Janelle Bynum wins Oregon's 5th Congressional District
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Photo: Courtesy of Janelle Bynum for Congress
Democratic state lawmaker Janelle Bynum beat Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to represent Oregon's 5th Congressional District, per the Associated Press.
Why it matters: Bynum's win flips the swing district back to blue and adds another Democratic seat to the U.S. House of Representatives.
- She will also be the first Black Congresswoman to represent Oregon in Washington, D.C., according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
By the numbers: As of Thursday morning, Bynum had captured more than 47% of the vote, while Chavez-DeRemer had 45%.
Between the lines: Several local news organizations called the race for Bynum last week.
What she's saying: "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," Bynum said in a post on X last week.
The other side: In a statement, Chavez-DeRemer said she hopes Bynum "will follow the example I have set over the past two years and serve as a pragmatic, thoughtful and bipartisan leader who will work with the Trump administration."
Between the lines: Oregon's 5th Congressional District has historically been a swing area — it stretches from southeast Portland down near Eugene and east toward Bend.
- Chavez-DeRemer narrowly won the district back in 2022 after statewide redistricting.
State of play: In her campaign, Bynum embraced national issues, like abortion and threats to democracy — skewering Chavez-DeRemer on her endorsement of President-elect Trump — as a way to appeal to the more centrist voters in Oregon's most populous counties.
The intrigue: Bynum beat Chavez-DeRemer, the former mayor of Happy Valley, twice before in a race for the Oregon Legislature.