Rep. Janelle Bynum has won the Democratic primary in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, defeating the more progressive Jamie McLeod Skinner. Bynum will be facing Republican freshman Lori Chavez-DeRemer in the upcoming election. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee backed Bynum with over $1 million, seeing her as the preferred candidate to take on Chavez-DeRemer in a key race that could impact the control of the US House. The 5th District is a top Democratic target due to it being one of 16 GOP-held seats that Joe Biden would have carried in 2020 under the current lines. Bynum, a fourth-term Oregon House representative who runs four McDonald’s franchises, previously defeated Chavez-DeRemer in her past two terms.
In Oregon’s 3rd District, state Rep. Maxine Dexter is projected to win the Democratic primary and is set to enter Congress from the blue Portland-area seat as longtime Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer retires after nearly three decades in Congress. Dexter, a pulmonologist who sponsored legislation to make naloxone more accessible, was backed by over $1.6 million in outside spending from the 314 Action Fund, a super PAC dedicated to electing Democrats with science backgrounds. Her closest rival, Susheela Jayapal, a former Multnomah County commissioner, ran on a progressive platform and was supported by prominent progressives like Bernie Sanders and Pramila Jayapal.
The Democratic primary in Oregon’s 5th District was heated, with some former aides accusing Jamie McLeod Skinner of creating a hostile work environment, which she denied, stating that she tried to create a positive workplace environment. McLeod Skinner criticized Bynum for initially voting against legislation extending the statute of limitations for rape civil cases to seven years, but Bynum later voted for the bill after it was amended to five years. In contrast, Bynum had the backing of Oregon Democratic leaders and national groups, with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee naming her a strong recruit on their “Red to Blue” list.
In the final weeks of the election, McLeod Skinner had the support of progressive groups like the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Health Equity Now, which emphasized her support for “Medicare for All,” although the group has ties to Republican operatives. While McLeod Skinner had progressive backing, establishment Democrats viewed Bynum as the stronger candidate to challenge Republican incumbent Chavez-DeRemer in the 5th District, which stretches south from the Portland suburbs to Bend. The race is crucial in the battle for control of the US House, with the 5th District being one of several key GOP-held seats that Democrats are targeting in hopes of flipping them in the upcoming election.
Overall, Oregon’s primary elections in the 3rd and 5th Districts showcased a mix of candidates with diverse platforms and backing. While Dexter emerged victorious in the 3rd District Democratic primary with a significant fundraising advantage and support from the 314 Action Fund, Bynum secured the Democratic nomination in the 5th District with strong support from establishment Democrats and national groups like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. As the general election approaches, all eyes will be on these races as they have the potential to influence the balance of power in the US House and shape the political landscape in Oregon and beyond.
