Candidates running to represent Oregon in Congress raised more than $2.4 million between July 1 and Sept. 30, federal campaign finance records show.
All candidates running for U.S. Congress must report how much money they’ve raised and spent every three months once they’ve raised over $5,000 to the Federal Election Commission, the agency tasked with enforcing campaign finance laws. Candidates had until Oct. 15 to submit this year’s third quarterly report.
Incumbent Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat in the U.S. Senate since 2009, raised the most out of his Oregon congressional colleagues this quarter, raising $818,000 and spending $364,000. He has $5.1 million remaining in his campaign fund, mostly from rollover funds from previous campaign cycles, federal records show. Meanwhile, Oregon’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden isn’t up for reelection until 2028.
All six of Oregon’s U.S. house representatives — Democrats Suzanne Bonamici, Janelle Bynum, Maxine Dexter, Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas and Republican Cliff Bentz — are expected to seek reelection. Incumbent candidates and their opponents are steadily trickling in to run for office. Incumbents have until March 3 and challengers until March 10 to file to run in the May 2026 primary.
In the 2024 election, Oregon’s 5th Congressional District that spans from Bend to Portland was one of the most competitive districts, with Bynum winning her district with 47.7% of the vote. Her opponent Lori Chavez-Deremer, who now serves as the U.S. Secretary of Labor, won 45% of the vote.
Bynum’s district in 2026 is expected to be a tight race again. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee included Bynum on its “frontline” lists of incumbents vulnerable to losing.
Behind Merkley, she raised the most this quarter, raising almost $700,000 the last three months and spending $164,000. Bynum has $1.4 million left in her campaign fund. At least one person, Republican Jonathan Lockwood, has filed to run against her so far. Lockwood, a former spokesperson for Republican legislators and gubernatorial candidates, has not yet reported any finances to the federal commission.
Behind Bynum, Salinas is the incumbent who raised the third most this quarter. Her campaign raised $277,000, spent $137,000 and reported having $470,000 left to spend. So far at least one person, Republican David Russ, has filed to run against her in the 6th Congressional District based in the Willamette Valley. Russ did not report raising any money in the third quarter, campaign finance records show.
Oregon’s 4th Congressional District, represented by Hoyle and containing Eugene and much of the coast, is Oregon’s final competitive district. In the 2024 election, Hoyle won district with 51.7% of the vote while her Republican opponent, Monque DeSpain, received 43.9% of the vote.
This quarter, Hoyle‘s campaign raised $238,000 and spent $125,000. Her campaign reported having $348,000 left by the end of the quarter. DeSpain — who is challenging Hoyle again in 2026 — hasn’t yet reported any funds to the Federal Election Commission. However, her campaign claims she raised $215,000 this quarter. Democrat Melissa Bird also filed to run against Hoyle. She raised $17,000 this quarter.
Bonamici, Dexter and Bentz’s districts are largely safe districts, with all three congressional delegates winning their districts in 2024 with more than 60% of the vote.
Bonamici raised $116,000 this quarter and spent $106,000. She has $517,000 remaining in campaign funds. No one has filed to run against her so far in the 1st Congressional District, which includes part of Portland and northwest Oregon, according to records with the Oregon Secretary of State.
Dexter, based in Portland representing the 3rd Congressional District, raised about $151,000 this quarter and spent $168,000. Dexter’s campaign reported having $172,000 left to spend. Two Democrats Andrew Castilleja and Jessica Salas have filed to run against her. Neither has reported campaign finances yet.
Bentz, Oregon’s lone Republican in Congress who represents the sprawling 2nd District in eastern and southern Oregon, raised $184,000 and spent $100,000 this quarter. He has $1.2 million remaining in campaign funds.
At least seven people have filed to run against Bentz so far — including three Republicans, Andrea Carr, Russell McAlmond and Peter Larson, who have not yet reported any campaign finances to the federal commission. The three of them filed to run after Sept. 22, which is why they likely haven’t reported their finances. So far four Democrats have filed to run against Bentz, including Rebecca Mueller and Mary Doyle, who filed to run in October and have not yet reported their finances. Democrat Dawn Rasmussen reported raising $16,000 this quarter, followed by Democrat Patty Snow who reported raising $7,800.
FYI: For a list of who has filed to run for public office in Oregon in the November 2026 election, visit the Oregon Secretary of State website and click “Candidates for 2026 Primary Election” toward the top of the page.
By Mia Maldonado of news partner Oregon Capital Chronicle
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