Democratic U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici speaks at a forum in Washington County. Opponents Drew Layda, left, and John Verbeek also participated.

There is a wide disparity between U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and the two challengers for her 1st Congressional District seat.

In the primary, Bonamici handily defeated two Democratic challengers — Ricky Barajas and Michael Stansfield — with zero political or government experience between them.

The Nov. 6 general election looks much the same. Neither of her opponents — John Verbeek, a Republican, and Drew Layda, the nominee from the Libertarian and Pacific Green parties — has held public office before, either.

Verbeek, a business strategist, has run unsuccessfully for Portland metro councilor, state senator (twice) and state representative. He has referred to his home city as “the people’s republic of Portland,” believes President Donald Trump’s policies are working — including separating immigrant families at the border — and is unhappy with the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Republicans comprise only 24.6 percent of the voters in the 1st Congressional District, which covers the northwest corner of the state — including Clatsop, Columbia, Washington and Yamhill counties, and a portion of southwest Multnomah County in Portland.

Verbeek hasn’t said anything in the campaign that we believe would appeal to the 39 percent of the district’s voters who identify themselves as unaffiliated.

Layda, a Navy veteran, former commercial diver, self-employed consultant and technical writer, has run an almost invisible campaign.

His statement in the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet rails against the “entrenched duopoly” of the major political parties. He promises to fight corruption, audit the Federal Reserve, end the nation’s unconstitutional military interventions, end Trump’s trade wars and end the war on cannabis, among other things.

Bonamici, on the other hand, has years of commendable public service in the state House, state Senate and now Congress. She could have the opportunity to fight even more effectively for our interests if the Democrats are successful in taking back control of the House of Representatives this fall.

She has been vocal in criticizing the Trump administration’s misguided policies on immigration, health care, education, energy and the environment, among other issues.

“What this administration is doing — ripping children away from their families — is completely unacceptable, inhumane and must be called out for what it is,” she said at a Sept. 17 public affairs forum in Washington County, according to the Beaverton Valley Times. “It is not what America stands for.”

We could not agree more.

Bonamici is based in Beaverton when not in Washington, D.C., but she has been visible and active in Clatsop County. She has a formidable work ethic and a first-rate staff.

She has hosted town halls in Cannon Beach, Seaside and Astoria in the past year. In the past few months, she has appeared at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park and South Tongue Point to discuss her support of park maintenance funding and salmon recovery efforts, respectively.

She also knows when to drop everything and wield the power of her office on behalf of her district. When OSG Tools — a Japanese manufacturer of taps, end mills, drills and indexable cutting tools — was considering a partnership with the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center in Scappoose last year, state Sen. Betsy Johnson called her to appeal for her help.

Bonamici cleared her schedule to come to Scappoose and meet face-to-face with the company’s leaders, Johnson said.

“I credit her with helping to close that deal,” Johnson said.

Bonamici has served the district ably and well, and we strongly endorse her re-election bid.

Want another chance to talk with the congresswoman before filling out your ballot? She has scheduled two appearances in the county this weekend. The first, “beverages with Bonamici,” is 6-7 p.m. Saturday at Fort George Brewery, 1483 Duane St., Astoria. The second, “coffee with Suzanne,” is 10-11 a.m. Sunday at Cannon Beach Community Hall, 207 N. Spruce St.

Bonamici, Verbeek and Layda debated Sept. 17 at a public affairs forum in Washington County. Video is available online.

Part 1: bit.ly/washco-forum-1

Part 2: bit.ly/washco-forum-2