Oregon's 4th Congressional District election, 2026
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| Oregon's 4th Congressional District |
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| General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: March 3, 2026 |
| Primary: May 19, 2026 General: November 3, 2026 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times:
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Race ratings |
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Solid Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Likely Democratic |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026 |
| See also |
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th Oregon elections, 2026 U.S. Congress elections, 2026 U.S. Senate elections, 2026 U.S. House elections, 2026 |
All U.S. House districts, including the 4th Congressional District of Oregon, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.
Candidates and election results
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House Oregon District 4
Incumbent Val Hoyle, Melissa Bird, William King, Monique DeSpain, and Raiph Huber are running in the general election for U.S. House Oregon District 4 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Val Hoyle (D) | |
 | Melissa Bird (D)  | |
| William King (D) | ||
 | Monique DeSpain (R) | |
 | Raiph Huber (R) | |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I am a social justice activist, a mom, a teacher, a preacher, and a community organizer. When I walk into a room, I am a friend. I do not know a stranger. I build community because I believe in people and in our power to do better together. I am a proud Native woman whose father died too soon for me to ask what that really means. I am a rebel, a warrior, and a healer. I love Oregon — its trees, oceans, and mountains — and I believe in leaving this world better for my children and grandchildren. As we watch our democracy falter, I feel called to be on the frontlines fighting for it. I am running for Congress because my life has shown me how deeply policy touches people. I have worked as a social worker, lobbyist, and teacher, and I know that when government listens, it can truly change lives. I am also a businesswoman who has redefined what success looks like. I have failed and started over more times than I can count, and each time I have learned how to lead with courage and humility. My love for politics began at my grandmother’s dining table, where she and my aunt debated over silver and china. They disagreed with grace and conviction, and I carry their legacy with me every day. Women fought for me to have a voice and a vote. Now, I am running for Congress to honor that fight and to make sure every voice in Oregon’s 4th District is heard."
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Oregon
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
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Melissa Bird (D)
I am deeply concerned about how we are treating our young people and our elders. Our veterans are being discarded after serving this country in wars that should never have happened. The people of Oregon’s 4th District deserve a representative who will honor the real needs of working families and disrupted communities. Too many voters have been ignored or pushed aside by political machines that keep recycling the same handpicked candidates of the elite. This is our time to fight for representation that reflects who we truly are — diverse, hard working, and ready to be heard.
I have spent my adult life connecting people in community. Every step I’ve taken since high school has led me here. I know how to connect with people who disagree and bring them to the table. I’ve helped leaders understand what their communities truly need, not just what looks good on paper. I’m running for Congress because I know there’s a better way to lead. I’m not rich or an establishment candidate. This campaign isn’t about me, it’s about electing leaders who are kind, compassionate, and willing to listen so we can pass policies that help the many, not the powerful few.
Melissa Bird (D)
Melissa Bird (D)
Metallica showed me that asking for help can lead to greatness. When they sought help producing The Black Album, they created one of the most powerful records ever made. Their podcast feels like life coaching set to a soundtrack.
Eleanor Roosevelt inspires me because she told the truth about people’s lives and fought for what was right, even when it was unpopular. She was a rebel, a prolific writer, and a woman who opened doors where none existed.
Joy Harjo’s poetry sings to the little Native girl in my soul. Her words remind me that our stories matter and that beauty and grief can exist in the same breath.
I admire fiction writers for their bravery. To put imagination into the world is to expose your heart, and that kind of vulnerability is powerful.
And Sally Ride has always been one of my heroes. As a little girl, I dreamed of being an astronaut. When the Challenger exploded, I cried in the library and remembered how the books smelled that day. Sally Ride showed me that women could reach for the stars — and that we belong there.
Melissa Bird (D)
An elected official leads with wisdom and has the courage to do what is hard. They hold their position with love and humility and learn not only from their mistakes but from their successes. Their job is to take what they learn through policymaking and share it in ways that people can understand and engage with.
Elected officials are part of our communities, even if they serve in Washington, D.C. Our homes are still here. Our children still go to school here. We have a responsibility to care for the cities, counties, and states that sent us to lead.
True leadership means being willing to have civil conversations about difficult issues. It means moving beyond the “either-or” game of politics and remembering that most real solutions come from the “both-and.”
Melissa Bird (D)
This district deserves a representative who has listened to the stories of child abuse survivors, who has taught social work students how to engage in ethical policymaking, and who has fought her own battles to belong in a world that often said she was not enough.
The person who holds this office must care deeply for the original tribal stewards of this land, for the oceans, the trees, and for the freedoms that define us — freedom of religion, freedom to protest, and the sacred right to vote. That person must remember that their first responsibility is not to a political party, but to the people who trusted them to lead.
Melissa Bird (D)
My legacy is about catching people before they fall in a system that was never designed for them. I have fought for women’s rights, honored my Indigenous heritage, and carried my grandfather’s legacy as a World War II veteran. I have worked to build a country where everyone has a fair chance to succeed and live with dignity.
