More than a week after Election Day, Oregon Republican Rep. Lori Chavez Delemer was ousted by her Democratic challenger in the state's 5th Congressional District, state Rep. Janelle Bynum, the Associated Press reported Thursday, more than a week after Election Day. It was reported that
With this victory, the Republican majority in the House will shrink to 218 seats and the Democratic majority to 209 seats.
As of Thursday, 94% had reported, giving Bynum a lead of more than two points with 9,575 votes to 184,023 votes to Chavez Delemer's 174,448 votes. The race was rated a colossal failure in the FOX News Power Rankings.
Chavez Delemer defeated his Democratic opponent by two points and was elected to Congress in 2022. With this victory, Chavez Delemer becomes the first woman to represent Oregon in the House of Representatives.
Mr. Bynum previously defeated Chavez Delemer in the Oregon House of Representatives several times and was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 2016, where he has served on the Small Business Committee. She is also the owner of four McDonald's franchises.
Pacific Northwest could decide which party controls the House
Oregon Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (left) faces off against Congresswoman Lori Chavez Delemer in OR-05. (Fox News)
Both candidates have waged a contentious campaign in recent months, with Bynum attempting to link Chavez Delemer to President-elect Donald Trump and his positions on abortion, and the congressman's accusations of crime and illegality. He criticized Mr. Bynum on immigration.
Fox News Digital first reported last month that Bynum was the subject of an ethics complaint for failing to properly report allegations of sexual harassment and assault against PAC staffers who worked on his campaign. Mr. Bynum denied these allegations, which were hotly contested by both candidates in multiple debates.
'Incendiary device' ignites at polling place in Portland, Oregon
Janelle Bynum is a Democrat running for the Oregon State Assembly. (Congresswoman Janelle Bynum)
Election experts predicted that the fight between Mr. Chavez, Mr. Delemer and Mr. Bynum could play a key role in determining which party controls Congress.
In the final stages of the campaign, celebrities endorsed both candidates, with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson running against Chavez Delemer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stumbling on Bynum.
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Republican Rep. Lori Chavez Delemer previously served as mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon. (AP Photo/Steve DiPaola, File)
Oregon's recently redrawn 5th Congressional District covers most of Linn, Clackamas and Deschutes counties, and parts of Multnomah and Marion counties.
