Decision Desk HQ has projected that Democrat Janelle Bynum will secure a victory in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, making her the first Black representative from Oregon in Congress.
Bynum, a current state representative, managed to unseat first-term Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who had flipped the district to the GOP during the last midterm elections. Chavez-DeRemer’s win had marked a rare GOP success in the area after years of Democratic control.
Bynum’s campaign had the confidence of many Democrats, pointing to her prior success against Chavez-DeRemer in two state legislative races. Bynum first needed to win her party’s primary, where she overcame a challenge from progressive Jamie McLeod-Skinner, the Democratic candidate from the previous election cycle.
Her primary victory solidified support among establishment Democrats, including endorsements from Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and EMILY’s List, a political action committee that had endorsed McLeod-Skinner in the past.
The 5th District, which spans the Portland and Salem suburbs, had shown strong Democratic leanings in recent elections, with Biden winning the district by nearly 9 points in 2020. Bynum’s win represents a historic milestone, expanding Oregon’s diversity in Congress.