I want people to say I was fearless, that I fought for humanity, that I laughed loudly, and that I made a difference. My mom once said my memorial bench would read, “Melissa Bird loved and laughed and made a difference in people’s lives.” I think she’s right.
Melissa Bird (D)
Melissa Bird (D)
Melissa Bird (D)
Melissa Bird (D)
Melissa Bird (D)
Melissa Bird (D)
What makes the House truly unique is that it was built for regular people to serve. It was meant for farmers, small business owners, teachers, and workers to bring their lived experience into policymaking. I believe the House is in need of that diverse representation again, leaders who understand what it means to live paycheck to paycheck, to raise families, to care for elders, and to run small businesses.
Members of Congress must never forget that they work for the people, not their political party. Diversity in Congress is not just symbolic; it is essential to representing a nation as vast and varied as ours.
And yet, the House has lost sight of some of its most basic responsibilities. We have been running the largest economy in the world on continuing resolutions for decades. As a mom and a business owner, I cannot imagine telling my husband or my accountant, “Let’s just hold things over for a while and see what happens.” That is not leadership. The House can and must do better. It has the power to balance our budget, to protect our people, and to rebuild trust in our government.
The structure of this institution is what makes it special. It is time for the House to remember that.
Melissa Bird (D)
Experience matters, but not just political experience. What matters most is a commitment to democracy, a respect for the process, and a clear understanding that government is of the people, by the people, and for the people.
The founders built this system on our shared humanity. That means the people who hold office should come from our communities. They should be teachers, nurses, small business owners, veterans, and parents. They should be neighbors we know and trust.
I am running for Congress because I am passionate about government and policymaking, and because I believe representation should belong to the people who live the realities these policies affect.
Melissa Bird (D)
If we are willing to face our reality, we can form a more perfect union. We can build a government that works for people by applying the principles of democracy to the world we live in today. We are not a small country. We are vast and diverse, and we must shape solutions that reflect who we are, not who we once were.
We have the power to create universal healthcare if we are willing to rethink our economic priorities. We can deliver the best education in the world if we truly invest in our children. We can care for our young people, our elders, and our homeless neighbors if we begin to see them as human beings and not statistics.
Dehumanization is one of our nation’s deepest wounds. Too often, those in power forget that their decisions affect every one of us – in grocery stores, at the doctor’s office, and at the gas pump.
As an Episcopal lay preacher and a Native woman, I am deeply concerned about the rise of Christian nationalism. Faith should never be used as a weapon. Protecting religious freedom will be one of the defining fights of our time.
Melissa Bird (D)
But we also need to be honest about the challenges this system creates. The amount of money in politics has turned campaigning into a nonstop cycle of fundraising. As someone running a grassroots campaign against an opponent with millions in the bank, I can tell you that this system makes it harder for regular people to serve.
So yes, two years is the right term length, but we must also take a hard look at how money and power distort who gets to run and who gets to win. If we truly want a government that represents us, we need campaign finance reform that gives working people a fair shot at leadership.
Melissa Bird (D)
We need to create opportunities for people of all backgrounds, faiths, and ages to serve — and to serve for a limited time. That is how we build a democracy that truly belongs to the people.
I understand that policymaking is complex and that experience matters, but I also question whether that argument is sometimes used to keep powerful people in powerful positions. A healthy democracy depends on rotation, renewal, and the courage to open the door wider for everyone who wants to serve.
Melissa Bird (D)
When I was a little girl, I remember my best friend’s mother making phone calls for Geraldine Ferraro’s vice-presidential campaign. I watched women gathered in a living room, fired up and talking politics, and I remember thinking, “Oh, we can do this.” That moment lit something in me.
Anne Richards, Shirley Chisholm, and Hillary Clinton have all shaped how I think about courage and service. Utah State Representatives Roz McGee, Jennifer Seelig, and Rebecca Chavez-Houck taught me what practical, grounded leadership looks like. School Board Chair Dr. Luhui Whitebear reminds me every day what it means to lead with integrity, humility, and deep connection to community.
It’s hard for me to pick just one person to model myself after because I’m a rebel at heart. I’m inspired by many, and I know my path is my own. I lead with a thousand ancestors at my back, and that gives me the strength to fight for what is right.
Melissa Bird (D)
One story that touched me deeply happened during my campaign kickoff in August 2025. There was an elder sitting alone on a bench, weeping. I sat next to him and asked what was wrong. He told me he never thought he would live to see a Native woman running for Congress. He said it brought him to tears because he knew how important this moment was, not just for our community or our district, but for history itself.
We sat together quietly for a while. Then he looked at me and said, “Do not give up. I know this will be hard, but you are doing this because you will change the trajectory of our history forever.”
That moment stays with me every day. It reminded me that this campaign is not just about politics. It is about hope, legacy, and the generations who are counting on us to make a better future possible.
Melissa Bird (D)
I taught myself how a bill becomes a law, and two years later, that bill passed. But it didn’t pass in the same form I wrote. It passed because we compromised. The heart of the bill remained, but we adjusted it so it could gain support. That process has since helped hundreds of young people change their lives for the better. It’s one of the things I am most proud of.
