Jan 29, 2025 Story by: Editor
BEND, Ore. (KGW) – In a landmark event for Oregon politics, Janelle Bynum was sworn in on Saturday as the first Black member of Congress from Oregon during a ceremony at the Oregon State University-Cascades campus.
Judge Raymond Crutchley administered the oath to Bynum, who now represents Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District, in a ceremony attended by local and state leaders in Bend.
“At the end of the day, most people in this country, Democrat or Republican, want the same thing,” Bynum said after taking the oath. “We want great schools and opportunities for our kids, more money in our pockets, access to good hospitals and doctors, and to feel safe in our homes and communities.”
Bynum, an engineer, small business owner, and mother of four, brings a rich and diverse background to Congress. She previously served as a state legislator before securing her congressional seat.
The ceremony was also attended by State Senator Anthony Broadman, State Representative Jason Kropf, Bend Mayor Pro Tem Megan Perkins, and other community leaders from Deschutes County, underscoring the importance of cross-governmental cooperation among local, state, and federal officials in central Oregon.
As a congresswoman, Bynum serves on the Financial Services Committee and is a member of both the Congressional Black Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition. Her key priorities include reducing costs for families, fostering economic growth, and investing in the safety and education of children.
Bynum’s swearing-in holds historic significance, not only for central Oregon but for the entire state, as she becomes the first Black Oregonians to serve in Congress since the state’s founding. Source: NBC 52
