Top House Democrat’s sister loses crowded deep blue primary despite endorsements from ‘Squad’

Maxine Dexter has won the Democratic Primary in Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District, defeating a crowded field of progressives that included the sister of Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal.

Dexter won the primary to replace outgoing Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who had served in Congress since 1996, in a district covering much of Portland, Oregon, that is reliably blue and unlikely to be won by a Republican in November.

Susheela Jayapal, a former county commissioner, was endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and several members of the far-left “Squad” House Democrats, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District includes most of Multnomah County, all of Hood County and part of Clackamas County.

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Left to right: Maxine Dexter, Eddy Morales and Susheela Jayapal (Fox News Digital)

All three of the leading candidates – Jayapal, Dexter and Morales – were all very similar on the issues, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported, in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans 3-to-1. 

Blumenauer, who announced his retirement last year after serving in Congress since 1996, told Fox News Digital in December this Congress began with obvious fractures within the majority party, and he did not see how those could be resolved.

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Portland, Oregon  (David Papazian via Getty Images)

“I think, in this circumstance, I can – on the things I care about most – I can have as much or more impact as a civilian,” Blumenauer said. 

“It’s quite clear the way this Congress started, that there were deep, deep, irreconcilable divisions with my Republican colleagues,” he said. “And it doesn’t look like it’s getting any better.”

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Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., talks to reporters while announcing the House Democrats’ new infrastructure plan during a news conference. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“It’s troubling. But, you know, we’ll try our best this next year to help move some things,” he said.

The Associated Press and Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report