Aspiring filmmaker and pest control manager challenges Bonamici: U.S. House races in Oregon

Jason Yates is an aspiring filmmaker with a young family who works as a pest control manager and has a big dream: He wants to get elected to Congress.

Yates, 33, the Republican challenger to Oregon's Democratic Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, doesn't have much campaign money, has never served in public office and says he was never involved in politics until about 18 months ago.

What Yates does have is boundless opposition. He says he thinks he has a 50-50 chance of beating Bonamici, despite the widespread belief in political circles that she's safely ensconced in a solidly Democratic seat.

"People see that I'm one of them," says Yates, "rather than a doctor or the lawyer that is just completely out of touch with the normal Oregonian."

Bonamici -- who not coincidentally is a lawyer by training -- says she leaves political predictions to the pundits: "What I'm focused on is being in my district and looking for ways to create opportunities for my constituents."

The 59-year-old Bonamici's quiet confidence has served her well in a relatively short political career that began with her election to the state House in 2006, followed by her special-election victory in the 1st Congressional District in January 2012.

The candidates, Oregon's 1st Congressional District

Incumbent: Democrat Suzanne Bonamici

Background: lawyer, state legislator; husband, U.S. District Judge Michael Simon; two children.

Republican challenger: Jason Yates

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Aspiring filmmaker and pest control manager challenges Bonamici: U.S. House races in Oregon