Janelle Bynum

Janelle Sojourner Bynum is a Democratic politician and businesswoman serving as the U.S. Representative for Oregon's 5th Congressional District. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Bynum earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Florida A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan. Her professional career includes work as a steering systems engineer at General Motors and as the owner and operator of four McDonald's franchises in the Portland, Oregon area. Bynum entered public service in the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 51 and later District 39 from 2017 to 2025. During her time in the state legislature, she chaired the Committee on Small Business and Economic Development and the House Judiciary Committee, where she was a leading voice for police reform and civil rights legislation. She was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2024, defeating incumbent Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and became the first Black person ever elected to represent Oregon in Congress. Since assuming office in January 2025, she has focused on lowering costs for families, expanding access to education, and securing federal investment for Oregon's infrastructure and technology sectors.

Janelle Bynum's stated positions center on economic affordability, healthcare access, and social justice. She advocates for lowering the costs of housing and prescription drugs, while supporting the protection and expansion of the Affordable Care Act. A proponent of reproductive rights, she has consistently voted to protect abortion access and reproductive healthcare services. Her education platform, described as 'K-30,' emphasizes a continuous pipeline of support from kindergarten through early career, including efforts to reduce degree requirements for federal jobs to help non-traditional workers. Bynum supports climate action and environmental protection, recently introducing legislation to address microplastic pollution. On public safety, she has championed bipartisan police reform initiatives aimed at increasing accountability and banning dangerous tactics. In foreign policy, she has supported continued assistance for Ukraine and has voiced opposition to broad tariffs that negatively impact small businesses. Additionally, she supports federal protections for LGBTQ+ rights and has advocated for policies that assist small business owners and immigrant communities.