David Russ, a Republican from Dundee, is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Oregon's 6th Congressional District in the Nov. 3 general election.
Russ, a former mayor of Dundee who works as an accountant and real estate broker, said he is running "to help return morality, law and order, and the people to our nation's governance." He described his guiding priorities as "God, the Constitution and you."
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Office sought: U.S. House of Representatives, Oregon 6th Congressional District
- Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
- Residence: Dundee, Oregon
- Education: Associate's degree, Columbia Junior College; bachelor's degree, Eastern Washington University
- Occupation: Accountant, consulting chief financial officer, real estate broker
- Family: Two children, four grandchildren
Experience and public service
Russ served as mayor of Dundee for 10 years and one year as a city councilor, according to his questionnaire responses to Surround Sound News. He also served on the Yamhill County Parkway Committee for 11 years and the Yamhill County Local Public Safety Coordinating Council for three years. He chaired the Dundee Urban Renewal Agency beginning in 2016.
Outside government, Russ cited 45 years as a small business owner, 36 years in corporate management and six years founding and serving as CFO of a nonprofit organization. He has worked in real estate in various capacities for 36 years, according to his responses.
"I am an average middle class man who has fought, and worked for everything I have and will fight for your right to keep what you have," Russ said in his questionnaire.
On the issues
Constitutional governance: Russ said every problem the nation faces "can be traced back to a drift away from the Constitution." He identified constitutional adherence as his top priority and said he would urge voters to read the document and hold leaders accountable to it.
Affordability and cost of living: Russ attributed rising costs of housing, food and energy to what he called "a systematic tearing down of our economy" and uncontrolled immigration from 2021 to 2024. He proposed legislation he calls "The No Strings Act," which he said would reduce federal spending and taxes. He also called for restoring the United States as a "wealth generating nation" by protecting farming, forestry, mining and manufacturing.
Immigration and border security: Russ said existing laws need to be enforced rather than adding new ones. He said the border "is currently secure, and it needs to remain that way." He added that work visas have been abused, depress wages and reduce jobs available to U.S. citizens.
Federal spending and debt: Russ said he would work to eliminate federal executive agencies through his proposed No Strings Act. He called for strict federal auditing rules. The comptroller general cannot complete audits, he said, and there must be accountability.
Energy and the environment: Russ said a free market would allow Americans to innovate on energy. He criticized policies that forced out coal and hydroelectric power in favor of solar panels and wind turbines, saying those policies increased energy costs and damaged land. He said he was unsure what "climate concerns" meant, adding in a 2024 Statesman Journal interview that "the climate has been changing since there was climate on planet earth."
The 6th Congressional District includes communities in the Tigard area.
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
