Jamie McLeod-Skinner is making a second run at the 5th Congressional District seat she lost by a razor-thin margin in 2022.

The attorney and public administrator from Terrebonne in Central Oregon said July 10 that she was taking another shot at the seat that runs from the southern end of Portland, across the Cascades, to Bend. 

McLeod-Skinner beat seven-term U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby in the May 2022 primary. But that November, she lost the general election to Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the former mayor of Happy Valley in Clackamas County.

The finally tally had Chavez-DeRemer winning by 7,299 votes out of 351,233 cast – a victory margin of just over 2%. It was one of the closest and latest races to be called on an election night that saw Republicans take control of the U.S. House.

Two years later, McLeod-Skinner is back – in a significantly shifted political atmosphere. With a Republican incumbent now holding the seat, two well-known Portland-area Democrats – Oregon Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Clackamas, and Metro President Lynn Peterson, have declared for the 5th district race.

Chavez-DeRemer is running hard for re-election, raising $1.4 million in the first six months of the year. Operatives for the House Republican Campaign Committee have already come to Oregon and made the rounds of political, civic and media circles.

McLeod-Skinner declared her candidacy on July 10. Her campaign says it raised $100,000 in the first 24-hours after her announcement. She gave her first interview as a 2024 candidate to the Oregon Capital Bureau on Thursday. The questions and answers have been edited for brevity and clarity. 

Q: You planned to announce your candidacy at an event in Bend on July 8. But you had to cancel when you tested positive for COVID-19. It’s about two weeks later – how are you recovering?

A: Thanks for asking. Also for agreeing to postpone our conversation.  I would say my first advice – don’t get it. My second advice is don’t think you can bounce back too quickly.

Q: How is 2024 going to be different than your 2022 race for Congress?

A:  One is that I’ve learned a lot from the past. You know, it was very close last year. I’m just going to have a much stronger campaign, be a stronger candidate. We were so close, we’re just looking at some of those tweaks that we need to make. And I’ve already modified my team. I’ve got a really strong team with much more experience winning in Oregon.

Q: Looking back at the 2022 race, what would you do differently?

A: We need to hit back when attacked. I wasn’t as aggressive on doing that. It’s important. Lori (and national GOP groups) would attack me on issues where she was weak. It was dishonest, but it was, you know, effective. I have to be able to respond, to hold her accountable.

Q: You raised $3.8 million in 2022, but were snubbed for money by the Democrats’ House Leadership Fund. Your supporters say it was payback for challenging Schrader. Some argue it gave Chavez-DeRemer a financial edge at the end of the race, and helped the GOP capture the House. Is there any residual problems between you and national Democratic leaders?

A: That’s water under the bridge. Folks are very pragmatic, especially now with the House majority at stake and only four or five seats need to be flipped to get it back. It’s a presidential election year, which is certainly better for Democrats, especially in Oregon. The stakes are higher. So I think, now, it’s a question of who is the best positioned. We need to win the seat. Let’s get the job done.”

Q: If former President Trump is the Republican nominee, how does that impact the 5th district race? 

A: Whether Trump is in the picture or not, he’s made the Republican party extremely right-wing. His MAGA (“Make America Great Again”) agenda is carried forward by people like House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California. Lori is enabling that agenda.

Q: Chavez-DeRemer has backed the GOP agenda in the U.S. House on key matters such as the abortion travel ban inserted into the Defense Department authorization. But she’s also co-sponsored legislation with Democrats on marijuana law reform, veterans issues and farm assistance. She’s not a Freedom Caucus member. Not a “hardliner.” How do you campaign against that dichotomy?

Yes, she puts up other bills and events so you don’t really know, ever, actually her values. We are going to talk about her voting record. Make it clear to voters. She has a record now – that will really distinguish the debate as opposed to last year. She’s not a good match for the 5th district. I’m running to replace her and make sure that those Oregon values and that that respect for community is the leadership we have in DC.

