A six-foot-tall pencil costume has become an unlikely fixture on the campaign trail in Oregon, where a literacy advocate is running a symbolic write-in campaign to draw attention to the state’s struggling K-12 system.
J. Schuberth, a former college professor, appears at public events dressed as “Pencil” to emphasize what they describe as a crisis in Oregon education. The candidate cites national testing data showing Oregon fourth-graders ranking last in reading comprehension among all states.
Why It Matters
Oregon’s education performance has become a flashpoint as Governor Tina Kotek seeks reelection. The state’s Democratic leadership has faced mounting criticism over student achievement levels that lag the national average. Schuberth’s unconventional campaign aims to pressure state officials to overhaul education policy regardless of which party controls the governorship after November.
What Happened
Schuberth constructed the pencil costume earlier this year and began attending farmers markets, street fairs, and other public gatherings in Portland. The costume features a pointed graphite tip above a face with glasses, a yellow cylindrical body, and a pink eraser near the knees. At each stop, Schuberth distributes flyers and urges voters to write “Pencil” on their ballots rather than support major-party candidates.
The campaign asks Oregonians to skip voting for either Republican or Democratic gubernatorial candidates. Schuberth argues that Democratic supermajorities in the state legislature have controlled education policy for years without improving outcomes.
By The Numbers
Oregon fourth-graders ranked last nationally in reading according to analysis of standardized testing data. The state constitution does not permit write-in candidates who are inanimate objects to hold executive office. Under Oregon election law, officials only count individual write-in votes if total write-ins exceed votes for the leading candidate. Kotek faces no significant primary challenger in the May 19 Democratic primary.
Voter Response
Several Portland residents told Schuberth at recent campaign stops that they would consider the symbolic write-in vote. Randy Hueber, who said he ultimately wants Kotek to win, indicated he might write in Pencil’s name “to get the point across.” Another voter, Suzanne Lassen, called the education system “horrendous” and said she would support the protest vote.
Anna Mackay, a parent at a Portland farmers market, said the state’s education outcomes influenced her decision to enroll her children in private school despite financial constraints. She told the candidate she would “certainly consider” a write-in vote.
Campaign Strategy
Schuberth acknowledges the campaign will not result in electoral victory. Instead, the goal is to send a message to state leadership about voter frustration with education policy. The candidate believes a significant write-in total would demonstrate public demand for reform.
Because state law may not require officials to tabulate individual write-in totals unless they exceed the leading candidate’s vote count, Schuberth is exploring methods to independently track Pencil votes by requesting images of cast ballots.
Zoom Out
Education performance has emerged as a central issue in gubernatorial campaigns across multiple states. Oregon’s Democratic leadership faces pressure similar to that in other blue states where student test scores declined during and after pandemic-era school closures. Republicans seeking to challenge Kotek in November have made education a key campaign theme.
Schuberth, who has advocated for literacy programs for years, said the write-in campaign reflects frustration with what the candidate views as ineffective reform attempts by state officials.
What’s Next
Oregon’s primary election takes place May 19. The general election in November will determine whether Kotek wins a second term or a Republican challenger succeeds in ending Democratic control of the governorship. Schuberth plans to continue appearing as Pencil at public events through the general election.