Christine Kotek (/ˈkoʊtɛk/ KOH-tek;[1] born September 30, 1966) is an American politician serving as the 39th governor of Oregon since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Kotek served eight terms as the state representative from the 44th district of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2007 to 2022, as majority leader of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013, and as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2013 to 2022. She won the 2022 Oregon gubernatorial election, defeating Republican nominee Christine Drazan and independent candidate Betsy Johnson.[2][3]
Tina Kotek | |
---|---|
39th Governor of Oregon | |
Assumed office January 9, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Kate Brown |
67th Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
In office January 14, 2013 – January 16, 2022 | |
Preceded by | |
Succeeded by | Paul Holvey (Acting) |
Majority Leader of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
In office June 30, 2011 – January 14, 2013 Serving with Kevin Cameron | |
Preceded by | Dave Hunt |
Succeeded by | Val Hoyle |
Speaker pro tempore of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
In office January 10, 2011 – June 30, 2011 Serving with Andy Olson | |
Preceded by | Arnie Roblan |
Succeeded by | Peter J. Buckley |
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 44th district | |
In office January 8, 2007 – January 21, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Gary Hansen |
Succeeded by | Travis Nelson |
Personal details | |
Born | Christine Kotek September 30, 1966 York, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
Aimee Wilson (m. 2017) |
Residence | Mahonia Hall |
Education | |
Kotek became the first openly lesbian woman elected speaker of a U.S. state house in 2013. She was the longest-serving Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.[4] In 2022, she became one of the first two openly lesbian women (alongside Maura Healey) and the third openly LGBT person (alongside Healey and after her predecessor Kate Brown and Jared Polis) elected governor of a U.S. state, as well as the third woman elected governor of Oregon (after Barbara Roberts and Kate Brown).[5]
As speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives and governor, Kotek has spearheaded legislation to increase housing production in Oregon to alleviate the state's housing crisis. In 2019, as speaker, she spearheaded legislation to make Oregon the first state to remove single-family-exclusive zoning across the state, permitting duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes in residential neighborhoods previously zoned exclusively for single-family homes. In 2024, as governor, her top legislative priority was putting $376 million toward housing production, as well as easing the rules for housing development.
Early life and education
editKotek was born on September 30, 1966, in York, Pennsylvania, to Jerry Albert Kotek[6] and Florence (née Matich).[7][8][9] Her father was of Czech ancestry and her mother's parents were Slovenes.[10] Her grandfather František Kotek[11] was a baker from Týnec nad Labem.[12][13][14]
Kotek graduated second in her class from Dallastown Area High School.[15] She attended Georgetown University, but left without graduating.[15] She then worked in commercial diving and as a travel agent.[15]
In 1987, Kotek moved to Oregon. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in religious studies from the University of Oregon in 1990.[16][17][18][19] She then studied at the University of Washington, earning a master's degree in international studies and comparative religion.[15]
Career
editBefore being elected to office, Kotek worked as a public policy advocate for the Oregon Food Bank and then as policy director of Children First for Oregon.[20] She co-chaired the Human Services Coalition of Oregon during the 2002 budget crisis and co-chaired the Governor's Medicaid Advisory Committee.
Oregon House of Representatives
editElections
editIn 2004, Kotek lost the Democratic primary for Oregon House District 43. In 2006, she won a three-way Democratic primary for Oregon House District 44, which includes North and Northeast Portland. In the general election, she defeated her Republican opponent with nearly 80% of the vote.
Kotek ran unopposed for reelection in 2008.[21] In 2010, she faced a Democratic primary challenge but won over 85% of the vote.[22] Kotek won the 2010 general election with almost 81% of the vote.[23] She was reelected every two years through 2020.[24]
Pre-speakership House career
editKotek rose in the House leadership, serving as the Democratic whip in the 2009 legislative session. In the 2011 session, she was co-speaker pro tempore with Republican Andy Olson due to the House's 30–30 partisan split.
