Janelle Bynum
Janelle Bynum | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 5th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Lori Chávez-DeRemer |
| Member of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
| In office January 9, 2017 – January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Shemia Fagan |
| Succeeded by | April Dobson |
| Constituency | 51st district (2017–2023) 39th district (2023–2025) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Janelle Sojourner Irick January 31, 1975 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mark Bynum |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Florida A&M University (BS) University of Michigan (MBA) |
| Signature | |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Janelle Sojourner Bynum (née Irick; born January 31, 1975) is an American politician and businesswoman serving as the U.S. representative for Oregon's 5th congressional district since 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2017 to 2025.
First elected to Oregon's legislature in 2016, Bynum previously represented the state's 51st district, which covered southern Multnomah County and northern Clackamas County, including the southeasternmost part of Portland, most of Happy Valley and Damascus and the surrounding area. She later represented the 39th district, which covers northern Clackamas County, including most of Happy Valley and parts of Oregon City, Milwaukie and the surrounding area.
On November 5, 2024, Bynum was elected to the United States House of Representatives to represent Oregon's 5th district after defeating incumbent Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer in a close race. She is the first black member of Congress from Oregon.