The Oregonian: “Elect Janelle Bynum for 5th Congressional District”

Editorial Board: "Voters tired of the culture of chaos under the Republican-led House should help usher in change by electing Democrat Janelle Bynum to bring her fearless advocacy to Washington D.C. on their behalf."

Bynum "has developed a reputation as an effective, business-minded legislator" while "[Chavez-DeRemer's] voting record shows a far more partisan profile"

This week, the Oregonian endorsed Janelle Bynum for Oregon's 5th Congressional District over increasingly vulnerable GOP Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer.

As House Republicans' chaos, dysfunction, and extremism "put[s] Americans at risk," Bynum's unique "willingness to challenge her own party's orthodoxy," proven "ability to champion change," and "unabashed…advocacy for protecting abortion rights," makes her the "best option " to represent her community in Congress.

Specifically, the Editorial Board highlighted Bynum's work "leading bipartisan package of the critical Oregon CHIPS bill," "pushing for greater educational and job training initiatives," and ensuring "reproductive freedom for women across the country" - which will help "usher in change" that Oregonians deserve.

Read more below.

The Oregonian: Elect Janelle Bynum for 5th Congressional District
Editorial Board | September 22, 2024

• As one of the most competitive seats in a closely-divided House, the race for Oregon's 5th Congressional District has garnered national attention and millions of dollars as Democrats seek to flip it blue. Voters tired of the culture of chaos under the Republican-led House should help usher in change by electing Democrat Janelle Bynum to bring her fearless advocacy to Washington D.C. on their behalf.

• As the state representative for the Happy Valley area since 2017, Bynum, 49, has developed a reputation as an effective, business-minded legislator, drawing from both her engineering background and co-ownership of four McDonald's restaurants. She chaired the House Committee on Economic Development, leading bipartisan passage of the critical Oregon CHIPS bill, which provides funds for semiconductor companies' expansion and creates a process to designate some land for industrial development. She has been a consistent force pushing for greater educational and job training initiatives for youth, reflecting her broader emphasis on preparing the community for the future, whether it's investing in people, climate or infrastructure.

• She has proven her ability to champion change, with a package of police accountability bills she crafted with Republican Ron Noble, a former police chief, following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. As one of the few Black legislators in the Legislature, she has highlighted for fellow lawmakers the disparate impacts of bills on Black Oregonians and has proven her willingness to challenge her own party's orthodoxy - including going up against Gov. Tina Kotek in Kotek's last term as House speaker. And she is unabashed in her advocacy for protecting abortion rights and ensuring reproductive freedom for women across the country after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

• [Chavez-DeRemer's] voting record shows a far more partisan profile, such as her vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a political stunt which passed the House on one vote. The Senate quickly dismissed the charges.

• Additionally, while Chavez-DeRemer said she would not support a federal ban on abortions, she has previously declared her support for banning abortion after about six weeks, giving Oregonians good reason to question her commitment. And on gun safety, the congresswoman repeated Republican talking points about the need for more mental health services - a legitimate, but constantly underfunded need - as opposed to advancing practical proposals to limit access to guns by those who should not have them.

• A broader concern is how Republican in-fighting has paralyzed the House, most notably with the three-week shutdown in 2023 over efforts to replace former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy; as well as growing worries that a faction of Republicans will force a federal government shutdown as opposed to authorizing a short-term funding bill to keep government running past Sept. 30. Such ideological fights by the party currently in charge put Americans at risk. Voters in the 5th District can help turn the tide by sending Bynum to Congress.