A national Super PAC that supports Republican women was behind a flood of last minute spending to sway the outcome of Oregon’s 5th Congressional District Democratic primary this May, federal campaign finance records show.
The Republican group spent $550,000 to try to nominate the candidate who lost in 2022 to the candidate it backs for the general election, first-term Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
In the week before Oregon’s May 21 primary election, a brand new political action group called Health Equity Now bought ads supporting Democrat Jamie McLeod-Skinner in her battle against fellow Democrat Janelle Bynum. Because the group was only founded in early May, it did not have to disclose its donors until after the primary.
Despite the big infusion of money, McLeod-Skinner did not come close to winning. Bynum won the Democratic nomination 69% to 30%.
Bynum campaign manager Blakely Wall told the Associated Press at the time that she suspected the group was tied to Republicans and called the outside funding “shady GOP election meddling.”
McLeod-Skinner told the outlet she didn’t know who was behind the funding, but supported the message that everyone should have high quality health care.
New campaign finance filings show that the group was entirely funded by the Winning for Women Action Fund – a political committee that backs Republican women for office. The group has endorsed Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
Winning for Women did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the funding.
Chavez-DeRemer spokesperson Aaron Britt said the campaign had no comment on the group’s backing for McLeod-Skinner but pointed out that it would be illegal for a candidate to coordinate with a Super PAC on its spending.
Bynum’s campaign also offered no comment. McLeod-Skinner did not return a message seeking comment.
Sami Edge covers higher education and politics for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430.
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