Since then, I have written many bills, and not one of them came out exactly as it started. That is the beauty of democracy. Policymaking is messy, but it is also collaborative. Compromise is not weakness — it is how we build better policy together. It invites every legislator to invest in an idea and make it stronger for the people we all serve.
Melissa Bird (D)
I believe it is critical to help people understand why revenue originates in the House and why the separation of powers matters so deeply. It is one of the core principles that keeps our democracy balanced and healthy.
I still remember the first time I learned about fiscal notes, the Rules Committee, and how concurrence works in policymaking. Those lessons showed me how deliberate and thoughtful our system is meant to be. As a member of Congress, I would use this authority to ensure that federal resources are invested in ways that reflect our values - funding healthcare, education, and housing, and prioritizing the needs of working families over special interests.
The power of the purse is not just a budget tool. It is a moral responsibility to spend the people’s money wisely and transparently, in ways that improve lives and strengthens trust in our democracy.
Melissa Bird (D)
The House should use its investigative powers with great care and integrity. Every investigation, hearing, and request for testimony must be guided by the best interests of the American people, not by the desire for headlines or partisan gain.
I have watched many congressional hearings over the years, both in person and on television. Some are seared in my memory, like the testimony of Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. That moment showed me the weight and responsibility that comes with Congressional oversight.
This power is one of the most fundamental principles of our democracy. If the Constitution entrusts the House with this authority, then those who serve there must honor it by conducting themselves with honesty, fairness, and respect for truth.
Melissa Bird (D)
Melissa Bird (D)
What touches me most is how surprised people are that I’m the one calling them. So many say, “I can’t believe you actually wanted to talk to me.” That tells you everything about how disconnected our politics has become. Our leaders are building relationships with corporations instead of constituents.
I love these conversations, even when we disagree. It is remarkable what happens when you give people the power to be part of the process again. Hearing someone say they’ll vote for me because I took the time to talk with them — that will stay with me forever.
Melissa Bird (D)
Melissa Bird (D)
AI is also creating a dangerous economic bubble that will eventually burst and leave working families to deal with the fallout. The massive data centers required to run AI systems consume staggering amounts of power and water. It is unacceptable that everyday people will be footing the bill for corporate energy use through higher utility costs.
The United States government must take a strong regulatory role in the development and use of AI. We need transparency, accountability, and sustainability standards. The government should ensure that AI development does not exploit people’s creativity, violate privacy, or drain our natural resources.
We also need to be honest about the direction this is heading. Companies are pushing for nuclear energy as a so-called “green” solution to power these massive systems. That should alarm all of us. Have we already forgotten Chernobyl?
Artificial intelligence should serve humanity, not replace it. If we do not act now, we risk losing not only our privacy and creativity, but also our shared sense of what it means to be human.
Melissa Bird (D)
We also need to educate people about how our elections work and why their vote matters. I would support legislation that invests in civic education, voter registration, and access to the ballot.
It is long past time to eliminate the Electoral College. It distorts the will of the people and discourages participation, especially among young voters who feel their votes do not count. That system may have made sense in the 18th century, but it no longer reflects the size, diversity, or reality of our country.
I will also fight to protect and expand vote-by-mail nationwide. In Oregon, we have been voting by mail for decades with security and success. It increases participation for rural residents, working families, people with disabilities, and elders.
Our democracy works best when everyone can participate fully. It is time for election laws that reflect a true government of the people, by the people, and for the people, where no one is left out or left behind.
You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:
Campaign finance
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Val Hoyle | Democratic Party | $644,702 | $385,810 | $348,282 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Melissa Bird | Democratic Party | $17,141 | $13,041 | $4,101 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| William King | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Monique DeSpain | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Raiph Huber | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
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Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
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General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[1]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[2][3][4]
| Race ratings: Oregon's 4th Congressional District election, 2026 | |||||||||
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| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| 12/9/2025 | 12/2/2025 | 11/25/2025 | 11/18/2025 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | |||||
| Decision Desk HQ and The Hill | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely Democratic | Likely Democratic | Likely Democratic | Likely Democratic | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week. | |||||||||
Ballot access
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Oregon in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Oregon, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Oregon | U.S. House | Major party | The lesser of either 1,000 signatures or 2% of the number of votes cast in the district for the candidates of that major political party for presidential electors at the last presidential election. | $150 | Incumbents: 3/3/2026, New candidates: 3/10/2026 | Source |
| Oregon | U.S. House | Unaffiliated | Number of signatures equal to 1% of the number of votes cast in the district for president | N/A | Incumbents: 3/3/2026, New candidates: 3/10/2026 | Source |
District history
The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.
2024
2022
2020
District analysis
This section will contain facts and figures related to this district's elections when those are available.
See also
| Oregon | 2026 primaries | 2026 U.S. Congress elections |
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Voting in Oregon Oregon elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 |
Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries |
U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
