First-term Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Democratic challenger Janelle Bynum engaged in a heated debate on Oct. 8, tackling issues such as abortion, immigration, and crime. The 5th Congressional District of Oregon, considered a tossup by the Cook Political Report, is witnessing one of the most competitive races in the country.
Chavez-DeRemer, who is the first Republican to represent the district in decades and also a former mayor and business owner, emphasized her commitment to securing the border, lowering inflation, and protecting Oregonians from crime and chaos. On the other hand, Bynum criticized Chavez-DeRemer for her support of former President Donald Trump throughout the debate.
Abortion emerged as a key topic during their exchange. While Oregon currently has no legal restrictions on abortion, Bynum campaigned on the threat of a national abortion ban. She vowed to pass legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade if elected.
Chavez-DeRemer denied supporting any form of abortion ban or voting for bills that would impose such bans at a national level. She argued that since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Dobbs ruling, it is now up to individual states to decide their own laws regarding abortion.
The candidates also clashed over drug addiction and mental health services in Oregon. Bynum defended her support for Measure 110—a voter-approved measure that decriminalized hard drugs but was later rolled back due to its negative impact on drug addiction rates—by stating that it aimed to address inadequate mental health support and lack of addiction treatment programs.
Chavez-DeRemer criticized Measure 110 as a “failed experiment” responsible for an increase in overdoses across Oregon.
Immigration policy was another contentious issue between them. Chavez-DeRemer stressed the need for securing America’s southern border to address illegal immigration while ensuring national security against potential threats like individuals on terror watch lists entering undetected.
Bynum advocated for fast-track hearings at borders while rejecting scapegoating immigrants who contribute positively to society economically and culturally.
Both candidates acknowledged supporting farmers and ranchers who rely on immigrant labor within their district’s agricultural industry.
With more than 187k nonaffiliated voters compared to around 170k Democrats and nearly 145k Republicans in this narrowly divided district according to April’s voter registration data from Oregon’s secretary of state office; bipartisanship will be crucial for whoever represents this area effectively.