In June 2011, the House Democratic Caucus chose Kotek as its leader (succeeding Dave Hunt).[25]
Speakership
editAfter Democrats won a House majority in the 2012 election, they nominated Kotek for speaker of the House for the 2013 legislative session.[26] She was elected to the position, becoming the first out lesbian in the nation to serve as a legislative speaker.[27][28] She was reelected for in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021.[29][30] She is Oregon's longest-serving speaker of the House.[31]
In December 2016, Kotek became the chair of the board of directors of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.[32] She left the post in July 2019.[33]
In 2020, Republicans worked with Democrats to redraw the districts following the 2020 U.S. census with equal representation from the Democratic and Republican parties as a compromise to have the Republicans stop the use of quorum rule restrictions to stall legislation.[34][35] Kotek later reversed her decision and restored the Democratic majority on the committee redrawing the congressional districts.[36][37]
In January 2022, Kotek announced her resignation from the House to focus on her campaign.[38] She was succeeded as speaker by Dan Rayfield[39] and in the 44th district by Travis Nelson.[40]
During her time as speaker, Kotek introduced legislation to allow for more housing construction in Oregon.[41] In 2017, she unsuccessfully pushed for legislation to permit duplexes in residential neighborhoods that were previously exclusively zoned for single-family housing.[42] Her House Bill 2001, which sought to enable missing middle housing, required cities of more than 10,000 and counties of more than 15,000 to allow fourplexes in neighborhoods previously zoned exclusively for single-family housing, and to permit accessory dwelling units and easier rules for subdividing existing homes. The bill passed in 2019, making Oregon the first state to abolish single-family exclusive zoning across the state.[43][42]
Governor of Oregon
edit2022 gubernatorial campaign
editOn September 1, 2021, Kotek declared her candidacy in the 2022 Oregon gubernatorial election.[44] Her main opponent in the Democratic primary was State Treasurer Tobias Read. She won the Democratic primary on May 17, 2022.[45]
In the general election, Kotek's main opponents were Republican nominee and former state representative Christine Drazan and unaffiliated candidate and former state senator Betsy Johnson.[46] The election was on November 8. On November 9, The Oregonian, Willamette Week, and Oregon Public Broadcasting declared Kotek the winner of the race with 73% of ballots counted.[47][48]
Tenure
editKotek was sworn in on January 9, 2023.[49] On her first day in office, she declared a state of emergency due to homelessness.[50] She established a statewide goal of building 36,000 new housing units a year (up from the 22,000 that were being built in the state when she took office).[51] At the time she took office, Oregon was ranked as one of the states most severely underproducing housing relative to demand.[52]
In March 2024, Kotek signed bipartisan legislation to put $376 million toward housing production, including a $75 million revolving loan fund to enable localities to build affordable housing, $131 million for emergency housing, $123.5 to enable localities to acquire and develop shovel-ready housing, and $24.5 million to improve the energy efficiency and air quality in housing.[51] She initially proposed $500 million but legislators considered that too much.[53]
In 2024, three of Kotek's top aides, including her chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, resigned after registering concerns about the role of the governor's wife, Aimee Kotek Wilson, in her administration.[54][55] Backlash centered on hiring paid staff for a new "Office of the First Spouse" and Wilson's frequent involvement in policy meetings. Kotek later responded by halting plans to create a formal office and issuing a "First Partner Handbook".[56][57] The Oregon Government Ethics Commission declined to investigate the issue after a complaint was filed, on the grounds that Wilson had not gained financially from her actions.[58]
Personal life
editKotek and her wife, Aimee Kotek Wilson, met in 2005 and married in a private ceremony in 2017.[59] They lived together in Portland's Kenton neighborhood beginning in 2005.[15][60] Kotek was one of the Oregon Legislative Assembly's few openly LGBTQ+ members and the first lesbian speaker of a state house.[61] After winning the gubernatorial election, she sold her Portland home and moved to the governor's mansion, Mahonia Hall, in Salem.[62] Kotek considers herself a lapsed Catholic and attends an Episcopal church.[15]
Electoral history
editOregon House of Representatives
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tina Kotek | 13,931 | 78.8 | |
Republican | Jay Kushner | 3,645 | 20.6 | |
Write-in | 97 | 0.5 | ||
Total votes | 17,673 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tina Kotek | 20,044 | 97.6 | |
Write-in | 490 | 2.4 | ||
Total votes | 20,534 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tina Kotek | 16,517 | 80.9 | |
Republican | Kitty C Harmon | 3,812 | 18.7 | |
Write-in | 75 | 0.4 | ||
Total votes | 20,404 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tina Kotek | 23,235 | 86.3 | |
Republican | Michael Harrington | 3,557 | 13.2 | |
Write-in | 126 | 0.5 | ||
Total votes | 26,918 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tina Kotek | 19,760 | 85.5 | |
Republican | Michael H Harrington | 3,151 | 13.6 | |
Write-in | 193 | 0.8 | ||
Total votes | 23,104 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tina Kotek | 23,288 | 79.7 | |
Pacific Green | Joe Rowe | 5,700 | 19.5 | |
Write-in | 241 | 0.8 | ||
Total votes | 29,229 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tina Kotek | 27,194 | 89.1 | |
Libertarian | Manny Guerra | 3,181 | 10.4 | |
Write-in | 155 | 0.5 | ||
Total votes | 30,530 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tina Kotek | 32,465 | 87.2 | |