Q: We are more than 300 days from the primary and more than 450 from the general election. So much right now is nuts and bolts – money and staffing. How do you think you are doing at showing your viability for 2024?

A: Some people look at your branding – your issues. Some people look at whether voters know you in the in the region. Some people look at the team you got around you. And some people look at your fundraising. We now have all that. It means we can be more focused on our messaging, will be use more tools, be more focused.

Q: We’ve mostly talked about running against Chavez-DeRemer. But unlike 2022, there are already two Democratic officeholders who are also running for the 5th district seat. That is a different challenge.

A: I will say on, first of all, I really respect the work that both of them have done in the Portland metro area. But the 5th District includes urban and rural areas. I have experiences with both. Nobody knows the district better than I do. I traveled throughout the district, and spend time listening to people about the issues they are facing on the ground. Obviously, we’ve got a primary. I’m going to work hard there and talk about our values, talk about the leadership that Oregonians need in Congress.

Q: Candidates still have months to file for the race. Are you concerned that more Democrats – especially state or local officeholders – might decide to jump into the 5th district primary?

A: There are names out there. It’s going to come down ultimately to folks in the district. That’s why I did early polling before announcing. I want to know if the voters wanted to see me as their representative. It was an overwhelming “yes.”  I think you’ve got to be able to show a connection with the district. People do pay attention and want someone who understands their community and understands its challenges. (Legislators) are well known in their district, well known in Salem. But I think they are surprised that they’re not well known everywhere else. 

Q: You said you will be more aggressive in responding to negative attacks. Does that include the primary?

A: We’ve got to keep the primary positive focused. Get ready for November.

Q: When the Legislature created the 5th District, both Democrats and Republicans said that it the map was approved, it was crucial that the elected member of Congress come from the portion east of the Cascades. Instead, Chavez-DeRemer is from the Portland suburbs, as are Bynum and Peterson. Do you agree the 5th district representative should be from beyond the Portland area?

A: I’ve heard that from a lot of people. I don’t want to make this an east versus west thing. But my focus is on serving the entire district. So, of course, I know Central Oregon much better and I have relationships on the ground here. I’ve experienced what it takes to get things done in Central Oregon. But I’ve done work with with urban areas as well. I think the bottom line is having that cross cultural experience and knowledge and skill set.

Q: A frequent political theme in Oregon is the “urban-rural divide.” Democrats concentrated in the Willamette Valley (and Bend area) have more votes. Republican majorities are more spread out, but cover more than 2/3 of the state.  In a democracy, people not acreage get to vote. But how do you reconnect the geographical schism?

A: I say to that, talk issues, not labels. That’s where you overlap. So affordable housing – very liberal people want to be able to put a roof over their head. Very conservative people want to be able to put a roof over their head. Focus on problem solving. Because then political labels just becomes noise and falls away. One of the things I really enjoy about living in Central Oregon is its a more purple area (a combination of Democratic blue and Republican red). You have to work together to get things done. That’s an area where I have a real advantage. 

Q: The Legislature had a 42-day walkout by Senate Republicans and local elections pitted slates of liberal vs. conservative candidates for school boards and other local offices. It seems that partisanship is sharper than ever. 

A: There are examples around Oregon of how things can work. Look at the High Desert Partnership in Burns. Harney County is not a super liberal county. It’s definitely not. But that group helps to bring people together to solve problems. That’s the kind of work that’s the kind of work I’ve done. And that’s where I see things get more successful.

Q: Do you believe there is an “Oregon Way” anymore – a middle ground, problem solving mindset? What is it?

A: I would say, Oregonians tend to be more just independent minded. This is my philosophy as well. There are times when government needs to help and there are times it needs to get out of the way. Government should be helping out, especially when folks are hurting a lot – working family issues. Helping people make ends meet. Helping people prepare for wildfire. There are areas where government needs to get out of the way. That’s the predominant mentality. And that’s something that I share. And I think that’s why I’ve had the success reaching people.