Democratic state Rep. Janelle Bynum has emerged victorious in Oregon's 5th Congressional District race, unseating Republican Rep. Lori-Chavez-DeRemer, according to projections released more than a week after Election Day. With 94% of the votes reported, Bynum leads by over two points, garnering 184,023 votes compared to Chavez-DeRemer's 174,448.
Chavez-DeRemer, who was elected to Congress in 2022, had previously defeated her Democratic opponent by a narrow margin. Her loss to Bynum marks a significant shift in the balance of power in the House, narrowing the Republican majority to 218 seats against the Democrats' 209.
Bynum, a seasoned politician who has served in the Oregon House since 2016, is also a successful business owner with multiple McDonald's franchises. She ran a campaign that focused on linking Chavez-DeRemer to President-elect Donald Trump and highlighting her opponent's stance on abortion.
The race between the two candidates was closely watched, with election experts predicting its outcome could influence which party controls Congress. Both candidates engaged in heated debates, with Bynum facing allegations of mishandling reports of sexual harassment within her campaign, which she vehemently denied.
High-profile figures from both parties, including GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, campaigned for their respective candidates in the final stretch of the race. The district, which covers several counties in Oregon, has recently been redrawn, adding to the significance of this election.
Bynum's victory not only marks a personal triumph but also a political milestone, as she becomes the new representative for Oregon in the House of Representatives. The outcome of this race underscores the shifting dynamics in Oregon's political landscape and sets the stage for future developments in the state's congressional representation.
