State Rep. Janelle Bynum, a Democrat from Clackamas County, is vying for the 5th Congressional District seat.
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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 Republican incumbent Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s responses to the same questions.
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.
I am a mother of four, a state legislator, and a small business owner. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. I’ve been a state representative since 2017. I raised my family in Happy Valley and have proudly served this community for the past 8 years. My parents taught me the values of hard work, never to give up, and that public service means standing up for others because it’s the right thing to do, not because it serves your politics. That’s why in the state legislature I have a track record of working with both parties to get things done. I’ll take that work ethic to Congress in the fight to bring opportunity to all Oregonians.
Why should you be elected to represent this district?
I am the best candidate for the job because I’m a fighter who isn’t afraid to stand up to the powerful and well connected who want us to embrace the status quo. I’m running for Congress to stand up for jobs, for affordable healthcare and education, and for bipartisan cooperation to actually get things done. Washington isn’t working for folks here and my opponent has put MAGA extremism over serving Oregonians. Oregonians deserve someone who is looking out for them—not special interests who want to keep things the way they are because it benefits their bottom line. I will always put Oregonians over partisan politics and will work to ensure Oregonians get ahead.
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What is the most pressing challenge facing your district? What is your proposed solution to that problem? Please be specific.
The economic crisis of housing affordability is a top issue for Oregonians. As a State Representative, I’ve worked on efforts to lower the cost of housing, protect tenants, and ensure low-income earners could pay their utility bills. I’ve helped pass measures to prevent homelessness, increase shelter capacity, and expand mental health services, but there’s obviously still so much work to do.
We have land available, but we don’t have the money to build the infrastructure we need. In Congress, I’ll fight for funding for infrastructure projects in the district to invest in high-quality, affordable housing options. We also have to invest in social services that help people stay off the streets in the first place. In Congress, I will push to invest in expanded mental health services, drug treatment programs, food assistance programs such as SNAP and WIC, and job training programs.
Who won the 2020 election?
President Joe Biden won the 2020 election—fair and square. Extremist Republicans and President Trump’s attempts to overturn the election were reprehensible. We need leaders in Washington who will be brave enough to stand up to those who try to take away our rights and protect our right to vote—not justify violent mobs and spread misconceptions about our election Processes. Nearly two years after the fact, Lori Chavez-DeRemer still could not give a clear answer as to whether the 2020 election was legitimate. She defended the mob at the Capitol, claimed violent insurrectionists were being “held without due process,” and then had the audacity to blame the media instead of the one person actually responsible for the violence: Donald Trump. She’s spent her time in Congress sowing doubt about the Oregon election process, and she even called for repealing mail-in voting in Oregon. We can’t count on her.
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Will you commit to certify the 2024 election results, regardless of the victor?
Absolutely, that is the way democracy works. We must listen to the will of the American people. In Congress, I will always stand up to protect our democracy and fight to ensure every American citizen has access to the ballot box. It’s not lost on me that I am literally one generation away from segregation. I understand what is at stake. I have consistently advocated for measures that protect and expand access to the ballot box, including supporting legislation that removes barriers to voting and working to combat voter suppression. In Congress, I’ll support efforts to shore up and protect our voting rights, like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and For the People Act.
Would you support a federal ban on abortion? Why or why not?
No. The right to choose if and when to start a family should be between a woman and her doctor – not politicians. I fought hard to protect access to abortion in the Oregon state legislature and I will go to Washington to do the same. It’s important to know that even in Oregon our rights are at risk. MAGA republicans and Lori Chavez-DeRemer have made it clear that they will pass a national abortion ban, which could even override Oregon’s protections, and they won’t stop there. They’ll go after access to IVF and contraception. I will go to Washington to stand up to these extremists and pass federal legislation to protect access to abortion and reproductive health care.
Intel has close connections with the Israeli government and the nation itself and its 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 believe in the safety and security of our democratic ally Israel. I also believe we need to protect innocent Gazans and humanitarian workers. There must be a ceasefire immediately. I agree with the long history of bipartisan support for a two-state solution that advances the goal of peace – and we must do everything possible to expedite that process. It is essential to have bilateral negotiations to get the parties to the table to find a long-term solution that protects the innocent civilians in Israel and Gaza and gets the hostages out of Hamas’ captivity while recognizing Israel as a Jewish State. We must also continue delivering humanitarian aid to those starving in Gaza – and we must ensure the safety and security of aid workers trying desperately to deliver this aid.
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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?
Immigration is a top concern for voters, and both parties have dropped the ball on finding reforms. I absolutely would have supported the bipartisan immigration bill – this was the toughest border security deal in decades. The plan would have increased funding for border security, added 1,500 more Customs and Border Protection agents, and added new asylum officers. Critically, this measure would have protected Oregon families by finally stopping the flow of fentanyl across our border and helping to put an end to the drug crisis in our state. Yet, Lori Chavez-DeRemer opposed this bill because Donald Trump decided he wanted to campaign on it.
Comprehensive immigration reform starts with a border where the law is enforced, people are treated humanely and with dignity, and family unity is a priority. And that means putting enough resources and personnel along the border to ensure a swift, secure, and orderly response.
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?
Oregon voters are sick and tired of extreme partisanship in Washington, and my opponent has stood by the most extreme members of her party. In Congress, I will commit to work with both parties to deliver solutions for Oregonians. I have a strong record of passing bipartisan legislation in the Oregon state legislature. I worked with both parties to pass the Oregon CHIPS Act, the most pro-business, pro-worker, pro-Oregon collaboration in history. I also helped pass bipartisan legislation to protect reproductive rights, grow our local economy, create jobs, and increase wages here in Oregon. And I’m not afraid to stand up to my own party when I believe it’s best for Oregonians. I stood up to Democrats when it became clear that Measure 110 wasn’t working and voted to re-criminalize hard drugs to protect our communities. I’ll work with anyone - Democrat, Republican, or Independent - to stand up for Oregon.