Rep. Kurt Schrader Concedes, Had Been Seeking An 8th Term In Congress

OREGON CITY, OR — Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Oregon City) lost his bid to get an eighth term in Congress. Schrader conceded the race in a statement Friday night congratulating Jamie McLeod-Skinner on her victory in the Democratic primary for Oregon's 5th Congressional District.

"My team, voters, countless volunteers, President Biden, and my family have all been there for me worked so hard on behalf of Oregon's 5th congressional district," Schrader said. "Thank you for passion and hard work.

"I congratulate my opponent on her tireless efforts and successful primary campaign."

With 100 percent of the vote counted, McLeod-Skinner had 56.78 percent of the vote compared to Schrader's 42.59 percent, according to the Secretary of State's Office. Write-in votes made up 0.63 percent of the total.

The final count was only announced Friday because tens of thousands of votes in Clackamas County had to be counted manually as a result of ballots with a printing error.

"From Sellwood to Sunriver, Oregonians never stopped believing we can protect our families, our climate and our civil rights," McLeod-Skinner said Friday. "Oregonians, this is your victory. I'm honored to be elected."

Schrader was hurt by running in a district that had been significantly redrawn after the 2020 Census.

The district, which had been focused on Clackamas County, now encompasses large populations of Deschutes and Multnomah counties as well. In Deschutes, McLeod-Skinner garnered close to 70 percent of the vote.

While Schrader won the endorsement President Joe Biden, his reputation as the most centrist if not the most conservative Democrat in Oregon's delegation, hurt him. He was one of only two Democrats in Congress to vote against Biden's $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill last year.

Schrader said that he had voted no because he did not support the bill because it included raising the minimum wage.

McLeod-Skinner was able to use Democratic disenchantment with Schrader to win the backing of local Democratic county leaders as well as some national progressive leaders such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

Now that's she won, McLeod-Skinner will face former Happy Valley mayor Lori Chavez-DeRemer who won the Republican primary.