Black Women in Politics: Janelle Bynum Makes History and Becomes Oregon’s First Black Member of Congress – Essence

Oregon House Representative Janelle Bynum made history with a landmark victory in Oregon’s fifth Congressional District race. She will turn out to be the primary black lawmaker to represent Oregon in Congress.

After a decent battle with incumbent Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Bynum becomes the district’s first black representative, a major achievement in an area where black residents make up just 3% of the population.

Bynum led Chavez-DeRemer 47.8% to 45%as of Friday, he had a lead of greater than 10,000 votes in a district that covers parts of six counties. It would allow Democrats to retake the district that Chavez-DeRemer, the previous mayor of Happy Valley, flipped to Republican control in 2022 after being rezoned in the 2020 census.

Bynum expressed gratitude to her voters. “I am extremely honored that my neighbors have chosen me to be the next congresswoman from Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District,” she said in a press release after Oregonian/OregonLive called a race. “My work has always been a love letter to the children of Oregon. I ran for office to brighten their futures, and I will do just that in Washington, D.C. – for their education, reproductive freedoms, job opportunities and so much more.”

At 49, Bynum entered the race with an exceptional advantage after defeating Chavez-DeRemer twice in the previous state election. Her campaign gained strong financial support, raising over $1 million greater than her opponent, signaling strong local and national support.

This victory is personal for Bynum, who was born in Washington. “As a minority in many rooms, I am used to having to listen to multiple points of view and build consensus,” she said in a recent interview with ESSENCE. “Oregon would hire someone who solves problems, someone who shakes up the status quo.”

The daughter of two teachers and one generation faraway from segregation, Bynum brings a dual commitment to public service and business. She is a wife, mother of three and owner of 4 McDonald’s franchises in Oregon, combining her commitment to community with local entrepreneurship.

The centerpiece of the election was Oregon’s fifth Congressional District, stretching from the suburbs of Portland, through the Willamette Valley, the Cascade Mountains and into the high desert. President Joe Biden carried the district in 2020. Bynum’s campaign resonated with voters by prioritizing community-based solutions for public safety, education and economic equity.

With over 543,000 voters in the district – a few third Democrat, third Republican and third unaffiliated – Bynum’s victory shows how vital swing voters were. While each parties had strong bases, her victory reflects the political divide in the district and strengthens Democrats’ hopes for changing the balance in Congress.