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Suzanne Bonamici is the Democratic incumbent in Oregon's 1st Congressional District.
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OPB asked candidates for Congressional races the same questions on key issues in the state. Answers are provided verbatim but responses were limited to 150 words. Read Democratic incumbent Rep. Suzanne Bonamici’s responses here.
To start, please give us your name and basic biographical details, including your current position or job, any elected offices you have held and any key facts you would like voters to know about you.
My name is Suzanne Bonamici. I was first elected to represent NW Oregon in Congress in 2012. I worked my way through community college, college, and law school in Eugene. While in school I worked at Legal Aid as a legal assistant; it was there I learned that people don’t struggle by choice, and I developed an interest in consumer protection. After I graduated, I worked as a consumer protection attorney before taking a career break to raise my two kids, who are now grown. They both attended Beaverton public schools, and I spent many years volunteering for education and the arts, including serving on non-profit boards. My advocacy to improve public education inspired my first run for office and now I’m a national leader on the Education & Workforce Committee and the Science Committee. It is an honor to represent the First Congressional District.
Why should you be elected to represent this district?
I am running for re-election to create a better future for Oregonians. I’ve accomplished a lot, but there is still work ahead to address the many challenges facing our state and nation. Too many people are struggling— and rightfully expect their elected leaders to support policies that improve their lives. I’ve earned a reputation as a hard worker who builds relationships on both sides of the aisle that allow me to address the needs of NW Oregonians. If honored with reelection, I will continue my work on housing, climate change, public education, health care, and reproductive rights.
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What is the most pressing challenge facing your district? What is your proposed solution to that problem? Please be specific.
We are in the midst of a housing crisis. We can see that clearly on the streets of Portland and in all communities around NW Oregon, rural, suburban, and urban. The Congressional district, like the state, is grappling with multi-faceted and overlapping emergencies of housing, addiction and behavioral health, and lack of economic stability. It’s going to take everyone - at the state, local and federal levels - working together to address this crisis. I’ve secured more than $6.25 million in funding this Congress to build hundreds of affordable housing units in NW Oregon, but more is needed. I have also been working to expand the low-income housing tax credit, increase Section 8 housing vouchers and wraparound services, and invest in workforce to help deliver these services. And I introduced legislation modeled on the successful Project Turnkey program in Oregon to convert more unused buildings into affordable housing.
Who won the 2020 election?
Joe Biden, and I’m proud to have helped him win!
Will you commit to certify the 2024 election results, regardless of the victor?
Yes, I strongly support the peaceful transfer of power and am deeply disturbed by the comments made by former President Trump about refusing to accept the results of the 2024 election. I was in the Capitol on January 6th and see the danger in the extremist rhetoric that Trump and his supporters are continuing to push about the 2020 election. I will always protect and defend democracy!
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Would you support a federal ban on abortion? Why or why not?
I do not support a federal ban on abortion; in fact, I support legislation to codify Roe v. Wade to make abortion legal and safe in all states. Reproductive rights are a matter of personal liberty and everyone in this country must be able to make their own decisions about their bodies, including when and whether to bear a child.
Criminalizing abortion does not make it go away; it makes it unsafe and dangerous. The harm falls hardest on people of color, low-income individuals, and others already marginalized by our health care system. Although the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade is disheartening and dangerous, reproductive health care is still legal and safe in Oregon. I am grateful for the actions of our state leaders to keep it accessible to Oregonians and those who must now travel to receive care.
Intel has close connections with the Israeli government and the nation itself and is one of the largest employers in the state. What is your stance on the ongoing war in Gaza and Intel’s connections to the region?
I first called for a bilateral ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in November 2023 and am continuing to do so because the short-term temporary ceasefire agreement that allowed for the return of some hostages and expedited some aid was not enough. I mourn the loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives and agonize about the horrors of terrorism and war. The recent murder of six hostages by Hamas, including American citizen Hersh Goldberg Polin, was abhorrent and underscores the need for a renewed ceasefire that would allow for the safe release of all hostages, save lives, and facilitate assistance for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Intel has played an important role in the Pacific Northwest economy and around the world. They have done business in Israel for decades and I expect that they will continue to make strategic decisions as they conduct business with our regional allies.
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Immigration is one of the most prominent issues in the Republican party’s national platform. How has immigration impacted your constituents directly or indirectly? Please be specific. Would you support the bipartisan immigration bill negotiated earlier this year if it returns ? Why or why not?
The U.S. immigration system is broken. Our existing policies are hurting families and communities and impeding economic growth. We can treat individuals in a humane and just manner and still prevent crime, reduce trafficking, and keep our country safe. I also strongly support changes in law and regulation to protect the fundamental rights of immigrants—particularly those seeking asylum.
Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans have made it clear that the bipartisan immigration bill from earlier this year is dead on arrival. Because of many conversations I have had with Dreamers, I know we must address immigration reform in a comprehensive and compassionate way, including by providing a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented people living in this country. We must also overhaul the family-based immigration system to prevent child separation, significantly increase staffing to reduce immigration court backlogs, and restore the Family Case Management program.
The U.S. House of Representatives is fiercely divided and even if Democrats retake the House, it will likely be extremely close in terms of the majority. What is your track record of working with the other party – or people within your own party with whom you disagree – to pass meaningful legislation?
I have spent my entire career in Congress working with colleagues across the aisle to develop policies that will improve the lives of all Americans.
By sitting down and focusing on issues that unite us rather than divide us, I have introduced countless bipartisan bills, including educating students about the dangers of accidental fentanyl poisoning, updating the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, helping college students with disabilities more easily access support services, and creating of sector partnerships to help small and medium-sized businesses develop work-based learning programs. I’ve also introduced and worked on bipartisan legislation to expand access to recovery housing for individuals recovering from a substance use disorder or mental health crisis, address the dangers of harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events that threatening the ocean, and develop grants to help establish or maintain disposal sites for unwanted prescription medications.
