Oregon is gearing up for multiple hotly contested primaries on Tuesday that will set the stage for high-profile races in November. One key primary is in the state’s 5th Congressional District, where Jamie McLeod-Skinner is challenging Janelle Bynum for the Democratic nomination. McLeod-Skinner defeated longtime Democratic Rep. Kurt Schrader in the 2022 primary but lost to Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer in the general election. Some top Democrats believe that Bynum is more likely to win in a general election, and she has received endorsements from Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and three members of Oregon’s U.S. House delegation.
Another important race is in the 3rd Congressional District, where Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer is retiring, leaving an open seat in a traditionally safe Democratic district. Former Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal, state Rep. Maxine Dexter, and Gresham City Councilor Eddy Morales are contenders in this primary. In the 4th Congressional District, Republican leaders are supporting Monique DeSpain to flip a Democratic seat, with Amy Ryan Courser as her primary opponent. Incumbent Rep. Val Hoyle is running unopposed in the Democratic primary in the 4th District.
At the local level, Multnomah County is hosting a race with national implications as District Attorney Mike Schmidt faces a challenge from a deputy in his own office, Nathan Vasquez. The winner of this race will be elected if they receive more than 50% of the vote, as the only other option is a write-in candidate. Overall, Tuesday’s primary in Oregon will be held as an all-mail election, with polling closing at 8 p.m. PT across the state.
The ballot for the Oregon primary includes races for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations, as well as contests for secretary of state, state treasurer, and attorney general. Voters will also select nominees for various state House and Senate seats, along with nonpartisan offices like county district attorneys and state judges. Delegate allocation rules differ between the Democratic and Republican parties, with Oregon’s pledged Democratic delegates allocated according to national party rules and all Republican delegates going to the primary winner, who in this case is former President Donald Trump.
In the upcoming primaries, Oregon will see competitive races in key districts, with candidates vying for the opportunity to move on to the general election in November. Turnout and advance votes are being closely monitored, as well as the time it takes for votes to be counted. Ultimately, the results of Tuesday’s primaries will shape the landscape for high-stakes races in Oregon leading up to the November general election. Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2024 election for the latest updates on these important races in Oregon.
