The freshman Democratic incumbent in Oregon’s 4th Congressional District and her Republican challenger clashed over approaches to abortion, homelessness, housing, and forest fires during debates in Coos Bay on Oct. 9 and Eugene on Oct. 11.
The main party candidates—Rep. Val Hoyle and rival Monique DeSpain—were joined by Justin Filip of the Pacific Green Party and Dan Bahlen, a Libertarian, for the Eugene debate.
The diverse district encompasses seven mostly rural counties, 250 miles of coastline, and the state’s two major University towns of Eugene and Corvallis.
The district has been in Democrat hands for nearly four decades and is considered likely Democrat by the Cook Political Report. Unaffiliated voters, who often vote for Democrats, make up 35 percent of registered voters, with Democrats at 32 percent and Republicans at 25 percent, according to the Oregon secretary of state’s office….