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 | |
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]
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.
- ^ 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.