Democratic Rep. Janelle Bynum debated Republican challenger Patti Adair, a Deschutes County commissioner, in a televised matchup for Oregon's 5th Congressional District, broadcast on KTVZ 21 and livestreamed at KTVZ.com. The forum was moderated by news anchor Lee Anderson, with a panel including KTVZ political reporter Spencer Sacks and Aaron Switzer, founder of Bend-based alternative weekly The Source.
Bynum, serving her first term in Congress after four terms in the Oregon House, flipped the seat from Republican control in 2024, defeating Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who later became U.S. Labor secretary under President Trump, by a 2.7-point margin — the closest race in Oregon that cycle. She was the first Black Oregonian elected to Congress. Despite that narrow win, the Cook Political Report now rates the seat "solid Democratic." Bynum has significantly outraised her opponent, collecting about $3.76 million through June 30 compared to Adair's $423,921, making her the top fundraiser among Oregon's congressional delegation.
