Janelle Bynum is set to become Oregon’s first Black congressional representative after flipping a Republican-held seat for the Democrats.
Bynum, a state lawmaker with national Democratic support, unseated Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Her victory restores the seat to Democratic hands after Republicans won it in 2022, marking a historic achievement.
“It’s significant that I stand one generation away from segregation while making history,” Bynum said. “I’m honored to be the first Black member of Congress from Oregon, but I won’t be the last. This victory represents collective effort and belief in our vision.”
Chavez-DeRemer acknowledged her defeat in a social media statement on Thursday after the Associated Press confirmed the results. “Although we hoped for a different outcome, I am thankful for the chance to represent Oregonians and proud of our accomplishments,” she said.
The Cook Political Report had rated the race as highly competitive, with both candidates having a chance to win.
This wasn’t the first face-off between Bynum and Chavez-DeRemer; Bynum previously defeated her in a state legislative race. Chavez-DeRemer narrowly won the congressional seat in 2022 after the district’s boundaries were reshaped post-census, including urban, suburban, and rural areas such as Bend in central Oregon.
The district’s registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by around 25,000, but unaffiliated voters make up the largest group.
The campaign was marred by an incident in Multnomah County, where a ballot drop box outside Portland’s elections office was set ablaze, damaging three ballots. Investigators linked this to similar incidents in Vancouver, Washington, where hundreds of ballots were affected.
Despite national Republican gains, Oregon maintained its Democratic lean, reaffirming the party’s dominance in the state.
