Oregon’s Chavez-DeRemer supports Knives Out after Speaker vote.

Oregon Democrats Waste No Time Fundraising Against Republicans

Oregon ⁢Democrats⁤ wasted no time fundraising against Republicans who helped unanimously​ elect⁢ Louisiana Rep. ‍Mike ‌Johnson as the 56th⁣ Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on Oct.⁣ 25, ending 22 days of uncertainty.

“Lori​ Chavez-DeRemer and Cliff Bentz have clearly stated that Mike Johnson’s‍ anti-choice, anti-LGBT, and ⁤anti-climate science stances were okay by them when they voted for their MAGA‌ House speaker,‍ Mike Johnson,” wrote the⁢ Democrat Party of Oregon in ‍a fundraising email entitled: “Help ⁣us flip CD5‌ and CD2”‌ just hours after Johnson’s election.

Though Mr. Bentz is not currently⁣ seen as vulnerable ⁣in‌ next year’s elections—he represents the solidly red 2nd Congressional District and received 67 percent of ⁢the vote ‌in 2022—Ms. DeRemer⁣ is clearly ⁣in the ⁣crosshairs.

The first-term representative from Oregon’s 5th Congressional District supported Mr. Johnson⁢ as what she called the “consensus candidate” ⁢to lead the House.

“The American​ people, and ‌our allies around the world, are relying on us to‌ come together ‌and demonstrate that we’re ‍able to govern ‍responsibly,” Ms. Chavez-DeRemer wrote in an Oct. 25 press ⁢release.

“I’m ​hopeful that⁣ Speaker Johnson will work effectively with all sides of the Conference to advance common sense, pragmatic legislation that is ‍good for our state and our nation.”

Before throwing her support ‌behind⁣ Johnson, she voted against Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan in his ⁢bid for speaker and opposed Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s removal‍ as speaker.

Her opponents pounced.

Democrats ‍Eye District

Dems Consider Defeating Chavez-DeRemer ⁢a Top Priority

Democrats, both statewide⁢ and⁣ nationally, consider defeating Ms. Chavez-DeRemer a top​ priority. They‌ see her as ⁢vulnerable and the race as a critical opportunity⁤ to flip the U.S. House blue in ⁢2024.

The Congresswoman is one of ⁢a dozen Republicans elected last year in districts that were won by ‌President Joe Biden in 2020. Oregon’s District 5 went for ​Mr. Biden‌ by nine points.

Democrats ​outnumber Republicans in the district, which ⁤stretches ⁢from the ⁢central Oregon city of Bend to east Portland.

Voter registration‌ in ​this district, anchored by Clackamas ‌and Deschutes counties (home to about two-thirds ‌of its voters) with portions⁣ of ⁢four others, leans Democratic by 5 percentage points.

Ms. ‍Chavez-DeRemer is preparing ⁣for her ​2024 reelection campaign and has ⁣already raised $636,051.

She faces a⁢ crowded field of Democrat primary candidates who are working ​vigorously to​ tie‌ her to the far right wing of her‍ party.

Primary ​Candidates Speak Out

State Rep. Janelle Bynum, a Democrat primary candidate for ‍CD5, issued⁣ a statement shortly after Oct. 25’s speaker vote.

She described Mr. Johnson as a “MAGA extremist” ​and noted that he supported ⁣a national ⁤abortion⁣ ban,‌ argued for same-sex marriage bans, and⁣ “tried to overturn⁣ the 2020 election.”

Ms. Bynum claimed she is “uniquely positioned to defeat‍ Chavez-DeRemer, having bested‍ her” in state house ⁤races in 2016 and 2018. ⁤She also leads the primary field with the most cash on hand.

On Oct. 25, Oregon’s Democrat Gov. Tina⁤ Kotek ⁢threw her support behind ‍Ms. Bynum.

“Who we send to Congress to represent Oregon is ⁤incredibly⁢ important, especially now when our values are under attack at the federal level,” Ms. Kotek said in a statement announcing her endorsement.

Ms. Kotek ⁢is the ⁣latest high-profile ‍Oregon Democrat to get​ behind Ms. Bynum, joining⁢ U.S. Reps. Andrea Salinas and Suzanne Bonamici, state Treasurer Tobias Read, the Congressional⁣ Black Caucus PAC, the ⁣New⁢ Dem⁤ Action Fund, several ​state senators, and 21 Democrat state representatives.

