OR-04 Republican nominee?
$2.3K
MAY 20, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleAttorney
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderFemale
LocationOregon
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BackgroundAttorney
EducationWillamette University School of Law (1995–1998)
Notable personal detailsMonique J. DeSpain is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House in Oregon’s 4th Congressional District. She is an attorney and retired U.S. Air Force/Oregon Air National Guard officer who served in Judge Advocate (JAG) roles and retired with the rank of colonel. She has also worked with the nonprofit Common Sense for Oregon and has been active in Oregon politics and public policy advocacy.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports pro-business, lower-cost-of-living policies and reducing burdens that she says raise costs for Oregon families and businesses; emphasizes growing the economy and solving affordability. Campaign materials and reporting indicate she has advocated lowering taxes and received endorsements from business groups.
Healthcare
Supports limited federal role in domestic policy and prioritizes fixing veterans’ access to care through VA improvements; frames rising healthcare costs as part of broader affordability issues tied to border and economic policy and emphasizes reducing federal regulation and spending rather than expanding government-run programs.
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Immigration & Border
Supports strong border-security measures including closing or tightly securing the southern border, attributes increases in fentanyl and crime to the border, and backs legislative restrictions on housing undocumented immigrants. Frames the situation as a national security and public-safety crisis and emphasizes enforcement-first responses rather than expanded legal pathways or regularization.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports preserving abortion access and opposes a federal ban on abortion; says the federal government should not regulate individuals’ medical decisions and commits to protecting Oregon’s pro‑choice laws, contraception, and IVF from federal encroachment. Public materials emphasize opposing a nationwide ban while representing Oregon voters who support reproductive rights.
Climate & Energy
The candidate has made statements both supporting some clean-energy opportunities and opposing specific renewable projects; she has also been reported expressing skepticism about human-caused climate change. Policy specifics are limited and mixed across sources, combining support for certain local forest-management and clean-energy job goals with opposition to offshore wind development.
Public Safety & Guns
Opposes most new gun restrictions and describes herself as a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, while saying she supports limited “reasonable measures to separate the mentally ill from weapons.” She submitted written testimony opposing Oregon SB 348 (a package including background checks, purchase permits, and raising purchase age) and has said enforcement of existing laws and support for law enforcement are priorities for public safety.
News
Monique DeSpain is in the news as she competes with Stefan Strek for the Republican nomination in Oregon’s 4th Congressional District ahead of the May 19 primary. The race is drawing attention because the district is competitive and the candidates are contrasting on issues like immigration enforcement, healthcare, childcare, logging, and federal spending. Recent fundraising reports also show DeSpain trailing Democratic incumbent Val Hoyle, who has raised more money this cycle.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements