The debate aired on KTVZ 21 and was livestreamed on the station’s website. Bynum, a Democrat serving her first term in Congress, and Adair, a Deschutes County commissioner, also discussed housing, public safety and the federal government’s role in helping communities prepare for growth and disasters.

On federal forestland, Adair called for more logging and the reopening of mills, and supported the Trump administration’s effort to repeal the roadless rule, which protects millions of acres of undeveloped forest from road construction. She argued that roads could help firefighters reach blazes and pointed to a Deschutes County program using robots to clear brush and debris.

Bynum warned against what she characterized as an administration push to clear-cut forests. She said Oregon need not choose between protecting forests and supporting timber work, and argued that forest canopies, prescribed burns and other management strategies can coexist.

The candidates also differed on wildfire response. Bynum said she had sent staff to recent fire scenes and visited affected communities, emphasizing both recovery assistance and prevention. She accused the Trump administration of cutting firefighting resources and said Adair would have supported those reductions. Adair said funding and resources must be in place before fires begin because assistance can take too long to arrive.

Asked how federal policy could help fast-growing communities build housing while maintaining water supplies and fire protection, Bynum said infrastructure was essential to both housing and economic growth. She said the federal government must manage forests and fire risks effectively. Adair emphasized wildfire damage and argued for greater resilience in the lumber industry.

Health care produced another clear divide. Adair opposed Medicare for All, saying it would mean “healthcare for none,” raise taxes and worsen problems she associated with the Affordable Care Act, including high deductibles and limited access to doctors. Bynum, who recently became a co-sponsor of Medicare for All legislation, said broader access to early care could reduce costs and protect patients from unexpected bills.

During the exchange, Adair described Medicare as a program for older people and Medicaid as serving “that other group.” Bynum criticized that phrasing, saying it showed a dismissive attitude toward people who rely on those programs.

Adair also repeated a claim that Bynum supported defunding police. Bynum denied it, saying, “I did not.”

The candidates opened the debate by pitching their experience and priorities. Adair, who has served eight years as a county commissioner, highlighted her roots in Oregon and her interest in improving schools. Bynum, a former state legislator and electrical engineer, said she was working on housing, education and affordability, and said she had brought more than $200 million to the district.

Bynum won the seat in 2024 by 2.7 percentage points, flipping it from Republican to Democratic control. She was the first Black Oregonian elected to Congress. Although that contest was Oregon’s closest congressional race, the Cook Political Report now rates the district “solid Democratic.”

Bynum had raised about $3.76 million through June 30, compared with $423,921 for Adair’s campaign, according to the figures cited in the debate coverage.