Oregon State Representative Janelle Bynum progresses to compete against Chavez-Deremer in crucial House race

Oregon state Rep. Janelle Bynum won the high-profile Democratic primary to take on Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), setting the stage for what is considered to be one of the most competitive elections of the 2024 cycle.

Democratic establishment-backed Bynum defeated progressive Jamie McLeod-Skinner in a high-profile Democratic primary after receiving 70% of the vote with 48% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race at 11:39 p.m. EST, less than one hour after polls closed.

McLeod-Skinner’s primary defeat comes after she lost to Chavez-DeRemer in the 2022 midterm elections by just 2 percentage points. Bynum used that to her advantage throughout the primary cycle, positioning herself as a candidate who has previously defeated Chavez-DeRemer and could do so again.

Bynum twice defeated Chavez-DeRemer in 2016 and 2018 for a state House seat, once by 2 points and then again by 8 points.

Bynum also received support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which inducted her into the group’s ‘Red to Blue’ program. Through that program, the DCCC provided strategic guidance and fundraising support during Bynum’s campaign — marking a rare moment the House Democrats’ fundraising arm has weighed in on a party primary.

Oregon’s 5th Congressional District is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched races as Chavez-DeRemer must defend her seat in a district that Biden won by 10 points in 2020. The district is also pivotal as it could determine which party will win control of the House next year.

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All 435 seats are up for grabs in 2024 as Republicans seek to hold their slim majority in the lower chamber. Of these, 42 are considered competitive, with most of those held by Democrats, giving the GOP a slight advantage as it prepares for the next election cycle.

However, of the 42 competitive seats, 17 are held by Republicans in districts that voted for President Joe Biden in 2020, compared to just five Democrats who must defend their seats in districts carried by former President Donald Trump. That means there are just enough vulnerable GOP-held seats to keep things competitive heading into the next election cycle.