Higher Heights for America PAC is proud to endorse Janelle Bynum to represent Oregon’s 5th Congressional District. If elected, Janelle would be the first African American person to represent Oregon in Congress.
“What I see in the House in Washington, D.C., is an extreme agenda,” Janelle says. “The people of Oregon deserve better than that.”
The daughter of teachers, her parents taught Janelle that education was the key to a better, safer world. When drug violence threatened her inner-city neighborhood in Washington, DC, Janelle put that ideal into practice. She earned scholarships and put herself through school, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and her Master’s degree in Business Administration.
Today, Janelle and her husband, Mark, live in Happy Valley, OR with their children. Janelle operates her family’s small business, running four restaurants in our community. In her restaurants, Janelle continues to embody those ideals taught to her early in life, mentoring her employees, providing scholarships to continue their education and encouraging them to dream big.
Janelle was inspired to run for State Representative by her passion for quality education, where she now represents metropolitan Portland. She is now in her fourth term. Janelle’s work has always been about reaching out and helping people get ahead, serving as State Representative, and now running for Congress – she’s doing just that.
Janelle’s been working hard for Portland – lowering the cost of prescription drugs, protecting women’s reproductive freedom, protecting LGBTQ+ rights, building more affordable housing and addressing homelessness, taking on the climate crisis and finding pathways for all of our young people to get ahead – whether they’re pursuing a four-year degree or degree in career and technical education. Janelle’s not afraid to stand up to anyone to ensure Oregonians get ahead.