June 10th, 2022

McLeod-Skinner defeats Schrader,
advances to Nov. 8 general election

Jamie McLeod-Skinner

Updated June 7
Jamie McLeod-Skinner defeated seven-term U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader in the 5th Congressional District Democratic primary, and will face Republican Loree Chavez DeRemer, former Happy Valley mayor, in the Nov. 8 general election.
On May 27, McLeod-Skinner declared victory, and Schrader conceded defeat.
"We won because Oregonians are frustrated with the divisiveness and obstruction," McLeod-Skinner said in a statement. "We are frustrated with politicians who are beholden to their corporate donors, and not us."
Schrader also issued a statement May 27.
"The majority of Democrats have chosen a different direction for now," he said. "I congratulate my opponent on her tireless efforts and successful primary campaign."
Because of a printing error, the hand counting of ballots in Clackamas County continued into early June. McLeod Skinner had districtwide total of 46,523 votes (54.57 percent) to Schrader's 38,195 (44.80 percent).
McLeod-Skinner was  endorsed by the Linn County Democrats and three other county Democratic parties, She garnered 46.83 percent of the vote, to Schrader's 51.97 percent in Linn County. Projections for Linn County leading up to the election, however, had Schrader with up to 80 percent of the vote (and up to 90 percent after President Biden's endorsement)  to 10-20 percent for McLeod-Skinner.  The Linn-Benton Democratic Organization Team praised the work of the Linn-County Neighborhood Leader Team in helping to shatter those projections.  "Your calls, canvasing, postcards, text messages, emails, donations, and volunteering closed the gap and secured significantly more votes than expected," the Organization Team stated in a May 18 email. 
For a look at other primary results, including Tina Kotek's victory over Tobias Read and 13 other candidates for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, see The Capital Insider story by Gary A. Warner.

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In a video interview with the Linn County Dems, Jamie McLeod-Skinner discusses issues facing residents of the 5th Congressional District. The Linn County Democrats endorsed McLeod-Skinner in the May 17 Primary Election.