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The Case Against Patti Adair

“Working families in Oregon know Janelle Bynum as a common-sense leader who gets results. In less than two years in Congress, Bynum has already passed six bipartisan bills through the House to lower costs, create jobs, and keep Oregonians safe, all while speaking truth to power and holding extremists in the Trump Administration accountable. Voters will enthusiastically send Janelle back to Congress – and reject MAGA extremist and Trump loyalist Patti Adair along the way,” said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene.

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To: Interested Parties
From: Lindsay Reilly, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: May 19, 2026
Subject: The Case Against Patti Adair

Voters in Oregon have a clear choice between Janelle Bynum, a trusted leader who’s already delivering bipartisan results after less than two years in Congress, and Patti Adair, a Trump loyalist and anti-abortion extremist who would be a rubberstamp for an unpopular, cost-spiking MAGA agenda that’s crushing working families.

Janelle is a working mom of four, engineer, and businesswoman who’s dedicated her career to helping Oregonians get ahead. The daughter of teachers and granddaughter of a 36-year police veteran, Janelle grew up understanding the value of public service. As an Oregon state legislator, she quickly developed a reputation as a bipartisan powerhouse – spearheading efforts to boost Oregon’s local economy, make housing more affordable, and protect reproductive rights.

Janelle has brought this same work ethic to Congress, where she is working to keep notching bipartisan wins, leading multiple bipartisan bills to better support business owners, lower housing costs, and protect Oregonians from wildfires. Six of Janelle’s bills passed the House of Representatives with cross-party support even during a historically unproductive session. Not slowing down, Janelle’s signature plan – her ‘K-30 Agenda’ – includes sixteen pieces of legislation to support younger Oregonians by improving public education, creating jobs, and lowering the cost of housing.

Make no mistake: Janelle’s bipartisan bonafides don’t come at the expense of holding extremists accountable. Janelle has been a fierce advocate against Republicans’ disastrous cuts to health care and food assistance programs, and she’s leading efforts to get relief directly to Oregon’s small businesses who’ve suffered under Trump’s reckless tariffs. Janelle has also been an outspoken voice against the extreme immigration enforcement tactics that led to the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens – demanding answers from top Administration officials directly.

Unlike House Republicans, Janelle has made it a priority to show up, listen, and bring Oregonians’ voices to Washington, D.C. In just 16 months, Janelle has already held 27 town hall meetings to hear directly from Oregonians about the issues that matter most to them. Her 10-stop “Give-Em Hell Tour” last summer turned out 42,000 Oregonians – at the same time Republican leaders were telling their members not to hold any public forums.

Janelle’s record stands in sharp contrast to MAGA extremist Patti Adair, a Trump loyalist who’s already proven herself to be at the beck and call of the President and his extreme agenda that leaves hardworking Oregonians behind.
PATTI ADAIR IS A TRUMP LOYALIST WHO WOULD BE A RUBBER STAMP FOR RECKLESS, COST-SPIKING POLICIES

Former GOP County Chair Patti Adair has shown blind loyalty to Donald Trump and his MAGA agenda, even when it hurts working Oregonians. A longtime “fierce supporter” of Trump’s, Adair served as a Trump delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention and worked on his behalf as a political director for Trump’s 2016 campaign. 

Fast forward to Trump’s second term, Adair is a strong advocate for Republicans’ disastrous cuts to health care. Adair publicly supported Republicans’ Big, Beautiful Bill that guts health coverage for nearly 180,000 Oregonians, could close at least four health care facilities in the state, and eliminates an estimated $55 million in annual funding for hospitals in the Fifth District. Adair is also an outspoken advocate for repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would put more than 700,000 Oregonians at risk of losing their health care.

Adair would fit right in with rubberstamp Washington Republicans who serve Trump at the direct expense of their constituents. As County Commissioner, Adair cast a key vote to end a program that helped people with disabilities, Oregonians living in rural communities, and many immigrants’ access to critical services and resources, including life-saving health information. When asked about her vote, Adair admitted she was “following” orders from Trump.

