Betsy Johnson

Betsy Johnson
Member of the Oregon Senate from the 16th district
In office January 20, 2005 – December 16, 2021
Preceded by	Joan Dukes
Succeeded by	Rachel Armitage
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office January 2003 – January 20, 2005
Preceded by	Jackie Winters
Succeeded by	Brad Witt
Constituency	31st district
In office January 8, 2001 – January 2003
Preceded by	Jackie Taylor
Succeeded by	Wayne Krieger
Constituency	1st district
Personal details
Born	Elizabeth Katharine Johnson (1951-01-12) January 12, 1951 (age 73) Bend, Oregon, U.S.
Political party	Independent (since 2021)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (before 2021)
Spouse	John Helm
Relatives	Sam Johnson (father)
Education	Carleton College (BA) Lewis and Clark College (JD)
Signature
Website	betsyjohnsonfororegon.com

Elizabeth Katharine "Betsy" Johnson (born January 12, 1951^[1]) is an American aviator, entrepreneur, and politician who served in the Oregon House of Representatives from the 1st and 31st House districts from 2001 to 2005, and in the Oregon Senate from the 16th district from 2005 to 2021, as a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to her tenure in the state legislature she served on the Port of St. Helens board and worked in the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Johnson was born in Bend, Oregon, as the daughter of Sam Johnson, who served in the state house. She was raised in Redmond, Oregon, and educated at Oregon Episcopal School, Carleton College, and Lewis and Clark College. She operated a helicopter business and participated in international helicopter competitions. She was active in local politics in Columbia County, Oregon, where she served on the boards of multiple groups and she was elected to the Port of St. Helens board in a 1993 special election. She was the manager of aeronautics in the Oregon Department of Transportation from 1993 to 1998.

She was elected to the state house in the 2000 election and reelected in the 2002 and 2004 elections. Johnson was appointed to replace Joan Dukes in the state senate in 2005, and was reelected in the 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 elections. She was a moderate and conservative member of the Democratic caucus and held a controlling swing vote. She resigned from the state senate in 2021, to run in the 2022 gubernatorial election as an independent candidate, losing to Tina Kotek.