Bynum, Janelle S.

Janelle Sojourner Bynum represents Oregon's 5th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, having been elected in November 2024 in a competitive race against incumbent Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer. She made history as Oregon's first Black member of Congress. Before her election to the House, Bynum spent eight years in the Oregon House of Representatives, initially representing the 51st district covering parts of southeast Portland, Happy Valley, and Damascus, then the 39th district in northern Clackamas County including Happy Valley and surrounding communities.

Bynum brings a background in both corporate and small business experience to her legislative work. She previously worked at General Motors before relocating to Clackamas County in 2002 to help manage a McDonald's franchise, giving her practical experience in entrepreneurship and community-based business operations.

In Congress, Bynum serves on the House Committee on Financial Services, with assignments to the Capital Markets and Housing and Insurance subcommittees. Her legislative priorities reflect her district's needs and her professional background, including the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act, the SPUR Housing Act, and the Homebuilders Corps Act of 2026. She has also sponsored legislation addressing parental leave entitlements and timber management, demonstrating a focus on workforce support, housing affordability, and natural resource management.