Democrat Janelle Bynum unseated Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer in Oregon’s 5th District, the Associated Press said Thursday.
Bynum, a former engineer who represents the Portland suburbs in the state legislature, will be the first Black person to represent Oregon in Congress. Her campaign tied Chavez-DeRemer, a first-term Republican, to her national party by pointing out times she took party-line votes. Bynum pledged to protect retiree benefits like Social Security and Medicare.
Bynum was ahead of Chavez-DeRemer 48%-45% with 94% of the estimated vote counted, according to unofficial returns. Chavez-DeRemer also issued a concession statement Thursday.