EUGENE, Oregon (October 21, 2026) – The Monique DeSpain for Congress campaign recently released a new ad, “Independent,” telling Oregon voters that the change they want in Salem should reach Washington too. The ad contrasts Val Hoyle’s record of scandal with Monique’s 30 years of service as a U.S. Air Force colonel and JAG officer.
The ad arrives as Hoyle’s latest attack tries to brand Monique as “MAGA Monique.” It is the same playbook Hoyle ran earlier this fall, when she recycled a 2024 ad falsely tying Monique to Constitution Party positions she has never held. That ad drew a cease and desist letter from the DeSpain campaign.
“Val Hoyle and her allies can’t defend her record, so they make one up for me,” DeSpain said. “First it was the Constitution Party. Now it’s ‘MAGA Monique.’ The truth is simple. I’m not beholden to any party or any president. I oppose a national abortion ban. I’m endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans. I answer to the people of this district and nobody else. Val Hoyle’s La Mota donor was just indicted on federal charges. Voters deserve a full accounting of every dealing Hoyle had with La Mota.”
Hoyle has plenty of reasons to change the subject from herself. Last week, a federal grand jury in Portland indicted La Mota CEO Rosa Cazares, a Hoyle donor, on eight counts of willfully failing to pay more than $1.5 million in federal payroll taxes. As Labor Commissioner, Hoyle backed a federal grant of more than $500,000 to a nonprofit tied to Cazares and her business partner, La Mota co-owner Aaron Mitchell, and federal prosecutors subpoenaed her former agency’s records on that grant. Hoyle also acknowledged failing to disclose 217 stock trades on time, a violation of the federal STOCK Act. Nearly half of the money her campaign has raised this cycle came from political committees, and a super PAC tied to OpenAI leaders has spent more than $292,000 to keep her in Congress.
“Oregonians are rethinking the leadership that got us here, starting with Tina Kotek, and Val Hoyle has stood with Kotek every step of the way,” DeSpain said. “If you’re ready for change in Salem, be ready for change in Washington too. Oregon is independent, and I’ll be an independent voice for Oregon in Congress.”
The ad can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/QSNUDKThDMQ
Ad Transcript
Narrator: Thinking about changing governors? Think about changing congresswomen too. Val Hoyle, under federal investigation for the La Mota pay to play scandal. She broke the law hiding 200 stock trades, all while getting rich. Monique DeSpain. Retired Air Force colonel. JAG officer. Not beholden to any party or any president, only you. In Congress, she’ll be independent, just like Oregon.
Monique DeSpain: I’m Monique DeSpain, and I approve this message.
About Monique DeSpainMonique DeSpain is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, attorney, and mother running for Congress in Oregon’s 4th District. After 30 years of military service, she has dedicated herself to public service in Oregon, focusing on restoring a prosperous economy, addressing the state’s affordability crisis, and reducing the regulatory and tax burden on small businesses and working families. Learn more at moniqueforcongress.com.