McLeod-Skinner has big lead over incumbent Schrader in 5th District
PORTLAND, Ore. — Jamie McLeod-Skinner is leading incumbent U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader by a wide margin in early vote returns Tuesday night for the Democrats in the 5th Congressional District.
McLeod-Skinner is leading Schrader, 61% to 39%.
But there is a caveat in this district. Clackamas County has had issues with counting ballots this election cycle, and the county is Schrader territory. His vote totals may improve once vote totals start being reported from the county.
As of 8:50 a.m., the county had released few results, prompting Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan to issue a statement.
"I am deeply concerned about the delay in reporting from Clackamas County Elections tonight," she wrote. "While I am confident that the process they are following is secure, transparent and the results will be accurate, the county's reporting delays tonight are unacceptable. Voters have done their jobs, and now it's time for Clackamas County Elections to do theirs."
Fagan said her office has offered help to the county.
"We eagerly await a response from county elections officials on how we can aid the timely process of results. I am disappointed that we have not seen more urgency from elections officials in Clackamas County," she also wrote.
McLeod-Skinner is challenging Schrader in this significantly redrawn congressional district following the 2020 census. The district now expands over the Cascades and includes the city of Bend.
If McLeod-Skinner wins, it will be a major upset, as Schrader has been representing the 5th Congressional District since 2009.
McLeod-Skinner has been endorsed by the local Democratic parties in the 5th District.
But President Joe Biden endorsed Schrader, which was announced shortly after the president’s visit to Portland last month.
The Republican Race
On the Republican side, Jimmy Crumpacker worked on Wall Street as an energy investor for 16 years. He moved back to Oregon 10 years ago and has served on the boards of the Oregon Ballet Theatre and the Portland Japanese Garden.
He was trailing Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the former mayor of Happy Valley and small business owner. Chavez-DeRemer was leading Crumpacker 42% to 31%
Other Republican candidates are John Di Paola, Madison Oatman and Laurel Roses.