In contrast, Janelle Bynum is fighting to protect Oregonians’ health care. When Republicans left Oregonians’ health care on the chopping block, Janelle voted to extend the ACA tax credits that helped thousands of Oregonians afford health insurance, and she introduced legislation to safeguard rural health care centers that are bracing for Republicans’ cuts to Medicaid.
PATTI ADAIR IS AN ANTI-ABORTION EXTREMIST WHO WOULD HELP MAGA REPUBLICANS PASS A NATIONWIDE ABORTION BAN

Patti Adair’s record is clear: she is an anti-abortion extremist who would fit right in with Republicans in Washington, D.C. who want to ban abortion nationwide. As County Commissioner, Adair voted against requiring county insurance coverage for abortion services – making it difficult for more than 1,000 Oregonians to get the health care they need. When asked about her County Commissioner work, Adair said the quiet part out loud – admitting she would take the same approach in Congress: “What I do in Deschutes County can clearly be transferred to our federal government.” It’s no wonder Adair is endorsed by an extreme, anti-abortion group – they know she does – and would do – their bidding.

Unlike Adair, Janelle Bynum is a proven champion for Oregonians’ reproductive rights. Janelle is pushing back against Republican efforts to restrict abortion care, calling out House Republicans directly and supporting legislation to codify Roe v. Wade at the federal level. Even before serving in Congress, Janelle helped pass the Reproductive Health Equity Act as a state legislator to protect access to safe abortions and expand reproductive services that insurance plans must cover if they sell plans in Oregon. 
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Willamette Week: WW’s May 2026 Endorsements: Congress [Willamette Week, 4/29/26]

“Bynum’s track record as a thoughtful, professional and independent-minded operator makes her the clear choice for Democrats in this key swing district.” 

Portland Medium: Bynum Housing Bills Aim To Address Oregon’s Housing Shortage [Portland Medium, 3/20/26]

KOIN: Bynum introduces bill for small business refunds after Trump admin’s ‘reckless’ tariffs [KOIN, 2/20/26]

Oregon Capital Chronicle: Oregon’s U.S. Rep. Bynum pitches patchwork ‘K-30’ plan to tackle generational affordability issues [Oregon Capital Chronicle, 1/26/26]

KTVZ: OR Congresswoman Janelle Bynum introduces bills to safeguard SNAP and rural health centers [KTVZ, 4/27/26]

Oregon Capital Chronicle: Oregon Rep. Janelle Bynum plans 10 summer town halls as Democrats push back against Trump [Oregon Capital Chronicle, 5/9/25]

The Oregonian: In Oregon’s most flippable U.S. House district, why have Republicans struggled to recruit a strong candidate? [The Oregonian, 1/27/26]

“Even Kerry McQuisten, head of the newly formed Oregon Conservative Caucus that works for Republican wins, acknowledges it will be ‘a heavy lift’ for any candidate from her party to retake Bynum’s seat.”

American Journal News: Republican Patti Adair endorsed cutting Medicaid, repealing Obamacare [American Journal News, 5/12/26]
PATH TO VICTORY

With deep ties to the community and a track record of bipartisan wins, Janelle Bynum is poised to win reelection to Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District. Oregonians know Janelle – they’ve seen her show up and do the work at town halls and community events, and they’ve seen her standing up for them in Washington, D.C. 

Janelle is facing an extreme MAGA Republican who is deeply out-of-touch with Oregonians. Voters in the Fifth District have repeatedly made clear their disdain for MAGA extremists: Vice President Kamala Harris carried the district by nearly 9 points in 2024 and President Biden won it by roughly 10 points in 2020. 

In a district where Democratic registrants currently outnumber Republican registrants by more than 21,000+ (roughly 4 points), paired with a political environment where frustrated voters are more open to supporting Democrats than ever before, Janelle is in a strong position to cruise to victory this November.

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