Watch: Oregon 3rd District candidates debate

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The candidates vying to succeed Earl Blumenauer as the US representative for Oregon’s 3rd District met in a debate forum Thursday morning.

KOIN 6 News Political Director Ken Boddie moderated the forum, which provided each of the four leading candidates the opportunity to answer questions in a timed format, including follow-up questions by the moderator. Each candidate also got to give an opening and closing statement.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer announced he is retiring at the end of his current term, in December, after serving the district for 28 years.

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The debate, hosted by Portland Metro Chamber, saw many of the candidates expressing similar opinions about issues facing Oregon and the nation, from homelessness to treatment for drug abuse. All four leading candidates are considered progressives in the heavily Democratic 3rd District that runs from the east side of Portland (Multnomah County) all the way to Hood River County.

Those candidates hoping to take Blumenauer’s place include physician and State Rep. Maxine Dexter, former Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal, Gresham City Councilor Eddy Morales and businessman Michael Jonas.

Jonas, the CEO of Rational Unicorn Legal Services, argued that a problem with modern politics is “that we keep electing people who are politicians, who are endorsed by selected, who then become politicians.” He proposes breaking this cycle by electing “real people who can solve real, everyday problems.”

“I know that right-wing extremism is threatening our civil rights, as well as our security and democracy,” Jonas said. “But that’s why we must elect a proven leader. Someone who’s shown they know how to lead listen and get things done.”

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Morales told the packed crowd that his mother fled Mexico to escape domestic violence and that he’s lost siblings to gun violence and opioids.

“I share all of those stories because those have been the motivations for me about why I get up every day and I try to ensure that I’m passing public policy that no other family, none of you in this room, ever have to experience what I’ve gone through,” he said.

Jayapal said Oregon faces serious issues that have to be addressed in Congress.

“Like cutting social security and medicare, trying to roll back progress we’ve made on the existential threat of our time, which is climate change, and taking away rights we have taken for granted for decades, like the right to choose an abortion,” she said.

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There are also Republicans running for this position. However, Congressional District 3 is the most Democrat-leaning Congressional District in the state.

The primary is May 21.

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