The three Democratic incumbents in Oregon’s congressional swing districts significantly outpaced their Republican opponents in fundraising during the third quarter of 2023. Federal campaign finance records indicate that this fundraising trend comes just weeks before the November 3 general election.
U.S. Representative Val Hoyle, who represents Oregon’s 4th Congressional District, raised $365,000, outperforming Republican challenger Monique DeSpain by $150,000. Hoyle previously won her seat by nearly 8 percentage points in 2021.
In the 5th Congressional District, which spans the Santiam Canyon from Portland to Bend, Democrat U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum reported raising $857,000, almost $630,000 more than her Republican competitor, Patti Adair, who raised about $225,000 this quarter. Bynum maintains $2.3 million in her campaign account, the highest among candidates in Oregon’s U.S. House races.
Meanwhile, Democratic U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas in the 6th Congressional District raised $277,000, while her opponent, former Dundee Mayor David Russ, reported a mere $250.
Overall, candidates in Oregon’s congressional races raised approximately $2.8 million and spent $3.2 million over the last three months. Nearly 60% of these funds were allocated to candidates in the 4th and 5th Congressional Districts.
Janelle Bynum leads in expenditure as well, having spent $1.2 million this quarter, while Patti Adair spent $174,000, leaving her with $186,000 in her campaign account.
In the 1st Congressional District, Democratic U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici reported raising $197,000, far surpassing her Republican opponent, Barbara Kahl, who raised nearly $13,000. In the 2nd Congressional District, Republican U.S. Representative Cliff Bentz raised $266,000, while his Democratic challenger, Chris Beck, garnered $161,000, leaving him with $125,000 in his campaign fund.
U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter from the Portland-based 3rd Congressional District raised $221,000, while her Republican challenger, Loran Ayles, did not report any fundraising, as Ayles has not met the $5,000 threshold required for financial reporting.
In conjunction with these congressional races, Democratic U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley reported raising approximately $666,000 this quarter as he seeks reelection against Republican state Senator David Brock Smith. Merkley currently holds $6.8 million in his campaign account, compared to Brock Smith’s $50,000.