Republican | Margo Logan | 4,643 | 12.5 | |
Write-in | 127 | 0.3 | ||
Total votes | 37,235 | 100% |
Governor of Oregon
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tina Kotek | 275,301 | 57.6% | |
Democratic | Tobias Read | 156,017 | 32.6% | |
Democratic | Patrick Starnes | 10,524 | 2.2% | |
Democratic | George Carrillo | 9,365 | 1.9% | |
Democratic | Michael Trimble | 5,000 | 1.0% | |
Democratic | John Sweeney | 4,193 | 0.9% | |
Democratic | Julian Bell | 3,926 | 0.8% | |
Democratic | Dave Stauffer | 2,302 | 0.5% | |
Democratic | Wilson Bright | 2,316 | 0.5% | |
Democratic | Ifeanyichukwu Diru | 1,780 | 0.4% | |
Democratic | Keisha Marchant | 1,755 | 0.4% | |
Democratic | Genevieve Wilson | 1,588 | 0.3% | |
Democratic | Michael Cross | 1,342 | 0.3% | |
Democratic | David Beem | 1,308 | 0.3% | |
Democratic | Peter Hall | 982 | 0.2% | |
Total votes | 491,445 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tina Kotek | 916,635 | 46.9% | ||
Republican | Christine Drazan | 849,853 | 43.5% | ||
Independent | Betsy Johnson | 168,363 | 8.6% | ||
Constitution | Donice Noelle Smith | 8,047 | 0.4% | ||
Libertarian | R. Leon Noble | 6,862 | 0.3% | ||
Write-Ins | 2,113 | 0.1% | |||
Total votes | 1,951,873 | 100% | |||
Democratic hold |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek's wife has office, staffer, attends meetings. KOIN 6. March 25, 2024. Event occurs at 00:02. Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Oregon Governor Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ "Tackling homelessness top goal for Oregon Democrat Kotek". AP NEWS. November 10, 2022. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- ^ Monahan, Rachel; Jaquiss, Nigel (October 20, 2021). "Tina Kotek, the Longest-Serving House Speaker in Oregon History, Makes Her Case for the State's Top Job". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ^ Epstein, Reid J. (November 11, 2022). "Tina Kotek, a Progressive, Will Be Oregon's Next Governor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- ^ "Statement of Organization for Candidate Committee". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022.
- ^ "Obituary for Jerry A. Kotek". The York Dispatch. York, Pennsylvania. November 2, 2011. p. 24. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
Jerry is survived by... a daughter Tina Kotek and her partner Aimee Wilson of Portland Ore
- ^ "Jerry A. Kotek's Obituary (2011) York Daily Record". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ "Florence C. Kotek's Obituary (2007) York Daily Record". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ "1930 US Census for Little Ferry, Bergen, New Jersey". FamilySearch. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ "United States Social Security Death Index". FamilySearch. 1974. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ "The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey on March 19, 1974 · 45". March 19, 1974. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980". FamilySearch. 1924. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ "Státní oblastní archiv v Praze". ebadatelna.soapraha.cz. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Tina Kotek Is Accomplished—and Struggles to Gain Traction With Some Democrats. Why?". Willamette Week. March 30, 2022. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
- ^ "Tina Kotek - Ballotpedia". Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
- ^ "The Voter's Self-Defense Guide, Tina Kotek's Biography". Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ "UO Alumni, Media Mentions, 3/31/2022". Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ "Oregon Voter's Guide, May 2022, Tina Kotek". Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ "Emily's List, Tina Kotek". Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
- ^ "Kroger wins (another) attorney general nomination". The Oregonian. June 19, 2008. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
- ^ "Multnomah County Elections: 2010 primary results". Archived from the original on May 18, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
- ^ "Oregon Secretary of State: 2010 general election results". Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ "Tina Kotek". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- ^ "Tina Kotek replaces Dave Hunt as Oregon House Democratic leader". The Oregonian. June 30, 2011. Archived from the original on September 5, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
- ^ "Rep. Kotek is Democrats' nominee for Oregon House speaker". Statesman Journal. November 15, 2012.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ "Ore. House to elect first lesbian speaker". United Press International. November 19, 2012. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ "Tina Kotek, the Longest-Serving House Speaker in Oregon History, Makes Her Case for the State's Top Job". wweek.com. October 20, 2021. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
Willamette Week
- ^ "Oregon Legislature Convenes, Prepares For Session". Oregon Public Broadcasting. January 12, 2015. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
- ^ "Tina Kotek Re-Elected Oregon House Speaker, Focuses on Equality in Opening Remarks to the 79th Legislative Assembly" (PDF) (Press release). January 9, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 10, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- ^ "Kotek: 'I believe in the things we have done' in record tenure". Portland Tribune. January 15, 2022. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
- ^ "DLCC Announces New Board Leadership, Members". Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (Press release). December 7, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
- ^ "New York Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins Elected to Chair of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee". Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (Press release). July 17, 2019.
