She is the first Republican woman to represent Oregon in the House. Additionally, she is one of the first two Hispanic women (alongside Andrea Salinas) elected to the United States Congress from Oregon. Chavez-DeRemer served one term in the House before being defeated in 2024 by Democrat Janelle Bynum.
Chavez-DeRemer was elected to the city council of Happy Valley, Oregon, in 2004.[5] She was elected mayor in 2010 and reelected in 2014. She served as mayor until 2018.[7]
In 2016, after incumbent Shemia Fagan opted not to seek reelection to her seat in Oregon House District 51, Chavez-DeRemer filed to run as a Republican, and won the primary unopposed.[8] She lost by 564 votes to restaurateur Janelle Bynum in the November general election, in what was the most expensive state House race in Oregon of 2016.[9][10]
In June 2017, Chavez-DeRemer formed a political action committee to explore a gubernatorial bid in 2018.[11] In October 2017, she announced in a YouTube video that she would not run for governor, clearing the primary for eventual nominee Knute Buehler.[12][13]
In March 2018, Chavez-DeRemer announced her intention to again run for House District 51.[14] She was unopposed in the Republican primary. She again lost to Bynum, by 2,223 votes.[15][16]
Chavez-DeRemer won the May 2022 Republican primary for Oregon's 5th congressional district. The district, which had been represented for seven terms by moderate Democrat Kurt Schrader, was significantly altered in redistricting after Oregon gained a House seat. It lost its share of the Pacific coastline and the state capital of Salem, but stretched further south to gain rapidly-growing Bend. Schrader lost the Democratic primary to progressive Jamie McLeod-Skinner and refused to endorse her in the general election.
Chavez-DeRemer defeated McLeod-Skinner in the November 8 general election.[17]
Both Chavez-DeRemer and McLeod-Skinner lived just outside the district at the time of the election. Under the U.S. Constitution, members of the U.S. House must be residents of their state, but do not have to live in the district.[18]
Chavez-DeRemer ran for reelection in 2024 against Democratic nominee Janelle Bynum. The race was considered one of the most competitive in the US House and drew more than $26 million in outside spending. The race was called for Bynum on Friday, November 8.[19]
Chavez-DeRemer was one of six Republicans to sign a bipartisan letter spearheaded by centrist House Representatives in which they pledged to respect the results of the 2024 presidential election.[25]
Chavez-DeRemer, along with Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, cosponsored legislation to reform federal cannabis laws. She also cosponsored the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which would expand the power of public sector unions.[26]
Chavez-DeRemer was the only Republican co-sponsor and one of three congressional Republicans to support the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act) strongly opposed by business groups.[27] The act would give workers more advantages when organizing or joining unions and bargaining with employers, also weakening state right-to-work laws.[27][28] She was supported by Teamsters President Sean O'Brien for the position of Secretary of Labor, who thanked President Elect Trump for the nomination, noting her support of the PRO Act.[28] Her nomination was opposed by some business interest groups.[29]
Personal life
Chavez-DeRemer is married to Shawn DeRemer, an anesthesiologist. They have two children and live in Happy Valley.[30]
