Lori Chavez-DeRemer, candidate for Oregon's 5th Congressional District, seen in this undated photo provided by the campaign.
Courtesy of the campaign
Editor’s note: Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Stay informed with OPB on the presidential race, key congressional battles and other local contests and ballot measures in Oregon and Southwest Washington at opb.org/elections.
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 state Rep. Janelle Bynum’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.
My name is Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and I’m a proud mom of twin daughters, a wife, and a small business owner. I grew up in a farm community and became the first in my family to graduate from college. Now, I’m honored to represent Oregon’s 5th District in Congress. Before being elected to this position, I had been involved in local government for nearly two decades. Like all parents, my husband and I wanted our daughters to grow up in a safe and thriving community, which sparked my passion for getting involved. I worked my way up in city government and eventually served as the mayor of Happy Valley for eight years, helping launch it into Oregon’s fastest-growing community. In this position, there were no “Republican” problems or “Democrat” problems – only problems that needed to be addressed. I know how to put politics aside to get the job done.
Why should you be elected to represent this district?
I quickly built a strong record of delivering bipartisan results for the 5th District – gaining unique hands-on experience and developing critical relationships with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. During the fiscal year 2024 appropriations process, I successfully secured over $27 million in infrastructure and public safety investments for communities across the district. A bill I introduced to reduce homelessness among veterans, known as the HOME Act, has passed the House – along with several other bills I led to improve government oversight and accountability, tackle the fentanyl crisis, and expand access to affordable health care. Additionally, I have made constituent service a top priority. From social security to veterans’ benefits, my office has returned over $4.5 million to constituents through casework, and we have closed well over 800 cases. I will continue to be a fighter for the 5th District and address the issues impacting our communities.
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What is the most pressing challenge facing your district? What is your proposed solution to that problem? Please be specific.
As families continue facing elevated prices at their grocery stores and gas stations, I’m working to rein in the out-of-control spending that has devalued the dollar and driven up costs. For example, the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act, which was signed into law last summer by President Biden, will save taxpayers $2.1 trillion over the next six years. I’m also working to make life more affordable for working families by providing tax relief. I strongly supported the House-passed Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act – another bipartisan proposal that would allow parents to keep more of their hard-earned money to pay for things like child care, groceries, and utilities. With 40 percent of Oregon parents reporting that they have changed career plans because they couldn’t find affordable child care, I’m also working to improve accessibility through the bipartisan Child Care Investment Act.
Who won the 2020 election?
Joe Biden
Will you commit to certify the 2024 election results, regardless of the victor?
I have already signed a bipartisan pledge led by democracyFIRST, which has also been signed by several members of Oregon’s congressional delegation, stating that we will “accept the final election result and certify the results in accordance with the law after all ballots are counted. We will support the peaceful transfer of power and certification of the election. Any claims of election irregularities, or requests for recounts of election contests, will be reviewed in good faith under the law without intimidation, violence, undermining faith in elections through disinformation or other unlawful means.”
Related: Issues important to Oregon voters
Would you support a federal ban on abortion? Why or why not?
In its ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court gave individual states the authority to decide abortion laws – placing power into the hands of voters in every state. By codifying abortion without limits, Oregonians have made it very clear they want access. Since the federal government no longer has jurisdiction over this issue, and because the people of Oregon have spoken loud and clear in favor of abortion access, I have promised to oppose any national policies that would fundamentally change access to abortion for women in Oregon – and that includes a federal ban.
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?
Last October, Israel was brutally attacked by Hamas terrorists who raped and massacred innocent women and children simply for being Israeli and Jewish. Tragically, the unprovoked violence unleashed by Hamas has now resulted in thousands of injuries and deaths, including American citizens. I have made my position clear: As our strongest democratic ally in the Middle East, the United States must do everything possible to support Israel and its right to self-defense. This is particularly important as Iran and its terrorist proxies have acted with increasing aggression and hostility. Sadly, college campuses across the country have also seen a disturbing rise in antisemitic activity since the terrorist attack, including at Portland State University. As a member of the Education and Workforce Committee, I’ve made it a top priority to stand up for Jewish students through legislation like the Civil Rights Protection Act.
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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 an issue that is personal to me because my great-grandmother’s family left Mexico and entered the United States legally to pursue the American Dream. I want to ensure future generations are afforded the same opportunities that my family has had and recognize the important role immigration plays in benefitting our society and strengthening our workforce and economy. We are a proud nation of immigrants. Unfortunately, we have an ongoing humanitarian crisis at the southern border that has created dangerous and life-threatening conditions for migrants. That’s why I have helped introduce commonsense, bipartisan legislation like the Dignity Act and the Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act, which would both help fix our broken immigration system while improving border security. Although a bipartisan immigration bill never reached the House floor, I would welcome an opportunity to consider an immigration and border security package that has been negotiated by both parties.
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 had the second-most bipartisan voting record last year because I’m not afraid to stand up and do what’s best for the 5th District. I’ll work with anyone interested in passing pragmatic legislation to make our communities better places to work, live, and raise our children. Of the over 300 bills that I cosponsor, more than 80 percent of them are bipartisan. All of the standalone bills I’ve introduced and passed through the House, including efforts to reduce homelessness among veterans and improve government oversight and accountability, have received broad bipartisan support, either advancing by voice vote or with over 400 votes. It doesn’t matter which party is in the majority; either way, we live in an increasingly divided country, and taking a bipartisan approach is the only way to break through gridlock, get things done, and move our state and our country in the right direction.