Wyden Hears Concerns Over Voting, Health Care at Umatilla Town Hall

Senator says political change starts at the grassroots, not in Washington.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 5:00am

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At a town hall meeting in Pendleton, Oregon, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden heard concerns from constituents about voting rights, health care costs, and the impact of Medicaid cuts on rural hospitals. Wyden reaffirmed his support for mail-in voting and pledged to work on addressing the healthcare challenges faced by veterans and those struggling to afford expensive medications.

Why it matters

The town hall provided a window into the key issues on the minds of Eastern Oregon voters, with voting rights and health care emerging as top priorities. Wyden's responses highlighted the partisan divides over these issues and the challenges of delivering effective healthcare and voting access, especially in rural areas.

The details

During the 90-minute event, Wyden faced questions and comments from an audience of about 60 people, including one vocal heckler who criticized the senator's stances on immigration and taxes. Many attendees expressed concerns about the political landscape, the war in Iran, and legislation like the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which Wyden said would undermine Oregon's long-standing mail-in voting system. On healthcare, Wyden heard from a Pendleton resident whose family member with leukemia was struggling to afford necessary medications, as well as the president of the local hospital who warned of the impact of looming Medicaid cuts in the state.

  • The town hall took place on Monday evening, March 30, 2026.
  • Oregon has used mail-in voting for decades, with only 38 criminal convictions of voter fraud out of 60.9 million ballots cast in elections over 19 years, according to a 2020 Legislative Fiscal Office report.

The players

Ron Wyden

A U.S. Senator from Oregon and a member of the Senate Finance Committee, where he serves as the point person on economics and taxes for Senate Democrats.

Barbara Wright

A Pendleton resident who volunteers as a veterans advocate.

Harry Geller

The president of CHI St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton.

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What they’re saying

“I think there are a variety of ways to do this, but political change doesn't start in Washington (D.C.) and then trickle down. It's grassroots up.”

— Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator

“These figures demonstrate that voter fraud is exceedingly rare in Oregon, and is no more widespread in vote by mail elections than it is polling place elections.”

— Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator

“This is why I'm in public life is to work with people who need healthcare, because if you don't have your health and your loved ones, everything else falls apart.”

— Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator

What’s next

Wyden said he would work with the Pendleton resident's family member to help get coverage for the expensive leukemia medication, and that his team would also look into the issues Barbara Wright raised about veterans' health records.

The takeaway

The town hall highlighted the deep partisan divides over key issues like voting rights and healthcare, with Wyden defending Oregon's mail-in voting system and pledging to address the challenges facing rural healthcare providers and patients. The event underscored the importance of grassroots political engagement, as Wyden emphasized that change often starts at the local level rather than in Washington.