- ^ "Redistricting". Albany Democrat-Herald. April 16, 2021. p. A4. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ VanderHart, Dirk (April 16, 2021). "It's a gamble': Lawmakers reach deal to end delay tactics". Statesman Journal. p. A1. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (March 30, 2022). "Tina Kotek Is Accomplished—and Struggles to Gain Traction With Some Democrats. Why?". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022.
- ^ "Oregon Supreme Court Dismisses Two Challenges to New Legislative Map". Willamette Week. November 22, 2021. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022.
- ^ VanderHart, Dirk (January 6, 2022). "Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek resigning to focus on governor's race". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- ^ "Oregon Democrats elect new Majority Leader and Speaker of the House nominee". KGW. January 16, 2022. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- ^ "Travis Nelson gets nod for Kotek's former House seat". Oregon Capital Insider. January 28, 2022. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
- ^ "What Should Oregon Look Like? The Fight Over Single-Family Zoning". opb. 2024.
- ^ a b Isaiah (December 21, 2023). "A Bipartisan Vision for the Benefits of Middle Housing: The Case of Oregon". The Century Foundation.
- ^ "Oregon Legislature Votes To Essentially Ban Single-Family Zoning". NPR. 2019.
- ^ "Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek announces run for governor". KATU. September 1, 2021. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Westerman, Ashley (May 18, 2022). "Tina Kotek's win comes amid a wave of LGBTQ candidates running for office". NPR. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
- ^ "In Normally Sleepy August, the Oregon Governor's Race Heats Up". Portland Monthly. August 3, 2022. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
- ^ "Democrat Tina Kotek will be Oregon's next governor". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ Borrud, Hillary (November 9, 2022). "Tina Kotek wins Oregon governor's race, fending off strongest Republican bid in a decade". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ "Gov. Tina Kotek, Oregon lawmakers sworn into office with promises of change, unity". Statesman Journal. Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ "Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signs executive orders aimed at homelessness, declares state of emergency". Statesman Journal. Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ a b "Lawmakers approve Gov. Tina Kotek's top priority for the session; funding expected to ease Oregon housing crisis". opb. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "Oregon lawmakers send Gov. Tina Kotek's $376M housing package to her desk for signature". Statesman Journal. 2024.
- ^ "Gov. Tina Kotek's $500 million bill targets Oregon's housing crisis with infrastructure boost, land use expansions". oregonlive. February 4, 2024.
- ^ "Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek's chief of staff is leaving, 2 other top aides in flux". Oregon Public Broadcasting. March 22, 2024.
- ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Carlos Fuentes | The (September 19, 2024). "Top staffer for Gov. Tina Kotek resigns after extended leave". oregonlive. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek apologizes, walks back plan to expand her wife's role in administration". opb. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "Governor's office releases 'First Partner's Handbook' to clarify role of Kotek Wilson". September 2024.
- ^ "Oregon ethics board deadlocked on whether to investigate the role of Gov. Kotek's wife". kgw.com. July 9, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "Meet Tina Kotek's Wife Aimee Wilson - Family & Parents". thefamilynation.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ "Meet Oregon's Tina Kotek, who hopes to be America's first lesbian governor". NBC News. May 30, 2022. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
- ^ Beck, Byron; Stern, Henry (April 18, 2007). "Basic Rights Oregon and Rep. Tina Kotek". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
- ^ "Gov. Tina Kotek sells North Portland home, moves to Mahonia Hall". September 21, 2023.
- ^ "Official Results | November 7, 2006". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Results | November 4, 2008". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Results November 2, 2010". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Results | November 6, 2012". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "November 4, 2014, General Election, Official Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "May 17, 2022, Primary Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- ^ "2022 General Election Unofficial Results". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
External links
edit- Office of Oregon Governor government website.
- Tina Kotek for Oregon campaign website
- Appearances on C-SPAN