Oregon Democrat unseats GOP incumbent in toss-up House race, narrowing Republicans' majority

Oregon Republican Rep. Lori-Chavez-DeRemer has been ousted by Democratic challenger authorities Rep. Janelle Bynum successful the state's 5th Congressional District, The Associated Press projected Thursday, much than a week aft Election Day.

The triumph narrows the Republican bulk successful the House to 218 seats to Democrats' 209.

The contention was rated a toss-up by the Fox News Power Rankings.

Chavez-DeRemer was elected to Congress successful 2022, defeating her Democratic hostile by 2 points. With the victory, Chavez-DeRemer became the archetypal pistillate to correspond Oregon successful the House of Representatives.

Bynum, who antecedently defeated Chavez-DeRemer successful Oregon legislature races aggregate times, was elected to the Oregon House successful 2016 and has served connected the chamber’s tiny concern committee. She is besides the proprietor of 4 McDonald’s franchises.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST COULD DECIDE WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE HOUSE

Oregon State Rep Janelle Bynum, left, faced disconnected against Rep. Lori Chavez DeRemer successful OR-05. (Fox News)

The 2 candidates engaged successful a contentious contention successful caller months, with Bynum attempting to nexus Chavez-DeRemer to President-elect Donald Trump and her presumption connected abortion, arsenic the congresswoman deed Bynum connected transgression and amerciable immigration. 

Last month, it was first reported by Fox News Digital that Bynum was the taxable of an morals ailment for allegedly failing to decently study allegations of intersexual harassment and battle against a PAC staffer that worked connected her campaign. Bynum has denied those allegations, which the 2 candidates sparred implicit successful aggregate debates.

'INCENDIARY DEVICE' SPARKS FIRE AT PORTLAND, OREGON BALLOT BOX

Janelle Bynum is simply a Democrat moving for Congress successful Oregon. (Janelle Bynum for Congress)

Election experts predicted that the contention betwixt Chavez-DeRemer and Bynum could play a cardinal relation successful deciding which enactment controls Congress.

High-profile figures campaigned for some candidates successful the campaign's closing weeks, with GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson rallying with Chavez-DeRemer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stumping for Bynum. 

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GOP Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer antecedently served arsenic politician of Happy Valley, Oregon. (AP Photo/Steve Dipaola, File)

Oregon's precocious redrawn 5th Congressional District covers Linn County, astir of Clackamas, Deschutes, and parts of Multnomah and Marion counties.