Janelle Sojourner Bynum (née Irick; born January 31, 1975) is an American politician and businesswoman serving as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives. She is a member of the Democratic Party and currently represents the 39th district, which covers northern Clackamas County, including most of Happy Valley and parts of Oregon City, Milwaukie and the surrounding area.
Janelle Bynum | |
|---|---|
 Janelle Bynum in 2017 | |
| Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 5th district | |
| Assuming office January 3, 2025 | |
| Succeeding | Lori Chávez-DeRemer |
| Member of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Shemia Fagan |
| Constituency | 51st district (2017–2023) 39th district (2023–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Janelle Sojourner Irick January 31, 1975 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mark Bynum |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Florida A&M University (BA) University of Michigan (MBA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
First elected to Oregon's legislature in 2016, Bynum previously represented the state's 51st district, which covered southern Multnomah County and northern Clackamas County, including the southeasternmost part of Portland, most of Happy Valley and Damascus, and the surrounding area.
On November 5, 2024, Bynum was elected to the United States House of Representatives representing Oregon's 5th district after defeating incumbent Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer. She will be the first Black member of Congress from Oregon.
Early life and education
editBynum grew up in Washington, D.C.[1][2] After attending The Madeira School,[3] she graduated with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Florida A&M University in 1996 and with a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Michigan in the year 2000.[4]
As a student at Florida A&M University, Bynum received a scholarship from Boeing, and later served as a summer associate for the company.[5] After graduating from college, Bynum worked at General Motors as a steering systems engineer while pursuing her MBA.[6]
Career
editEarly career
editWhile at General Motors, she was in Taiwan for a week following the 9/11 terrorist attacks' impact on air travel.[6] Following this experience, in 2002, Bynum relocated to Clackamas County to help her mother-in-law run a McDonald's franchise.[6][7]
Oregon House of Representatives
editIn 2016, after incumbent Shemia Fagan opted not to seek re-election to her seat in Oregon House District 51, Bynum filed to run as a Democrat in the May 2016 primary election. Bynum won the Democratic primary over Randy Shannon, a former member of the Damascus City Council, receiving 66% of the vote.[8] In the general election, she defeated Republican candidate Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the mayor of Happy Valley, by a 51% to 49% margin in what was considered one of the most competitive House races for the 2016 cycle.[9][10][11][12]
Bynum, who is Black, was reported to the police as a "suspicious person" while canvassing a neighborhood in her district in 2018.[13] Bynum again faced Chavez-DeRemer, whom she defeated with 53% of the vote.[14] In 2020, Bynum won re-election against Republican Jane Hays, a school administrator, and Libertarian candidate Donald Crawford.[15][16]
In 2019, Bynum cast the sole vote in Oregon's House of Representatives against bill that would give more time for rape survivors to file civil suits extending the statute of limitations.[17] In 2020, Bynum and other state legislators pressed Governor Kate Brown to release nearly 2,000 state prison inmates, about 14 percent of Oregon’s inmate population, commuting their sentences.[18]
In January 2022, after Tina Kotek resigned her position to focus on her run for Governor,[19] Bynum ran for the position of Oregon Speaker of the House against Representative Dan Rayfield of Corvallis.[20] In a closed-door meeting, Rayfield defeated Bynum for the Democratic caucus nomination for Speaker.[21] Despite losing her party's nomination for Speaker, in February 2022, Bynum was the first Black person in Oregon's history to receive votes for Speaker of the House when she received four votes for Speaker.[22][23][24]
In 2022, following redistricting, Bynum was drawn into the 39th District which no longer included East Portland and parts of Gresham and instead covered parts of unincorporated Clackamas County.[25] Though the race was considered competitive by The Oregonian in early November 2022,[26] she ultimately defeated Republican candidate Kori Haynes by a 10-point margin.[25]
