by Julia Shumway, Oregon Capital Chronicle
August 13, 2024
Contenders in one of the country’s most competitive congressional elections are poised to meet on the debate stage three times over the course of a week in October.
State Rep. Janelle Bynum, the Democrat challenging first-term Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District announced Tuesday that she has agreed to three debates, hosted by Portland-based TV station KOIN and Bend-based TV stations KTVZ and Central Oregon Daily. Chavez-DeRemer previously agreed to those three debates and a fourth hosted by Portland-based KATU, which Bynum didn’t accept.
“It’s disappointing, but not surprising, to see Janelle Bynum is trying to hide from her record by refusing to accept all four televised debate offers,” Chavez-DeRemer senior campaign adviser Nick Trainer said. “That won’t stop us from highlighting the fact that Janelle Bynum has had a front-row seat to failed policies that have spelled disaster for Oregon, including Measure 110 and supporting proposals to make it harder for police to do their jobs.”
The KOIN debate will be held Oct. 8, the KTVZ debate on Oct. 10 and the Central Oregon Daily debate on Oct. 15. Central Oregon Daily plans to partner with Bend’s daily newspaper, The Bulletin, radio station KBND, the Central Oregon City Club and the League of Women Voters on its debate. Ballots will be mailed to most voters beginning Oct. 16, and Election Day is Nov. 5.
Bynum first challenged Chavez-DeRemer in June to three debates – one hosted by a TV station in the Portland market, one hosted by a TV station in the Bend market and one live-streamed and hosted by an organization or several organizations in conjunction with a print or radio news outlet. Chavez-DeRemer responded by agreeing to four TV debates.
“I look forward to debating Lori Chavez-DeRemer and hearing her explanation for going to Washington and prioritizing extreme partisan politics at the expense of Oregonians,” Bynum said in a statement. “I’ll share my record of protecting reproductive rights, lowering costs and creating good-paying jobs in the state Legislature, and my vision for Oregon. In Congress, I’ll fight tirelessly to pass federal abortion protections, grow our economy and address the housing crisis.”
The two women have faced off twice before in legislative elections, both of which Bynum won. Democrats in Oregon and nationwide are counting on her to flip the crucial 5th District, which runs from Bend to Portland and voted for Democratic President Joe Biden in 2020.
Chavez-DeRemer, who also has national backing, is fighting to keep her seat. She released her first television ad of the general election on Tuesday, a 30-second spot describing herself as an effective legislator despite politics being a “mess.” The ad highlights Chavez-DeRemer’s opposition to tolls and fentanyl, though bills she introduced to block tolling have not passed.
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