GOP challenger outraises Oregon’s U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle in latest fundraising period

Oregon’s congressional incumbents outraised their challengers over the past two months, except in one race. 

Monique DeSpain, a U.S. Air Force veteran, attorney and Republican vying to represent Oregon’s central and southern coast and parts of the Willamette and Umpqua River Valleys in Congress, raised nearly $192,000 for her campaign in the latest fundraising report, showing fundraising from April 30 to June 30, according to the Federal Election Commission. 

That’s $15,500 more than her Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle of Oregon’s 4th Congressional District, though nearly half of DeSpain’s recent haul was money she loaned her campaign or transferred from another political action committee she controls.

This period does not reflect the full amount candidates raised in the second fundraising quarter because candidates in May reported the first month of fundraising this quarter ahead of the primary. Hoyle’s campaign outraised DeSpain’s over the last three months with almost $252,000 versus DeSpain bringing in about $212,000. 

Oregon’s congressional candidates raised about $2.6 million in May and June. More than 40% of that money went straight into the campaigns for the candidates running to represent Oregon’s 4th and 5th Congressional districts, the state’s two most competitive.

DeSpain personally loaned her campaign $30,000, and her separate political action committee, “Team Monique,” raised more than $100,000 mostly from individuals and business leaders, of which $65,000 she sent to her main campaign account “Monique for Congress” in the latest reporting period. DeSpain also has nearly $119,000 in cash in a third account, “Over the Target PAC,” which did not raise any money in the current period, according to federal campaign finance records.

Despite losing against Hoyle in November 2024 by nearly 8 percentage points, or about 30,000 votes, the district remains competitive as nonaffiliated voters make up 36% of the district’s electorate, followed by Democrats at 31%, Republicans at 25% and minor party voters making up the remainder.

Bynum leads the pack in overall fundraising

U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, a Happy Valley Democrat representing Oregon’s 5th Congressional District that spans from Bend to Portland, outraised every congressional candidate this fundraising period. 

Bynum brought in $628,000 for her campaign while spending $155,423 in May and June. She ended June with $2.7 million remaining in her campaign account — far more than her Republican challenger, Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair. Adair raised about $123,000 for her campaign and spent nearly $86,000 within that time period, with $135,365 remaining in her campaign account.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley trailed Bynum in fundraising, having raised $596,000 for his campaign. He spent nearly $254,000 on his campaign and ended the fundraising period with $6.8 million in his account. 

His Republican challenger, state Sen. David Brock Smith of Port Orford, brought in about $73,000 and spent $76,000. Brock Smith had about $29,000 remaining in his campaign account at the end of June. 

U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, who represents Oregon’s 6th Congressional District spanning Polk and Yamhill counties and parts of Marion, Clackamas and Washington counties, raised the third most out of any Oregon congressional campaign. Her campaign raised nearly $254,000 and spent $232,000. She has $611,000 remaining in her account. 

Salinas’ Republican opponent, former Dundee mayor David Russ, reported raising nearly $7,800 and spending $11,000 this period. He had about $1,900 left in his campaign account at the end of June. 

U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, Oregon’s lone Republican in Congress representing the 2nd Congressional District spanning parts of southern and central Oregon and all of the eastern side of the state, raised $208,200 in May and June. He spent $178,000 on his campaign and had $1.4 million remaining in his campaign account by the end of June. 

His Democratic challenger, former state legislator and land use expert Chris Beck, raised $64,300 this period. Beck beat five other Democrats in the primary and has more than quadrupled the amount of money sitting in his account since then. After spending $19,500 this period, Beck ended June with almost $54,000 in his campaign account. 

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon’s 1st Congressional District in Northwest Oregon raised $177,000 and spent $150,000. She had more than $572,000 in her account at the end of June. Her Republican challenger, veterinarian and former Intel employee Barbara Kahl, raised and spent $400 this period, reporting $75 left in her account at the end of June. 

U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter of Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District in east Portland and along the Columbia River Gorge raised the least out of her congressional colleagues, raising about $130,000 and spending $137,000 between May and June. She has about $174,000 remaining in her campaign account. 

Dexter’s Republican challenger, heavy equipment operator Loran Ayles, did not report any fundraising to the Federal Election Commission. Candidates only have to report their campaign finances if they’ve raised $5,000 or more. 

Bentz, Bonamici and Dexter all represent districts considered safe by their parties and outside observers. Each won with between 60% and 70% of the vote in 2024.