Janelle Bynum
Janelle S. Bynum is an American Democratic politician currently serving in the Oregon House of Representatives. She represents the 51st district, which covers southern Multnomah County and northern Clackamas County, including the southeasternmost part of Portland, most of Happy Valley and Damascus, and the surrounding area.Early life and education
Bynum grew up in Washington, D.C.. She graduated with a bachelor's degree from Florida A&M University in 1996 and with a master's degree from the University of Michigan in 2000.Career
Bynum won the Democratic primary for the state House in 2016 over Randy Shannon, a former member of the Damascus City Council, receiving 66% of the vote. In the general election, she defeated Republican candidate Lori Chavez-Deremer, the mayor of Happy Valley, with 51% of the vote in what was considered one of the most competitive House races for the 2016 cycle.
Bynum, who is black, was reported to the police as a "suspicious person" while canvassing a neighborhood in her district in 2018.Bynum and her husband, Mark, have four children. They own two restaurants in the area. She is a Christian.
