In the closely watched congressional race for Oregon’s 5th District, Democrat Janelle Bynum holds a narrow lead over incumbent Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer. The results, released Wednesday, did not significantly change the balance between the two candidates, with both campaigns remaining relatively quiet and expressing confidence in their paths to victory. Clackamas County, where a mail ballot sorter broke down, has been catching up on processing ballots, with a voter turnout estimated at 71%.
This race is crucial in the larger fight for control of the U.S. House and may have an impact on the results. The 5th District has recently undergone redistricting, adding a new district and changing the composition of the existing one. In the 2022 election, Republicans surprisingly gained control of the House, but Democrats hoped to retake the 5th District in 2024.
The campaign leading up to this election has been marked by contentious debates on various issues, including endorsements of Donald Trump, support for anti-abortion legislation, police accountability, and prisoner releases during COVID-19. The district has more registered Democrats than Republicans, but both are overshadowed by unaffiliated voters.
Overall, the race between Bynum and Chavez-DeRemer remains too close to call, with thousands of ballots still to be counted. The outcome could have a significant impact on the composition of the U.S. House moving forward.
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