Lori Chavez-DeRemer, candidate for U.S. Representative, 5th District
- Party:
- Republican
- Occupation:
- U.S. Congresswoman for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District
- Relevant Experience:
- Mayor of Happy Valley, 2010-2018
- Happy Valley City Council, 2004-2010
- Personal Information:
- Born: April 7, 1968
- Age: 56
- Husband: Shawn
- Children: Emilie and Annie
- Resides in Happy Valley, Oregon
What qualifications and/or experience do you believe make you the best candidate to fill this position?
Before being elected to Congress in 2022 to represent Oregon’s 5th District, I had been actively involved in local government for two decades. Like all parents, my husband and I wanted our daughters to grow up in a safe and thriving community, which sparked my passion for getting involved. I worked my way up in city government and eventually served as the mayor of Happy Valley for eight years, helping launch it into Oregon’s fastest-growing community. In this position, there were no “Republican” problems or “Democrat” problems – only problems that needed to be addressed. I know how to put politics aside to get the job done.
Throughout my first term as your Representative in Congress, I’ve gained even more hands-on experience that puts me in a unique position to deliver results for the 5th District. I made it a priority to develop relationships with my colleagues – on both sides of the aisle – to find priorities we have in common so we can work together. From successfully getting bipartisan legislation like the FEND Off Fentanyl Act signed into law, to fighting to improve IVF access and affordability, cultivating bipartisan partnerships is the only way members of Congress can successfully address many of the important issues facing our districts.
Additionally, as a mom to twin daughters, I understand what it’s like to raise a family – and as a small business owner, I know how federal policies can adversely impact our main streets. I’ll always use these perspectives to work toward solutions that support and empower Oregon families and businesses.
What are the top two issues you see facing those in this role, and how do you plan to address them?
I often hear from constituents concerned with the state of our economy and rampant crime.
As families continue facing elevated prices at their grocery stores and gas stations, I’m working to rein in the out-of-control spending that has devalued the dollar and driven up costs. The bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act, which was signed into law last summer, will save taxpayers $2.1 trillion over the next six years. I’m also working to make life more affordable for working families by providing tax relief. I strongly supported the House-passed Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act – another bipartisan proposal that allows parents to keep more of their hard-earned money to pay for things like groceries, utilities, and child care. With 40 percent of Oregon parents reporting that they have changed career plans because they couldn’t find affordable child care, I’m also working to improve accessibility through the bipartisan Child Care Investment Act.
Additionally, improving public safety has been a top priority. Portland police have already seized more fentanyl pills this year than in all of 2023, and Oregon has experienced the highest rate of fentanyl overdose deaths in the nation. During my first term, I worked across the aisle to pass legislation like the Opioid Crisis Workforce Act, which would help train more workers involved in the prevention and treatment of behavioral health and substance use disorders. Separately, the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which has been signed into law, declared a national fentanyl emergency to open up federal resources to help states like Oregon get this deadly drug out of our communities. I’ll continue working to find bipartisan pathways, including by supporting law enforcement, to tackle the fentanyl and behavioral health crises and improve public safety.
Oregonians lent me their voice for two years to address these problems. While we’ve certainly made progress, there is more work to be done. If given the honor of serving the 5th District for another term, I’ll continue making it a priority to tackle the issues that matter most to my constituents.
