A Republican from Oregon flipped a congressional seat held by a Democrat on Sunday, achieving what she termed a “historic win.”
The race for the 5th Congressional District was too close to call until The Associated Press declared Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer the winner over Democrat Jamie McLeod-Skinner on Sunday, according to KATU-TV in Portland.
In a primary, McLeod-Skinner upset incumbent Democrat Kurt Schrader.
According to Associated Press figures released in The New York Times, Chavez-DeRemer received 51,1 percent of the vote versus McLeod-48,9 Skinner’s percent.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be a strong voice for conservative solutions in Washington. Looking forward to working side by side with Lori to address the concerns of #OR05 as we get this country back on track. Congratulations @LChavezDeRemer! pic.twitter.com/qc9ftq1hPL
— Kevin McCarthy (@kevinomccarthy) November 13, 2022
The triumph, according to Fox News’s figures as of Monday morning, gives the Republicans 212 seats in the House, but the chamber’s control remains uncertain. For a party to have a majority, 218 seats are required. Democrats now hold 204 seats, with 19 still to be called.
Former Happy Valley mayor Chavez-DeRemer stated that her triumph was a victory for Oregon families.
“This is a historic victory for Oregon, but the work starts now. I vow to work for all Oregonians toward a better future for our children,” she said in a statement.
“From the suburbs of Clackamas, down to rural Linn and Marion counties, and over to the Cascades to Central Oregon, one thing was clear to me: Oregonians wanted common-sense solutions to their everyday problems. Families needed a Congresswoman to tackle inflation, keep us safe, and focus on what’s best for Oregon families.”
Chavez-DeRemer said that, as a member of Congress, she will work for solutions that help all sides.
“As mayor of Happy Valley, I was proud of my bipartisan track record, and it was critical to approach every issue through a non-partisan lens. That is exactly what I promise to do as your next Congresswoman,” her statement said.
Chavez-DeRemer carved out a space in Oregon’s political history by being the first Hispanic woman and the first Republican woman to be elected to Congress in the state.
In a statement lamenting her loss, McLeod-Skinner stated, “Our success as Oregonians is dependent on the success of our elected leaders, and I encourage all of us to help our elected leaders bridge our divides to address our common challenges.”
According to her website, parental rights appeared prominently among the problems Chavez-DeRemer stated she would address.
“Oregon Children were stripped of their right to a quality education because of unconstitutional mandates and harmful school closures. Now, when Oregon kids are struggling to catch up, schools are forcing divisive and politically charged issues into the classroom,” the website states.
“As a mom of twin girls, I firmly believe Oregon Parents deserve a say in what their children are taught, which is why I will support a Parental Bill of Rights that ensures transparency for school curriculums and protects the rights of parents,” she said.
In a September debate, she called for more drilling for oil to address America’s energy issues, according to KATU-TV.
“We’re going to have to drill here in America. We need to make sure those leases and permitting is quicker turnaround time,” she said. “We can address different types of energy sectors, and we have to make sure that we’re energy independent in this country.”