A new political action committee, Health Equity Now, has recently injected a significant amount of money into a crucial Oregon swing district just ahead of the Democratic primary. The primary, scheduled for Tuesday, features candidates Janelle Bynum and Jamie McLeod-Skinner, who are competing for the chance to challenge Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the Republican incumbent.
Chavez-DeRemer narrowly won the 2022 election over McLeod-Skinner by a slim margin of about 7,300 votes and 2 percentage points, making this upcoming primary a highly anticipated and competitive race. The district, one of 16 won by President Joe Biden but currently represented by a Republican in the House, is expected to draw significant attention and resources in the fall as both major political parties vie for control of the House.
Health Equity Now has allocated approximately $352,000 for advertising in support of McLeod-Skinner, with ads highlighting her advocacy for progressive policies such as Medicare for all and challenging insurance companies. The group, which registered with the Federal Election Commission on May 3, has not disclosed its donors yet, raising concerns among Democrats.
The ad buying firm, Fidi Media, LLC, associated with the super PAC, has a history of working with Republican candidates, according to FEC records, further fueling suspicions of potential interference in the Democratic primary. While the treasurer of Health Equity Now shares a name with an individual linked to a Republican political committee in the past, McLeod-Skinner has distanced herself from the group, emphasizing her support for transparent election funding.
The Democratic primary has seen significant outside spending, with over $1.2 million in independent expenditures favoring Bynum or opposing McLeod-Skinner. The eventual Democratic nominee will face a well-funded Republican incumbent in Chavez-DeRemer, who reported nearly $1.9 million in cash on hand as of May 1, according to FEC records.
Despite the external involvement and speculation, the campaign arm for House Republicans, led by Rep. Richard Hudson, has denied any knowledge or association with the super PAC or its activities in the Democratic primary, emphasizing a hands-off approach to intra-party contests.