Polling and fundraising show a close race between Ms. Bynum and progressive candidate Jamie McLeod-Skinner, the ⁣central Oregon attorney who narrowly⁣ lost to Ms. Chavez-DeRemer last year.

Ms. McLeod-Skinner also ⁣decried Ms.⁢ Chavez-DeRemer’s speaker vote.

“Lori Chavez-DeRemer is ‍now directly tied to [Speaker Johnson’s] dangerous ​and extreme ​agenda,” she wrote in an Oct. 25 press release.

“While ‌I’m extremely disappointed and troubled by the Congresswoman’s vote, I’m not surprised given ​her ⁤record.”

In the 2022 primary race, President Biden endorsed Ms. McLeod-Skinner’s opponent, incumbent Democrat Rep. Kurt Schrader, who ​had held the seat since⁣ 2009. Despite the support, Mr. Schrader went on to lose the primary to Ms.‌ McLeod-Skinner.

In ‍the general election, ‌the Republican Party Super PAC spent $5.3 million‌ to help Ms. Chavez-DeRemer while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spent just⁢ $1.85 million to boost Ms. McLeod-Skinner.

Ms. Chavez DeRemer won by just 2 percentage points.

Primary candidate⁢ Lynn Peterson also spoke out.

“Will Rep. Chavez-DeRemer rubber-stamp the nihilistic‌ MAGA agenda and vote to‍ put the extreme-right Freedom Caucus ​in charge?” she asked. “Her⁤ constituents will be⁤ watching.”

Attacks on Mr. ‍Johnson’s election‍ poured in from other leading⁢ Oregon Democrats as well.

Rep.⁣ Andrea Salinas, the⁣ first-term Democrat congresswoman​ representing the state’s new 6th ‌District, referred to Mr. Johnson as an “extremist who voted ⁢to overturn the 2020 election.”

She added that⁤ she‍ was “hopeful” that Mr. Johnson would try to work‌ with Democrats.

“Today⁢ the House ⁢GOP caved to‌ MAGA pressure and elected a speaker who sought to overturn ⁢the results of the ‍2020⁣ election, opposes LGBT rights, ⁤would criminalize abortion, denies climate change, and worked ​to cut critical programs like Social ⁤Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” state Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, said ⁣on X, the social media site formerly known ⁤as Twitter.

What endorsements has Ms. McLeod-Skinner received from influential progressive organizations and individuals in the⁢ 2018 election for Oregon’s 2nd Congressional ​District?

To‍ Greg Walden in the 2018 election for Oregon’s 2nd Congressional ⁢District.

Both candidates have raised significant funds for their campaigns, with Ms. ⁤Bynum‌ leading⁣ in cash on hand, while Ms. McLeod-Skinner has gained endorsements from⁤ influential progressive⁤ organizations and individuals.

Ms. McLeod-Skinner has emphasized ⁣her​ experience working on regional water issues ‍and her commitment⁣ to addressing climate change and healthcare access. She has also criticized Ms. Chavez-DeRemer for her ⁢support of Speaker Johnson, calling ‌him a “dangerous choice” and accusing Ms. Chavez-DeRemer of aligning herself​ with the extreme right wing of the Republican Party.

With such fierce competition ‌in the Democratic primary, it is clear that defeating Ms. Chavez-DeRemer is a top priority for Oregon Democrats. They‍ see this race as a ‌critical opportunity to strengthen their majority in the U.S. House and ⁣advance their progressive agenda. The endorsements and fundraising efforts that have poured in ⁢for both Ms. Bynum and Ms. McLeod-Skinner demonstrate the determination of the Democratic Party to unseat the incumbent congresswoman.

However,​ Ms. Chavez-DeRemer has proven to be a formidable opponent in past elections, winning ‌support from both Republicans and Democrats in her district. ⁢Her focus on⁢ pragmatic legislation ‌and her bipartisan approach have resonated with ‌voters, and ⁤she has been successful in a district that leans slightly Democratic.

As the race⁣ heats up, it remains to be seen whether the attacks and fundraising⁣ efforts against ​Ms. Chavez-DeRemer ⁤will ⁤translate into electoral success for her opponents. With the 2024⁤ election just around the corner, the battle for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District is one to watch as political dynamics continue ​to evolve.