Rep. Andrea Salinas will face Republican David Russ on Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Oregon's 6th Congressional District, which covers parts of Washington County along with Polk and Yamhill counties and portions of Clackamas and Marion counties.

The race matters beyond OR-6. Democrats are trying to take control of the U.S. House, and every seat counts, KOIN reported Nov. 1.

Salinas, a Tigard Democrat, has served in Congress since 2023. She is one of the first two Hispanic women elected to the U.S. House from Oregon. Before Congress, she chaired the Oregon House Health Care Committee from 2017 to 2023, according to her congressional biography.

Russ, a Republican businessman, served as Dundee's mayor for 10 years and on the Dundee City Council for one year, according to his candidate questionnaire. He also served 11 years on the Yamhill County Parkway Committee and three years on the county's public safety committee.

Analysts expect Salinas to hold the seat

Political analysts do not expect any of Oregon's six congressional seats to change hands, OPB reported in September. The Cook Political Report, which analyzes congressional elections, rated OR-6 as a "solid Democratic" district in 2026.

The fundraising gap is wide. Salinas' campaign raised $1.6 million since 2025, while Russ reported raising $12,000 as of late June, OPB reported.

DHM public opinion researcher John Horvick told OPB that growing disillusionment with the Trump administration and lopsided fundraising are likely what will keep districts like OR-6 blue. Horvick said Oregonians worried about affordability are feeling the effects of tariffs and the armed conflict with Iran.

The OR-6 race "didn't bring out a high-profile challenger," Horvick said. Salinas previously ran two competitive races against self-funded billionaire Mike Erickson. A nonaffiliated candidate, Jason Faler, dropped out in August after falling short of the roughly 3,500 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot, the Beaverton Valley Times reported.

Where the candidates stand

On health care, Salinas' campaign says she voted to strengthen price transparency at hospitals and insurance companies and co-sponsored legislation to improve rural health care. She says she will push for prescription drug price caps and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. She also co-chairs the Mental Health Caucus and has introduced the HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act, which would provide three free behavioral health visits per year for Medicare and Medicaid recipients.

Russ, in his candidate questionnaire, called the Affordable Care Act (ACA) the "opposite of its title" and wrote that "legislating markets destroys affordability." He argued that health care policy should be left to individual states, not the federal government.

On the economy, Salinas' campaign says she has supported federal funds for rural health care and education, infrastructure and growing Oregon's green economy. Russ, in his questionnaire, said he opposes U.S. military involvement overseas unless there is "a clear, specific and imminent national security issue."

KOIN's political director Ken Boddie interviewed Salinas on Nov. 1 about a Democratic House majority, the economy amid the Iran war and expanding Medicaid coverage. No transcript of that interview was available.

Ballots are due by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 and can be mailed or dropped at any drop box location.