Oregon gained a sixth House district after the 2020 census, and became the first state in the country to approve a new congressional map. But despite Democrats’ best efforts to draw a map that would yield them five of the six seats, the depressed political environment for the Beaver State’s ruling party cost them the 5th District in the Portland suburbs and nearly cost them the new Democratic-leaning 6th District as well.
Oregon Democrats experienced some of the same headaches as their counterparts in New York: an unpopular Democratic governor, weak enthusiasm in the Democratic base and high concerns over crime and safety issues. Democrats ended up fighting tough races in three districts that Biden easily carried. In the end, Democrats won the 4th District — which Biden carried by 13 points — by seven points, though Democratic outside groups spent $2 million to secure the open seat for Rep. Val Hoyle. And Democrats narrowly won the newly-drawn 6th District — a Biden +12 district — with outside groups spending upwards of $8 million to elect Rep. Andrea Salinas over
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