Outside money in Oregon swing district prompts claims of Republican meddling

State Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Clackamas, is running against 2022 nominee Jamie McLeod-Skinner in the Democratic primary for Oregon's 5th Congressional District. (Campaign photos)

Outside money pouring into ads in an Oregon swing district in recent days spurred accusations from Democrats that Republicans are meddling to ensure incumbent GOP Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer faces a weaker opponent in November. 

Democrats Janelle Bynum and Jamie McLeod-Skinner are in a fierce contest for the Democratic nomination in the 5th Congressional District, which stretches from Bend to Portland and is one of a handful of races nationwide that could determine control of the U.S. House. Ads for both candidates have accelerated ahead of the May 21 deadline to return ballots. 

On Wednesday, ads began running on Portland TV stations praising 2022 nominee McLeod-Skinner for “fighting for Medicare for all” and “putting progressive values into action.” The super PAC that paid more than $460,000 to air the ads, Health Equity Now, registered with the Federal Election Commission on May 3 and won’t disclose its funders until after the election.

But Democrats, including McLeod-Skinner’s primary opponent, state Rep. Janelle Bynum, suspect the new group is tied to Republican operatives. It used an ad vendor, FiDi Media, which primarily works with Republican campaigns. And the group’s treasurer, Trevor Kowalski, was the assistant treasurer on a political committee for former NFL player Herschel Walker during his 2022 Republican campaign for the U.S. Senate in Georgia.

During the Walker campaign, Kowalski reported sharing an address with Sal Purpura, a Republican compliance operative who has been paid by several national candidates and political action committees. Another apparent housemate of Purpura’s in 2020 managed a PAC that bought ads to boost a lagging North Carolina Senate candidate in a move Democrats denounced as an attempt to undermine the strongest Democratic candidate vying for a chance to face incumbent Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. 

That history prompted Bynum’s campaign to refer to the Health Equity Now ads as “shady GOP election meddling.” 

“Democrats need to know what MAGA Republicans already do: There is only one candidate who can defeat extremist Lori Chavez-DeRemer this November and that is Janelle Bynum,” Bynum campaign manager Blakely Wall said. “Let us be crystal clear, Jamie McLeod-Skinner is House Republicans’ dream opponent because they know they can beat her – making this shady GOP election meddling in a Democratic primary all the more alarming.” 

McLeod-Skinner said in a statement that she has never heard of Health Equity Now and that she doesn’t support undisclosed money in elections. She added that the ads are correct about her health care policies.  

Claims on other side

McLeod-Skinner and her campaign have claimed corporations and Republicans are meddling to support Bynum, who McLeod-Skinner maintains is the weaker candidate. That claim stems from the nearly $475,000 spent on ads and mail supporting Bynum from the 314 Action Fund, a political action committee that exists to elect more scientists to political positions. The group supported McLeod-Skinner in her 2022 campaign and now backs Bynum.

The 314 Action fund also spent $1.7 million to support state Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Portland, in the 3rd Congressional District and tear down fellow Democrat Susheela Jayapal, a former Multnomah County commissioner. The Intercept reported based on unnamed congressional sources that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee is funneling money for that race through 314 Action Fund, as AIPAC disagrees with Jayapal’s stances on Middle Eastern politics. 

The 314 Action Fund doesn’t have to reveal its donors until May 20, the day before the primary. In the meantime, Dexter’s and Bynum’s primary opponents have claimed, without providing evidence, that “MAGA Republicans” are behind the science committee’s political spending. AIPAC has endorsed Chavez-DeRemer and contributes to both Democratic and Republican campaigns throughout the country. 

“I share the concern about Republicans trying to tip the primary given that it appears that AIPAC, which supports MAGA Republicans who encouraged the January 6th attack on our democracy, has already inserted itself on behalf of Janelle Bynum,” McLeod-Skinner said in a statement. 

She and her campaign have continued to fundraise on allegations that dark money is supporting Bynum in an attempt to ultimately help McLeod-Skinner. 

“Corporate and undisclosed money is flooding into our district in a blatant attempt to buy this seat,” campaign manager Kelie McWilliams wrote in a Wednesday email seeking contributions. “The reason they are attacking Jamie is simple: they want a weak Democrat running against Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer in November – it’s the only way they can keep this seat red.” 

Revised May 17 with an updated dollar amount for the ads bought by Health Equity Now. 

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