As of 2023, Bynum served as chair of the House Committee on Economic Development and Small Business.[27] In April 2023, as Chief Sponsor, Bynum supported the passage of Senate Bill 4, the Oregon CHIPS Act, a $210 million initiative to strengthen the state's semiconductor industry. The act provides funding for grants, loans, research, and land development to attract semiconductor companies and promote advanced manufacturing in Oregon.[28] Bynum retired from the Oregon House of Representatives to run for congress, and will be succeeded by April Dobson in January 2025.[29]
2024 congressional campaign
editOn June 21, 2023, Bynum announced she would seek the Democratic nomination for Oregon's 5th congressional district, a seat currently held by her 2016 and 2018 Republican opponent Lori Chavez-DeRemer.[27] In January 2024, the DCCC named Bynum to its "Red to Blue" program, giving her access to increased fundraising, training, and guidance from the national Democratic Party.[30] On May 21, 2024, Bynum easily defeated Jamie McLeod-Skinner in the Democratic primary.[31]
On November 5, 2024, Bynum won the general election after defeating incumbent Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who she had previously defeated twice in state-level races.[32] The race was the 11th most expensive in the 2024 cycle, drawing over $26 million in outside spending.[32] Bynum is the first black member of Congress elected in Oregon.[32]
Personal life
editBynum and her husband, Mark, have four children.[1] They own several McDonald's franchises in the Portland area.[33][34] She is a Christian.[4]
Electoral history
edit2024
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Janelle Bynum | 191,365 | 47.69 | |
| Republican | Lori Chavez-DeRemer (incumbent) | 180,420 | 44.96 | |
| Independent | Brett Smith | 18,665 | 4.65 | |
| Libertarian | Sonja Feintech | 6,193 | 1.54 | |
| Pacific Green | Andrea Townsend | 4,155 | 1.04 | |
| Write-in | 495 | 0.12 | ||
| Total votes | 401,293 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Janelle Bynum | 55,473 | 69.43 | |
| Democratic | Jamie McLeod-Skinner | 23,905 | 29.92 | |
| Write-in | 510 | 0.63 | ||
| Total votes | 79,888 | 100.0 | ||
2022
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Janelle Bynum (incumbent) | 15,678 | 54.96 | |
| Republican | Kori Haynes | 12,801 | 44.87 | |
| Write-in | 48 | 0.17 | ||
| Total votes | 28,527 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Janelle Bynum (incumbent) | 4,885 | 98.63 | |
| Write-in | 68 | 1.37 | ||
| Total votes | 4,953 | 100.0 | ||
2020
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Janelle Bynum (incumbent) | 18,939 | 52.83 | |
| Republican | Jane Hays | 15,466 | 43.15 | |
| Libertarian | Don Crawford | 1,393 | 3.89 | |
| Write-in | 48 | 0.13 | ||
| Total votes | 35,846 | 100.0 | ||
2018
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Janelle Bynum (incumbent) | 14,843 | 53.92 | |
| Republican | Lori Chavez-DeRemer | 12,620 | 45.85 | |
| Write-in | 63 | 0.23 | ||
| Total votes | 27,526 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Janelle Bynum (Incumbent) | 3,405 | 98.04 | |
| Write-in | 68 | 1.96 | ||
| Total votes | 3,405 | 100.0 | ||
2016
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Janelle Bynum | 14,310 | 50.85 | |
| Republican | Lori Chavez-DeRemer | 13,746 | 48.85 | |
| Write-in | 86 | 0.30 | ||
| Total votes | 28,142 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Janelle Bynum | 4,218 | 68.91 | |
| Democratic | Randy Shannon | 1,827 | 29.85 | |
| Write-in | 76 | 1.24 | ||
| Total votes | 6,121 | 100.0 | ||
References
edit- ^ a b "State Representative Janelle Bynum". Democratic Party of Oregon. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (October 18, 2016). "Janelle Bynum Brought Family Leave to East Portland McDonald's Workers". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ Crombie, Noelle (May 26, 2021). "Rep. Janelle Bynum emerges as police reform leader". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Janelle Bynum's Biography". Vote Smart. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ "Janelle Bynum -Higher Heights for America PAC". www.higherheightsforamericapac.org. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Janelle Bynum". Girls Like You and Me. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "The Only Black Woman in Oregon's House Tries To Keep Seat". Governing. November 2, 2022. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "Democrats pick Janelle Bynum to challenge Happy Valley Mayor Lori Chavez-DeRemer for HD51". Portland Tribune. May 18, 2016. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
