Following the Congressional District 5 primaries nominating Republican Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair and incumbent Democrat Janelle Bynum, one nominee is calling for debates. Commissioner Adair issued the following challenge to Congresswoman Bynum:
Today, Deschutes County Commissioner and Republican nominee for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, Patti Adair, challenged Congresswoman Janelle Bynum to 3 debates. Commissioner Adair stated the following:
“Today, I am calling on Congresswoman Bynum to participate in three televised debates. One debate hosted by a TV station in the Portland market, one hosted by a TV station in the Bend market, and one live-streamed and hosted by an organization or several organizations in conjunction with a newspaper or radio outlet.
I am calling for the debates to occur between the dates of September 8th and October 19th, with a schedule agreement deadline of Wednesday, July 22nd. If Bynum refuses to participate in the debates and defend her record, then the debates should proceed without her, and the hosts should leave an empty podium with her name on it.
I have logged tens of thousands of miles criss-crossing the 5th Congressional District since I launched my campaign in November. Across the district, I have been told consistently by working families that they feel Janelle Bynum is just another out-of-touch politician. Democrats and NAVs constantly tell me that they are frustrated and disappointed by Bynum’s extreme partisanship, ineffectiveness, and obstructionism. Time after time, she has voted for legislation that has made life more unaffordable for Oregon families and undermined public safety. She campaigned on bipartisanship, but her record is the exact opposite. She is one of the most extreme and partisan members in Congress today. She has an obligation to the voters of the 5th congressional district to explain herself.”
Congresswoman Bynum has not replied to a request for comment. In 2024, she debated future US Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer three times.
Rilie Ashby, founder of Willamette Valley Young Republicans, spoke favorably of Commissioner Adair’s challenge:
I am encouraged to see CD5 candidate Patti Adair calling for televised debates between herself and her opponent, Janelle Bynum. Giving voters the opportunity to hear directly from their candidates on the issues that matter most is incredibly important. Debates offer a valuable platform to assess the knowledge, leadership, and skills each candidate brings to serve our community.
Editor’s Note
Right Now Oregon, LLC President Alex McHaddad is the Treasurer of Young Republicans of Oregon, which endorsed Commissioner Patti Adair for Congressional District 5. Right Now Oregon, LLC has no editorial stance on the CD5 race and does not intend to endorse any candidate.
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