
Nick Walden Poublon (D / Independent Party / Working Families Party) Candidate Connection
 
48.1
 
17,573
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
40

Total votes: 36,571
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 52

Nick Walden Poublon advanced from the Democratic primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 52 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Nick Walden Poublon
Nick Walden Poublon Candidate Connection
 
98.7
 
5,319
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.3
 
69

Total votes: 5,388
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 52

Incumbent Jeffrey Helfrich advanced from the Republican primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 52 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jeffrey Helfrich
Jeffrey Helfrich
 
99.1
 
5,323
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.9
 
46

Total votes: 5,369
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Walden Poublon in this election.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Nick Walden Poublon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Walden Poublon's responses.

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Nick Walden Poublon is a public servant, educator, and healthcare advocate from Sandy, Oregon. He was the 2024 Democratic nominee for Oregon’s 52nd House District and has worked extensively at the intersection of education, healthcare, and public policy.

Walden Poublon grew up on a dairy farm in rural Oregon and is a graduate of Portland State University. Following a serious health crisis during graduate school, he spent more than a decade at PSU as the Student Health Advisor, overseeing student health insurance and healthcare policy for approximately 28,000 students.

He has served as a legislative aide in the Oregon State Capitol, is active in Democratic Party leadership at the county and state levels, and currently works as a substitute teacher in his local school district. Walden Poublon lives in Sandy with his husband.
  • Rooted in Rural Oregon, Focused on Results: I was raised on a dairy farm and now live in Sandy. I understand the realities facing rural and mountain communities because I’ve lived them. My campaign is about practical solutions that strengthen local economies, protect our natural resources, and ensure every community in House District 52 has a voice at the table.
  • Healthcare Is a Human Right, Not a Privilege: After surviving a serious health crisis in graduate school, I dedicated my career to improving access to healthcare. I spent more than a decade managing healthcare policy and budgets at Portland State University, and I will fight to protect and expand affordable, accessible healthcare for working families, seniors, and rural communities.
  • Investing in Education and Working Families: As a substitute teacher and longtime education advocate, I see firsthand the challenges facing our classrooms and our educators. I’m running to invest in public education, support teachers, and ensure working families can afford housing, healthcare, and a future in the communities they call home.
I am focused on policies that expand access to affordable healthcare, strengthen public education, and support working families. My priorities include protecting Medicaid and rural healthcare, investing in teachers and classrooms, addressing housing affordability, and promoting rural economic development. I also care deeply about wildfire resilience, environmental stewardship, community-based public safety and prevention, and protecting civil rights, including LGBTQIA+ equality.
Working Families Party, Representative Zack Hudson

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.


2024

Candidate Connection

Nick Walden Poublon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Walden Poublon's responses.

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I am a lifelong Oregonian who grew up in a small town and still lives in a small town. I’m a Democrat and a healthcare advocate who spent more than a decade as the Student Health Advisor at Portland State University.
  • The importance of affordable housing. Safe and affordable housing is out of reach for too many Oregonians. I support Governor Kotek’s housing funding proposal which includes funds for low and medium income housing as well as money available to help keep people in their current housing.
  • The necessity of healthcare for all. I would work to support legislation that removes the middle man who often profits unnecessarily from the healthcare system in this country. As a former healthcare advocate at Portland State University I have worked directly with OHP and other state health providers. I would advocate for the expansion of Medicare to better cover those who most need health care.
  • The protection of the environment. One thing I hear frequently from my constituents is that they are concerned with the Urban Growth Boundary and making sure that we do not unnecessarily expand urban growth. I would work to maintain the character and community of our small towns. I believe in responsible development practices that balance environmental conservation with meeting the growing demand for affordable housing. I believe that promoting high-density housing within existing urban areas is a key strategy to achieve this balance. We can maximize land use efficiency, by encouraging infill development and transit-oriented design.
My first job was milking cows on a family dairy farm in Oregon as soon as I was old enough to do so. I did it for two summers. It quickly taught me the value of hard work and a job well done.
My personal health crisis during my young adulthood profoundly influenced my journey into activism and shaped my understanding of the real challenges faced by communities. While pursuing my graduate studies, I was diagnosed with a tumor at the base of my brain, which not only presented a daunting personal challenge but also exposed the inadequacies of the off-the-shelf school insurance.

Upon discovering that the existing health plan fell short of meeting my needs and those of my fellow students, I took it upon myself to initiate change. Through advocacy and determination, I spearheaded efforts to overhaul the health plan, ultimately ensuring better coverage for all students at the university without any wait time. This experience taught me firsthand the importance of accessible and comprehensive healthcare and reinforced my belief in the power of individual action to effect meaningful change for the collective.

Following my graduation, I was privileged to be offered a position as the Student Health Advocate at PSU, where I dedicated 15 years to advocating for the health and well-being of students. Thanks to my advocacy and the support of my community, I am now healthy and eager to continue serving and making a positive impact.
I think biggest challenge facing my state and district in the next decade is undoubtedly affordable housing. It's a pressing concern that affects individuals and families across our communities, from urban centers to rural areas.

Ensuring access to equitable and affordable housing solutions is paramount. We must address the distinct needs of both urban and rural residents, recognizing the unique challenges each community faces. Affordable housing is not only about providing shelter; it's about creating opportunities for individuals to work, thrive, and build stable lives in the places they call home.

In my district the need for affordable housing that respects urban growth boundaries is particularly salient, as echoed by constituents. We must prioritize initiatives that promote inclusive development while preserving the integrity of our communities and ensuring sustainable growth.
We have been endorsed by Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon, the Oregon League of Conservation Voters and the Street Trust Fund.

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 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.


Nick Walden Poublon campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024Oregon House of Representatives District 52Lost general$85,895 $72,552
Grand total$85,895 $72,552
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on December 28, 2025
  2. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 22, 2024


Current members of the Oregon House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Julie Fahey
Majority Leader:Ben Bowman
Minority Leader:Lucetta Elmer
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
Pam Marsh (D)
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
Jami Cate (R)
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
Ed Diehl (R)
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
Ken Helm (D)
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
Hai Pham (D)
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
Rob Nosse (D)
District 43
District 44
District 45
Thuy Tran (D)
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
Democratic Party (37)
Republican Party (23)