Progressive and establishment Democrats vie for US House seats in Oregon primaries.
In a critical presidential election year, two Democratic primaries for U.S. House seats in Oregon are poised to reveal whether the party’s voters are leaning more toward progressive or establishment factions. The state’s 3rd Congressional District, encompassing much of liberal Portland, will see its first open Democratic primary since 1996 following the retirement of U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer.
Leading in fundraising are two candidates with similar platforms: Maxine Dexter, a two-term state representative and doctor, and Susheela Jayapal, a former county commissioner endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Notably, Jayapal is the sister of U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal from Washington state, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
On the other hand, the state’s 5th Congressional District is anticipated to witness one of the most competitive races in the nation, following the GOP’s 2022 flip of the district for the first time in roughly 25 years. Janelle Bynum, supported by congressional Democrats, is being positioned as having a better chance of winning in November compared to progressive Jamie McLeod-Skinner, who narrowly lost the 2022 midterm primary and later the general election.
Endorsements from key Democrats, including Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and three of the state’s U.S. representatives, have rallied around Bynum. Furthermore, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee named Bynum to its “Red to Blue” program, providing her with organizational and financial support.
Nevertheless, a late surge of spending from a political action committee supporting McLeod-Skinner has sparked concerns about potential Republican interference to boost a progressive candidate perceived as easier to defeat in a general election.
McLeod-Skinner, an attorney with a history in various local governments, emphasizes her ability to bring together rural and urban voters. Conversely, Bynum, hailing from Washington, D.C., holds small business committee experience in the Oregon House and owns multiple McDonald’s franchises.
Both candidates have engineering backgrounds and align on key policy issues like abortion protections, healthcare cost reduction, and climate change mitigation. As of late, Bynum has outpaced McLeod-Skinner in fundraising, although much of the race’s monetary influx stems from outside groups.
External spending has notably involved PACs like Mainstream Democrats and the 314 Action Fund, with the latter focusing on electing Democrats with science backgrounds to Congress. Criticisms of “dark money” in the races have been vocalized by Jayapal and McLeod-Skinner, with accusations of Republican involvement.
In the midst of intriguing dynamics shaping the Democratic primaries in Oregon, the upcoming elections are likely to showcase the party’s ideological choices between pragmatism and idealism.
