Oregon 1st Congressional District
Oregon’s 1st congressional district covers Portland’s western suburbs and surrounding rural areas as well as parts of the Oregon Coast — encompassing Beaverton, Hillsboro and Tigard.
Essentially, it’s the northwest corner of Oregon — including all of Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties and most of Washington County as well as a portion of southwest Multnomah County.
Democrat Suzanne Bonamici has represented the district since 2012, when she replaced fellow Democrat David Wu (who resigned in the wake of accusations of sexual misconduct) in a special election. She is opposed this November by Republican Bob Todd and Libertarian Joe Christman.
Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, incumbent)
Federal lawmakers have the ability to direct crucial federal funds to address homelessness locally. How will you advocate the federal government allocate this money?
I’ve secured more than $6.25 million through the Community Project Funding Program this Congress to build hundreds of affordable housing units in northwest Oregon, but much more is needed to meet the demand and address other issues contributing to our housing crisis.
I’m also leading federal legislation modeled on Oregon’s successful Project Turnkey program to leverage federal funding to convert more unused buildings into affordable housing.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled criminalizing homelessness is constitutional. Do you think the federal government should pursue legislation to stop or prevent the criminalization of homelessness?
I oppose efforts to criminalize homelessness and am extremely disappointed with the recent Supreme Court ruling on Grants Pass vs. Johnson.
When I worked at Legal Aid, I saw firsthand that people don’t struggle by choice. Being homeless is not a crime. Housing is foundational and I am working to get everyone into safe and secure housing by advancing policies that will help those in need, not make their lives more difficult.
What is the number one issue impacting residents in your district and how would you solve it?
We are in the midst of a housing crisis. The 1st congressional district, like the state, is grappling with multifaceted and overlapping emergencies of housing, addiction, behavioral health and lack of economic stability.
It’s going to take everyone — at the state, local, and federal levels — working together to address this crisis. I’m working to expand the low-income housing tax credit, increase Section 8 housing vouchers and wraparound services, and invest in the workforce to help provide these services.
Bob Todd (Republican)
Federal lawmakers have the ability to direct crucial federal funds to address homelessness locally. How will you advocate the federal government allocate this money?
I would advocate the federal government not to give funding to any state organizations or any nonprofit organizations that have proven to be inefficient and have no significant measurable progress. I’d advocate for models such as the successful one in Kensington, Philadelphia, known as “The Rock.”
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled criminalizing homelessness is constitutional. Do you think the federal government should pursue legislation to stop or prevent the criminalization of homelessness?
I don’t believe the court criminalized homelessness, only gave the government the right to restrict camping on public lands with no permit. I believe that Congress should address the issue as has been addressed in the past, which is to recognize the need for housing and jobs. That could easily be dealt with by public projects such as the Civilian Conservation Corp and as President Andrew Jackson did by opening homesteading — but strictly for United States citizens.
What is the number one issue impacting residents in your district and how would you solve it?
I believe education reform is the greatest need in the United States. We need the kind of education that made our country strong because subjects were taught that encouraged good character and ethics and were based on common sense, not political bias (such as justice based on equal treatment).
Jobs are very important. So is innovation. Intentional inefficiency is criminal fraud, whether in government or business, and makes us vulnerable. Most importantly, our government should not support state religion by forced holidays whether based on Catholicism or Marxism. All are unconstitutional.
Candidate Joe Christman did not respond to Street Roots’ questionnaire.
Oregon 3rd Congressional District
Oregon’s 3rd congressional district has no incumbent this November, with Democrat Earl Blumenauer retiring after being elected in 1996 to finish the term of Ron Wyden, who stepped down to run for the Senate.
Blumenauer was re-elected to Congress 14 times — making him the longest-running representative in the history of the district.
Democrat Maxine Dexter, Republican Joanna Harbour, Independent/Progressive David Walker, Pacific Green Party candidate Joe Meyer, and Constitution Party candidate David Frosch vie for the seat this November.
The district covers most of Multnomah County (including Gresham and Troutdale) and most of Portland east of the Willamette River. It also includes the northeastern part of Clackamas County and all of Hood River County.
According to a Cook Partisan Voting Index, it is the most Democratic district in Oregon and the third most Democratic district in the Pacific Northwest.
Maxine Dexter, Democrat
Federal lawmakers have the ability to direct crucial federal funds to address homelessness locally. How will you advocate the federal government allocate this money?
Across the district, families are struggling with skyrocketing housing costs, leaving rent unaffordable and too many Oregonians without stable housing.
We must expand the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and increase the development of affordable housing across Oregon to open opportunities to get people into long term stable housing.
I will also fight to expand shelter capacity, ensuring that those experiencing homelessness have access to safe, well-maintained shelters with critical wraparound services — including access to nutritious, affordable food and pathways to stable jobs.
