Oregon's Metro President Lynn Peterson has now announced that she will run for Congress in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District in 2024. Peterson, a Democrat, will challenge first term Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer in the closely watched swing district. She is the former Chair of Clackamas County.

Peterson says she is a lifelong Democrat, who is active in the party.

“I have spent my career working in local, regional, and state governments,” said Peterson. “Yet for all the hard work here in our Oregon communities, Congress is not doing its part– ideological politicians are more intent on culture wars than helping working people, more interested in rolling back fundamental rights than protecting our small cities and rural communities.”

Peterson continued, “I’m going to fight not only for needed investments in housing, public safety, transportation and education, but also our fundamental rights to vote and seek reproductive health care. I’m excited for this opportunity and look forward to the campaign ahead.”

Peterson says she was raised in a union household.

“Too often people go to Congress to work for a party or personal agenda, and forget about the people who need help and relief back home,” said Peterson.

As Metro President, Peterson boasts that she championed a $650 million investment in affordable housing in 2018.

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Peterson has proposed public funding for approximately $250 million annually in new funding for homelessness services.

Peterson has also recently been a transportation advisor in the Oregon Governor’s Office as well as worked with the Washington State Department of Transportation.

“Throughout her career, Lynn has worked to make smart investments that build strong communities and create good jobs,” said former Congressman Peter DeFazio (Democrat). “We need her expertise and advocacy in Congress to make sure local priorities are funded– and also to build the sustainable infrastructure we need to address climate change and serve rural communities.”

In addition to DeFazio, Peterson says she enters the race with over 50 prominent endorsements from officeholders and community leaders from throughout the 5th District and the state.

Her additional endorsements include Lake Oswego Mayor Joe Buck; Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch; Gladstone Mayor Michael Milch; Wilsonville Mayor Julie Fitzgerald; Former Clackamas County Chairs Jim Bernard, Charlotte Lehan; Former Bend Mayor Sally Russell; Former Forest Grove Mayor Peter Truax; Former Lake Oswego Mayor Judie Hammerstad; Former Oregon City Mayor Alice Norris; Former Tigard Mayor Jason Snider; Former Yamhill County Commissioner Casey Kulla; Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington; Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pedersen; 5 of her Metro Council colleagues; Community Leaders Marcus Mundy and Eddy Morales, Libra Forde and other Democrats.

Peterson brags that she is a veteran political campaigner, and has won each of her 5 campaigns for local and regional office, and successfully passed four recent regional ballot measures. In her 2018 and 2022 campaigns for Metro President, Peterson won Clackamas County– the largest voting base in the 5th District– by large margins, overperforming other Democrats on the ballot. A 25-year Clackamas County resident, Peterson lives in Lake Oswego with her husband Mark, a small business owner, and their 4 malamutes.

Peterson joins Oregon State Representative Janelle Bynum (D-Happy Valley) as the Oregon Democrats that have to date announced that they will be running for this seat.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-06-25 12:22:30

Last Update: 2023-06-25 14:54:32