- ^ Sevcenko, Melanie (January 12, 2017). "State Representative Janelle Bynum Breaks Records, Barriers". The Skanner. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (November 9, 2016). "Oregon's Most Expensive House Race Will End With Narrow Victory for Janelle Bynum". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ Lehman, Chris (October 31, 2016). "The Road To Legislative Control In Oregon Leads Through The Suburbs". Northwest News Network. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ Zaveri, Mihir (July 5, 2018). "A Black Oregon Lawmaker Was Knocking on Doors. Someone Called the Police". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
- ^ a b "November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ "WW's November 2020 Endorsements: Oregon House". Willamette Week. October 14, 2020. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ Douglass, Joe (May 21, 2019). "Lawmaker casts sole vote against bill that would give more time for rape survivors to sue". KATU. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Noelle Crombie | The (June 16, 2020). "Group of Oregon lawmakers press governor to release nearly 2,000 inmates early over coronavirus risk". oregonlive.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek resigning to focus on governor's race". opb. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "House Democrats will vote this weekend for likely next Oregon speaker". opb. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "Rep. Dan Rayfield is likely to be Oregon's next House speaker". opb. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "Julia Shumway on X: "Rep. @DanRayfield is the next Speaker of the Oregon House. Final vote: 32 Rayfield, 18 Breese-Iverson, 4 Bynum. #orleg #orpol"". Twitter. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Radnovich, Connor (February 2, 2022). "First day of session: Call for empathy, then a public protest". Register-Guard.
- ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Hillary Borrud | The (February 2, 2022). "Oregon Democrats skipped chance to nominate first speaker of color. Secrecy makes it unclear why". oregonlive. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Oregonian/OregonLive, Aimee Green | The (November 14, 2022). "Democratic Rep. Janelle Bynum wins re-election to Happy Valley seat". oregonlive. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Aimee Green | The (November 2, 2022). "Rep. Janelle Bynum works to win over new swath of Clackamas County voters in competitive House race against newcomer Kori Haynes". oregonlive. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Jaquiss, Nigel (June 21, 2023). "State Rep. Janelle Bynum Officially Enters 5th Congressional District Race". Willamette Week. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ Shumway, Julia (April 6, 2023). "House passes $210 million Oregon CHIPS Act to fund semiconductor industry • Oregon Capital Chronicle". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ "Janelle Bynum flips US House District and will become Oregon's first Black member of Congress". opb. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ Shumway, Julia (January 29, 2024). "National Democratic campaign backs Janelle Bynum for Oregon's 5th District". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ Dole, Bryce (May 21, 2024). "Janelle Bynum defeats Jamie McLeod-Skinner in Democratic race for Oregon's 5th Congressional District". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ a b c Dole, Bryce (November 8, 2024). "Democrat Janelle Bynum flips Oregon's most high-profile US House district". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ Monahan, Rachel (December 2, 2020). "What's It Like to Run a McDonald's During a Pandemic? The Orders Get Larger". Willamette Week. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ Greenidge, Jomo (March 13, 2016). "Janelle Bynum announces candidacy for the Oregon Legislature in House District 51". Black PDX. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ "November 5, 2024, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "May 21, 2024 Democratic Primary Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF).
- ^ "November 8, 2022, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ "May 17, 2022, Primary Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
- ^ "May 15, 2018, Primary Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- ^ "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ "May 17, 2016, Primary Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.