Janelle Bynum

An experienced leader Oregonians can trust

Rep. Janelle Bynum is currently serving her first term representing Oregon’s 5th Congressional District. In 2024, she made history by becoming the first Black person to represent Oregon in Congress. Prior to her election, Rep. Bynum served in the Oregon state Legislature from 2017 to 2025, where she was instrumental in passing legislation that invests in mental health care, expands youth voter engagement, and supports women of color in the workplace. Bynum also served as a senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee and a Chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business/Economic Development, where she sponsored a new law to bring semiconductor manufacturers to the state. The daughter of teachers and a mother of four, Bynum lives with her husband in Happy Valley, Oregon, where she runs four restaurants and provides mentorship and educational scholarships to employees. Bynum was endorsed by EMILYs List in 2018, 2020, and 2024, and is ready to continue fighting in Congress to deliver results for Oregonians.

A fighter for families, young people, and small businesses

In her first in the U.S. House,  Rep. Bynum has continued her work fighting for Oregon’s small business owners, working families, the LGBTQ+ community, and those in need of reproductive health care. She is focused on providing Oregonians the opportunity to build and expand access to affordable housing and provide critical support to those who are experiencing homelessness. Rep. Bynum sits on the House Committee on Financial Services, where she is a member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance and Subcommittee on Capital Markets. She is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus. Rep. Bynum is committed to fighting climate change and protecting Oregon’s great natural resources, and to supporting young people seeking affordable college or technical education. In Congress, she’ll work for all of us and never back down from the fight against Republicans’ extreme agenda.

A critical hold seat to take back the House

In 2024, Rep. Bynum won a critical flip target in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District. In the face of extremism, it is necessary that we send Rep. Bynum back to Congress to continue fighting for Oregonians fundamental freedoms. She is a dedicated leader who is standing up against Trump and his followers in Congress — speaking out against all attempts to strip Americans’ rights. She understands the severity of this election and fighting to protect our reproductive rights. Rep. Bynum is poised to make this a Democratic hold with the help of the EMILYs List community, and we’re ready to stand by her as Democratic pro-choice women take back the U.S. House.