A matter of trust: Bynum, Chavez-DeRemer spar, clash and tangle on many issues in KTVZ’s final Decision 2024 debate

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., and Democratic challenger Janelle Bynum in the hotly contested, closely watched Fifth Congressional race clashed, tangled and sparred on several issues during Thursday evening’s live Decision 2024 debate, each claiming to be the only one voters can really trust to work across the aisle.

 “I am a workhorse,” Bynum, a four-term Oregon House member, said in her opening statement. “I am a champion of the people, and working families.”

Chavez-DeRemer began by saying she’d share her accomplishments during the debate and claimed Bynum has been “almost a decade-long failure” in Salem, adding: “We’re going to see my opponent lie to you about her record.”

In response, Bynum said, “My opponent cannot be trusted,” claiming Chavez-DeRemer wants to continue the President Trump-era tax cuts that went to “the top 1 percent of the 1 percent.” Chavez-DeRemer said if those tax cuts are not made permanent, many Fifth District residents will see taxes jump 20%, hurting working families and the middle class.

Chavez-DeRemer also fired back that Bynum “doesn’t know what she’s talking about, because she’s not been a member of Congress,” and that she sponsored tax relief for families, while Bynum “voted nine times to raise taxes.”

Bynum said the Republican is “part of a no-good, do-nothing Congress. … They’re taking all of our money and giving it to the top 1%. Trump and his cronies are robbing this country blind.”

Chavez-DeRemer noted her strong labor support and the projects she’s brought millions home for, including the Bend Airport and Redmond wastewater projects. “I have not been a do-nothing,” she said.

Turning to the sensitive topic of transgender athletes, Chavez-DeRemer said, “We have to make sure we’re protecting women in sports, in Title IX, and make sure we’re not harming our women.”

Bynum said that while her foe has some labor endorsements, she “does not show up for labor” and uses them as “trading cards,” while Bynum shows up at the picket lines.

“As it relates to sports, I support trans kids,” Bynum said. “I support inclusive sports. I support all children playing on a fair playing field,” and not making them feel unsafe at school: “Targeting them is just immoral.”

When asked what claims in their opponent’s ads they would dispute, Bynum said: “I don’t watch her ads. In my ads, I can tell you in my ad, I stood up for reproductive rights, full stop.” She claimed Republicans want a nationwide abortion ban, claiming her foe is “mealy-mouthed” on an issue where “there is no middle ground. You either support women’s health, or you don’t.”

Chavez-DeRemer said “my opponent likes to lie” on issues such as Social Security: “I will not cut Social Security” and Medicare. She said Bynum supported stripping PERS retirement dollars for teachers, police and firefighters.

Bynum fired back: “My opponent voted 26 times to cut Social Security.”

“Cite ‘em,” Chavez-DeRemer said, twice, to which Bynum replied, “It’s in the literature. Baby, I will send it to you tonight.”

“She is in the cuts mode,” Bynum said. “They are looking to cut things from our lives that we actually need," turning to her opponent and adding, “I have the proof.”

Chavez-DeRemer responded, “Cutting waste and streamlining is part of our job,” referring to the growing federal debt of $36 trillion. But she said discretionary spending, the only area Congress has authority, is only 11% of the federal budget.

When it comes to bridging the divides in a very diverse district that stretches from the Valley to Bend, Bynum stressed her town halls and approachability: “I show up,” she repeated. “You can’t trust Laurie Chavez-DeRemer, because she won’t talk to you.”

Chavez-DeRemer said, “You’re my rep, and I’ve never been contacted for one of your town halls – I call nonsense on that.”

Asked about working across the aisle on bills to keep the government funded and operating, Chavez-DeRemer pointed to a bipartisan record: “I work across the aisle every day."

Bynum said, “As a mom of four, I am a master negotiator.” And she pointed to the CHIPS Act “we negotiated across the aisle” to support expansion of the high-tech industry.

Asked about the post-Measure 110 deflection program, Bynum said she long supported investing in mental health support. “We know that was one reason Measure 110 was not successful – we didn’t have the infrastructure.”

Chavez-DeRemer called Measure 110’s drug possession decriminalization a “failed experiment led by Janelle Bynum. … law enforcement begged them not to do it.” She said her foe “sided with robbers and rapists,” to which Bynum said, “My opponent has fantasies of me siding with the wrong side of the law.”

Chavez-DeRemer also said “I would not support a national ban” on abortion, adding, “We don’t have the authority or jurisdiction – it’s a state issue. Oregon has spoken loud and clear.”

Bynum said she “stood up to assure women across Oregon have access to health care,” and that “my opponent has voted 13 times in various capacities to make sure reproductive rights are not protected. She said Republicans want her re-elected so they can limit in-vitro fertilization and birth control.

“Again, an outright lie,” Chavez-DeRemer replied, noting that she’s had her own IVF bill.

Bynum said, “We know Lori Chavez-DeRemer is taking a more moderate approach now, because I’m in her face on it. She went to Washington and completely flipped. We can’t trust her.”

“People do trust me,” the incumbent replied, “because my record speaks for itself.”