Dexter leads all Oregon congressional candidates in fundraising, outside money

Money is pouring into Oregon congressional races. (Getty Images)

Democratic congressional candidate Maxine Dexter blew past other Oregon candidates in fundraising during the last month before the primary election, federal campaign finance records show.

Dexter, a state representative from Portland,  reported receiving more than $580,000 between April 1 and May 1 – more than five times as much as Gresham City Councilor Eddy Morales and more than three times as much as former Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal. They’re all seeking the Democratic nomination in the 3rd Congressional District. It’s the state’s most liberal congressional district, and whoever wins the primary on May 21 is all but certain to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon. 

The pre-primary reports campaigns filed Thursday night with the Federal Elections Commission reflect fundraising between April 1 and May 1. They don’t include other May fundraising, such as the more than $218,000 Dexter received on Tuesday from campaign donors, including several who have supported Republican politicians and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. 

The reports also don’t reflect massive independent spending in the district, most notably nearly $2 million from 314 Action Fund political action committee on ads supporting Dexter. The PAC describes its mission as “elect(ing) more scientists to Congress, state legislatures and local offices,” and it historically has backed Democratic candidates with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Dexter is a physician. 

But Jayapal and Morales have accused the group of using money from “MAGA Republican mega-donors” to prop up Dexter. They’ve also benefited from independent expenditures in their own races: The National Association of Realtors PAC has spent about $234,000 boosting Morales, and the Impact Fund, a Democratic superPAC, which can receive unlimited contributions, has spent nearly $36,000 to support Jayapal. 

Candidates and their campaigns are banned from coordinating with independent expenditure groups, but they can get around that ban by providing photos, video and talking points on their campaign websites. Dexter’s website says voters most need to see digital video ads featuring doctors or scientists. Jayapal’s messaging page urges ads targeting young women that stress that she’s the “most progressive in this race.” And Morales’s page highlights his experience as the son of an immigrant and domestic violence survivor who grew up to focus on public service.

The 314 Action Fund hasn’t disclosed the donors who gave it the money it spent backing Dexter, and it doesn’t have to until May 20, the day before the primary election. But Jayapal and Morales have asserted that the money is tied to AIPAC, the influential pro-Israel group that has made no secret of its distaste for Jayapal’s sister, progressive U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington. A December article from Jewish Insider flagged concerns from Jewish leaders in Oregon about Jayapal rejecting a resolution to light a Portland bridge blue and white to show support for Israel days after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack and refusing to sign a joint statement with other commissioners that condemned Hamas and expressed support for Israel and Portland’s Jewish community.

5th District

State Rep. Janelle Bynum’s fundraising lead over 2022 nominee Jamie McLeod-Skinner grew from April 1 to May 1, though both Democratic candidates in the 5th Congressional District still have a lot of room to make up against Republican incumbent Lori Chavez-DeRemer. 

Bynum collected more than $168,000 in April, bringing her total fundraising haul since she launched her campaign last June to more than $1 million. McLeod-Skinner collected less than half that, about $74,000, for a total of about $650,000 since her campaign began last July. 

As of May 1, Bynum had about $339,000 available to spend ahead of the primary, compared to $191,000 for McLeod-Skinner. Chavez-DeRemer, meanwhile, has raised more than $3.3 million for her reelection bid and has more than $1.9 million available.

Outside groups have spent more than $1.2 million so far in the race, all of it to boost Bynum or hurt McLeod-Skinner. 314 Action Fund has spent almost $475,000 on mail and ads supporting Bynum, while the Mainstream Democrats PAC controlled by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman has spent about $770,000 on ads attacking McLeod-Skinner and supporting Bynum. 

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