Paul Damian Wells

Paul Damian Wells was born in Terre Haute, Indiana. Wells served in the U.S. Marine Corps starting in 1978. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1984 and a graduate degree in electrical engineering from Portland State University. As of 2024, Wells was retired but had previously worked as a design engineer and CNC machinist.[1]

Paul Damian Wells did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have been a voting rights activist in Oregon for over 30 years. I first ran as an independent candidate for U.S. Senator in 1992 and was denied ballot access. Every two to four years since, I have run as a candidate for state office in a major party primary to protest the exclusion of independent voters. In 2024, over 43% of Oregon voters are not affiliated with a major party. By law every excluded voter will receive a blank ballot for U.S. President in the May primary.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I support Ranked Choice Voting. RCV ensures a fair election outcome by eliminating vote splitting. It's decades overdue. Al Gore should have been elected U.S. President in 2000. Thanks to all the individuals and organizations that worked to get this measure referred to the 2024 general election ballot in Oregon.I support Oregon Prospective Initiative Petition 2026-025. This initiative will overhaul the U.S. Presidential race in Oregon by adopting a "Lincoln Primary" and "Final Five Voting." The existing closed primaries will be replaced by a single six-month long tracking poll. (Lincoln Primary) From February thru July, voters can go online and endorse a presidential candidate. On August 1st, only the top five candidates advance to the general election. This initiative also allows electoral college delegates the authority to vote for the winner of the national popular vote instead of a party candidate.I intend to "write-in" the word "N.O.T.A." (None of the Above) for each federal office on my general election ballot. I'm encouraging other progressive voters to do the same. After so many years, it's obvious that too many Democrats will not support free and fair elections until forced to do so. It takes 50% support of the electorate to pass a ballot measure, but it takes less than 10% of the electorate to deny democrats any federal or state office. In 2016 a Republican candidate for Secretary of State was elected with only 47% of the vote, because a small group of progressive voters rejected the Democratic candidate for not supporting free elections.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Free and Fair Elections. The era of voting for the lesser of two evils needs to come to an end.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

In Oregon, the Secretary of State is the chief elections officer, and takes an oath to uphold both Oregon and U.S. constitutional voting rights. The individual elected to this office should use the office to secure equal voting rights for all Oregon voters - not just major party members.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I'm a voting rights advocate. Just like the women and blacks who fought for decades to gain the right to vote - I was successful simply because I wouldn't give up.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

In Oregon, by law, the Secretary of State has the power to issue orders to subordinate election officials just like a judge. The Secretary can and should declare partisan primaries unconstitutional and order that all statutory law relating to partisan office null and void until upheld by a jury in a civil court. In the interim, every partisan office shall be treated as a nonpartisan office where a top-two primary is mandated by law. The Secretary of State is the only public official in Oregon that can successfully force a constitutional review of partisan elections.