Who's running in Oregon's 4th congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Val Hoyle currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Congress acting as a check on 'an executive branch that believes there should be an imperial presidency'.
Securing grants for local water, sewer and port infrastructure.
Balancing old-growth protection with selective timber harvest to reduce wildfire risk; tribal co-management of public lands.
Protecting reproductive health care, workers and fair elections.
Helping constituents with ICE, Social Security, veterans' benefits and the IRS.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Oregon's 4th District since January 2023; reelected in 2024 with nearly 52%.
Oregon labor commissioner, 2019–2023; Oregon state representative from 2011.
Listed by NOTUS among House members who violated the STOCK Act with late trade disclosures; her opponent's campaign says she failed to report more than 200 trades for over a year and that a state labor bureau grant under her leadership drew a federal investigation.
Voted in July 2026 for Rep. Thomas Massie's amendment to halt an additional $3.3 billion in military aid to Israel.
Won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary with about 78%; also nominated by the Working Families Party.
Arguments in favor
'The real fight starts now. We have to hold this seat and take back the majority to put a check on this Administration' — to protect free and fair elections, abortion access, workers and immigrant neighbours.
— Val Hoyle, primary-night statement reported by KLCC
Day to day, her office makes sure 'communities get grants for their water, for their sewer, for port infrastructure' and helps constituents navigate shrinking federal agencies.
— Val Hoyle, to Lookout Eugene-Springfield
Arguments against
She is a 'corrupt career politician' who ran 'a pay-to-play scheme' over a state labor bureau grant that drew a Justice Department investigation, and admitted violating the STOCK Act by failing to report more than 200 trades for over a year.
— Monique DeSpain campaign launch statement
Hoyle is 'funding the genocide' in Gaza as part of a party that serves corporate donors over people.
— Justin Filip, Pacific Green Party opponent, to Eugene Weekly
What we couldn’t verify
The status or outcome of the federal investigation referred to by DeSpain's campaign was not established from the sources read.
Hoyle's campaign website could not be confirmed.
Whether the candidates will debate had not been reported.
Public safety, including addressing the fentanyl crisis.
Border security, deporting 'known criminals', and a workable immigration system for law-abiding immigrants.
Policies that support businesses and jobs and reform the medical care system.
Homelessness programmes built on personal responsibility and measurable results rather than 'housing first'.
Fighting fraud, waste and abuse, including in Medicaid.
Leaving abortion law to the states; she says she opposes a federal abortion ban.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Retired US Air Force colonel; JAG Corps attorney.
Former executive director of Common Sense for Oregon; helped with its 2022 lawsuit against Gov. Kate Brown's sentence commutations, which the Oregon Court of Appeals rejected.
Lost the 2024 general election to Hoyle, about 44% to 52%.
Won the May 19, 2026 Republican primary with about 87%; also nominated by the Libertarian Party.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
'The people of Oregon are ready for change, they are ready for leadership, and they are tired of career politicians gaslighting and ignoring them.'
— Monique DeSpain, primary-night statement reported by KLCC
As 'a retired Air Force Colonel who served our nation for 30 years, and as a mom who raised twin boys in Eugene', she is 'an outsider to our failed political system' ready to lower costs and fight crime.
— Monique DeSpain campaign launch statement
Arguments against
She says she would be an independent voice, 'despite the fact that she worked as a paid lobbyist in a coalition that fought to take away reproductive rights in Oregon' and said she was running to serve as 'reinforcements' for politicians like Speaker Mike Johnson.
— Sage Lawrence, Hoyle campaign manager, 2024 statement reported by the Oregon Capital Chronicle
She said she was 'very pleased' with the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision overturning the federal right to abortion; 'We need leaders who will protect our freedoms, not strip them away.'
— Val Hoyle, 2024 campaign ad and statement reported by the Oregon Capital Chronicle
What we couldn’t verify
The criticisms above come from the 2024 race; no new criticism of DeSpain from the Hoyle campaign in 2026 was found.
Whether the candidates will debate had not been reported.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Oregon held its primaries on May 19, 2026; November 3 is the general election, decided by plurality with no runoff. No redistricting or map litigation affecting Oregon's 2026 congressional lines was found. This is a rematch of 2024, when Val Hoyle beat Monique DeSpain by nearly 8 points. Three candidates are qualified for the ballot on the Secretary of State's candidate filings list: Democratic incumbent Val Hoyle, also nominated by the Working Families Party, who won her primary with about 78% over Melissa Bird and Daniel Bahlen; Republican Monique DeSpain, also nominated by the Libertarian Party, who beat Stefan Strek with about 87%; and Justin Filip, nominated by the Pacific Green and Progressive parties. The district covers Lane, Benton, Coos, Curry and Lincoln counties and northern Douglas County, from Lincoln City to the California border, including Eugene-Springfield, Corvallis and Roseburg.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Oregon ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.