After days of counting ballots, the state’s 5th Congressional District race has been called for Janelle Bynum (D-39) by The Oregonian. It’s a flip from red to blue for a seat that could be consequential to the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Bynum, the representative for Oregon House District 39, led incumbent Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-CD5) by 3 percentage points, according to Friday’s numbers, 48% to DeRemer’s 45%. Chavez-DeRemer is currently serving her first term and was the first person to hold the seat following a significant redrawing of the district in 2021 to include parts of Deschutes County after Oregon’s population increased in the 2020 U.S. Census.
Beyond flipping the seat, Bynum’s win is historic for the state as she will be the first Black member of Congress to represent Oregon.
Beyond flipping the seat, Bynum’s win is historic for the state as she will be the first Black member of Congress to represent Oregon.
“I am proud to be the first – but not the last – Black Member of Congress from Oregon, and I’m grateful for what this moment means not just for my children, but for all young people across our state to see that change is possible,” Bynum wrote in a statement Friday morning.
“In Congress, I will always stand up for Oregonians – no matter who you voted for in this election – and fight tirelessly every day to deliver for families all across our district. Today, we chart a new path forward for Oregon – one of hope, opportunity, and change for the better,” Bynum wrote.
Bynum is a state legislator and electrical engineer and along with her family runs four McDonald’s restaurants in her hometown of Happy Valley. She twice before ran against Chavez-DeRemer for the state House seat she currently holds and won each time – a fact that she asserted on the campaign trail during the primary and general election.
The chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Suzan DelBene, released a statement following Bynum’s win congratulating the congresswoman-elect.
“Congratulations to Janelle Bynum,” DelBene said. “As a working mom of four, a businesswoman, and a long-time champion for Oregon families in the State House, Janelle has spent years standing up and fighting for her constituents, and she’s the right leader for this moment. As the first Black member of Congress in Oregon’s history, Janelle will keep blazing the trail forward and bring home the federal resources her neighbors deserve. I could not be more proud of the role the DCCC played in helping elect Janelle, and I look forward to working alongside her in Congress.”
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was a powerful political supporter of Bynum’s, and Democratic PAC contributions helped her to raise $6.3 million, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission filing numbers. Chavez-DeRemer ended her race with $4.6 million in total contributions, according to the FEC.
Editor’s note: This article was changed to correct the assertion that Lori Chavez-DeRemer was the first person elected to represent Oregon’s 5th Congressional District.
This article appears in Source Weekly November 7, 2024.
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Yay! Congratulations Janelle!!!
Finally, a Federal election result to celebrate 🎉😀
Chavez-DeRemer was not the first person to hold the seat of Oregon’s 5th Congressional District. The 5th Congressional District was created after the 1980 census. Reporter Baires is confusing 5th District with the 6th District which was added after the 2020 census. The boundaries of the 5th District did change significantly in the redistricting after the 2020 census and for the first time included most of the population of Deschutes County.
@ William H — You’re correct — the district did exist before the 2020 census. I’ve corrected the article and added an editor’s note at the bottom for clarification. Thank you for pointing out the error!
Until we get to a point where we aren’t fighting each other…..who wins won’t matter.
Red/blue. Left/right. The system has done exactly what it was designed to do.
Give us the illusion that we, the people, have a voice.
We don’t. There’s a club, and we aren’t in it.
All we have left now is to wait 4 years and see if this country is better off.
Trump/MAGA seem to guarantee this. Well, you best deliver. The House and Senate is all yours. The cabinet is now stocked with ‘yes’ women and men.
Trouble will be……..if this country is a mess in 4 years……….Trump/MAGA won’t accept responsibility. Why? Because this country is now a Divided States of America.