We must prioritize investments to address homelessness and ensure that everyone has a place to call home.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled criminalizing homelessness is constitutional. Do you think the federal government should pursue legislation to stop or prevent the criminalization of homelessness?
We need compassionate, evidence-based solutions to address homelessness — not punitive measures.
Criminalizing homelessness doesn’t address the root causes. It only deepens the crisis. I led the Legislature in securing $2 billion to tackle our housing crisis and help get Oregonians off the streets, but we know that’s not enough.
The federal government must invest in housing-first policies, mental health care, addiction treatment and job support programs. We need to focus on helping people get back on their feet, not pushing them further down.
What is the number one issue impacting residents in your district and how would you solve it?
From Portland to Gresham to Hood River, having affordable, available housing for all is the No. 1 issue I hear about from both my patients and voters.
To address this, we must prioritize solutions like investing in modular construction to quickly build more affordable homes and preserving existing housing to prevent displacement. I’ll fight for policies that support working families by expanding rental assistance, increasing affordable housing developments and growing shelter capacity for those experiencing homelessness.
Alongside these efforts, we need to concentrate on food security, including universal free breakfast and lunches in public schools.
David Frosch, Constitution Party
Federal lawmakers have the ability to direct crucial federal funds to address homelessness locally. How will you advocate the federal government allocate this money?
I’ve seen data that suggests homelessness is the leading cause of hard drug use (specifically methamphetamine and fentanyl). If this is so, then we need to do everything possible to prevent homelessness before it starts.
I lost a close friend to drugs. I know addiction isn’t taking our less talented people, but rather our best and brightest. Housing affordability may sound wishy washy, but if we get it right, we can save lives. Construction of social housing (for U.S. citizens exclusively) would have my support.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled criminalizing homelessness is constitutional. Do you think the federal government should pursue legislation to stop or prevent the criminalization of homelessness?
The high court’s decision in Grants Pass was a shock for everyone but also part of a broader societal trend of economic power translating into political power. The Roberts court callously dismissed the basic assumption that the homeless are entitled to some protection on the grounds of human rights.
This new normal is dystopian and can only peacefully be changed through voting — and voting for a new agenda that protects Americans, particularly the vulnerable. HUD’s budget needs to go back to its pre-Reagan levels, and no American should be without shelter.
What is the number one issue impacting residents in your district and how would you solve it?
Portlanders’ lives are most affected by immigration. More heads seeking homes in a country with a flat housing supply has fueled this affordability crisis. We must close the border, build more housing and carry out targeted deportations just to reverse the economic and social damage created by Biden.
I don’t believe for one second that this normal would actually be OK. We must do better — at a minimum, guaranteeing a job to all who want it, offering health care to all, distributing a universal income through Social Security, ending unsheltered homelessness and making college affordable.
Candidates Joanna Harbour, David Walker and Joe Meyer did not respond to Street Roots’ questionnaire.
Oregon 5th Congressional District
Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District, significantly redrawn after the 2020 Census, stretches from the southeast corner of Portland through the eastern half of the Willamette Valley.
It crosses the Cascade Mountains to include Sisters and Bend as well as the majority of Clackamas and Linn counties and the rural eastern section of Marion County. It also includes a small portion of Multnomah County and small sections of Deschutes and southwest Jefferson counties.
Known as a purple county, toggling between Republican and Democratic candidates, the incumbent is Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer. She is challenged this November by Democrat Janelle Bynum and Libertarian Sonja Feintech.
The district is also known in Oregon political folklore for a “curse.” With the exception of Chavez-DeRemer, every single representative (five in all) from the district since its creation after the 1980 Census has gotten divorced while in office.
Three of its representatives have been Democrats, and three of its representatives have been Republicans.
Sonja Feintech, Libertarian
Federal lawmakers have the ability to direct crucial federal funds to address homelessness locally. How will you advocate the federal government allocate this money?
The federal government can’t help while they are also heavily contributing to the homelessness and housing crisis. End the failed War on Drugs, end tariffs on building materials and cut taxes and regulations that burden homeowners to free up developers and communities to create economic stability.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled criminalizing homelessness is constitutional. Do you think the federal government should pursue legislation to stop or prevent the criminalization of homelessness?
The federal government does not have the constitutional authority to criminalize, nor prevent the criminalization of homelessness. This is to be decided by the states and the citizens who live there.
What is the number one issue impacting residents in your district and how would you solve it?
The threat of World War III is the most pressing issue today, and I would vote to end foreign interventions that are endangering us economically and militarily.
Candidates Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Janelle Bynum did not respond to Street Roots’ questionnaire.
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This article appears in October 16, 2024.