Oregon Democrats are increasing their efforts to rescue themselves from what could be an embarrassing Election Night. Democrats and national special interest groups are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to try and defend three-term incumbent Representative Janelle Bynum (D-Clackamas) in House District 39 in Clackamas County.

Since the May primary, Representative Bynum has reported raising $2,337,783.97 in cash and in-kind contributions. Many of her donations have been from untraceable entities, such as the House Democratic Caucus (Future PAC) and the Democrat Party of Oregon, both of which receive donations and then send them to candidates, such as Bynum. She has also been a recipient of much union money -- especially government employee unions.

Bynum has been a thorn in the side of previous House Democratic Leadership, even challenging then-Speaker Tina Kotek for her Speakership.

According to Republican State Leadership Committee Spokesman Zach Kraft, "The idea Democrats would need to have a 4:1 spending advantage to win a reliably blue district like this would have been inconceivable just a few months ago, and speaks to how much of a failure Democrat control has been for Oregon. Democrats are clearly hoping their last-minute avalanche of cash and 4x spending advantage will allow them to avoid voter backlash over their disastrous agenda."

Largest Bynum Contributors Since May 2022 Primary
Contributor/Payee	Amount
Future PAC, House Builders	$1,157,236
Citizen Action for Political Education (SEIU 503)	$194,523
Democratic Party of Oregon	$187,998
Oregon Education Association-PAC	$51,400
Oregon Education Association	$35,000
Oregon AFSCME Council 75	$30,000
Oregon League of Conservation Voters PAC	$28,445
Defend Oregon's Values	$27,500
Oregon Nurses Political Action Committee	$26,021
Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters	$25,000
Oregon Trial Lawyers Association PAC	$15,666
Local 48 Electricians PAC	$10,000
Oregon Operators Mutual Benefit Corporation	$10,000

Kraft says, “House District 39 is a microcosm for what is happening across Oregon -- voters are rejecting the Democrats’ radical liberal agenda and they are in full-blown panic mode,” said RSLC spokesman Zach Kraft. “Democrats are hoping they can cover up for Janelle Bynum’s soft-on-crime record by ramping up their investments in her candidacy at the 11th hour, just like they are doing in districts all across Oregon. If Democrats don’t defend their majorities after spending millions in a deep-blue state that Biden carried by 16 points in 2020, it will be a failure of epic proportions and show just how much their socialist policies are being rejected.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-11-03 11:38:18

Last Update: 2022-11-03 11:47:13