Tina Kotek

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Tina Kotek
39th Governor of Oregon
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
Preceded byKate Brown
67th Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office
January 14, 2013 – January 16, 2022
Preceded by
Succeeded byPaul Holvey (Acting)
Majority Leader of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office
June 30, 2011 – January 14, 2013
Serving with Kevin Cameron
Preceded byDave Hunt
Succeeded byVal Hoyle
Speaker pro tempore of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office
January 10, 2011 – June 30, 2011
Serving with Andy Olson
Preceded byArnie Roblan
Succeeded byPeter J. Buckley
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 44th district
In office
January 8, 2007 – January 21, 2022
Preceded byGary Hansen
Succeeded byTravis Nelson
Personal details
Born
Christine Kotek

(1966-09-30) September 30, 1966 (age 57)
York, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Aimee Wilson
​
(m. 2017)​
Education

Christine Kotek (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.[1][2]

As an openly lesbian woman, Kotek has made history several times through her electoral success. She became the first openly lesbian woman elected speaker of a U.S. state house in 2013, and was the longest-serving Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.[3] 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).[4]

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[edit]

Kotek was born on September 30, 1966, in York, Pennsylvania, to Jerry Albert Kotek[5] and Florence (née Matich).[6][7][8] Her father was of Czech ancestry and her mother's parents were Slovenes.[9] Her grandfather František Kotek[10] was a baker from Týnec nad Labem.[11][12][13]

Kotek graduated second in her class from Dallastown Area High School.[14] She attended Georgetown University, but left without graduating.[14] She then worked in commercial diving and as a travel agent.[14]

In 1987, Kotek moved to Oregon. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in religious studies from the University of Oregon in 1990.[15][16][17][18] She then studied at the University of Washington, earning a master's degree in international studies and comparative religion.[14]

Career[edit]

Before 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.[19] 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[edit]

Elections[edit]

In 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.[20] In 2010, she faced a Democratic primary challenge but won over 85% of the vote.[21] Kotek won the 2010 general election with almost 81% of the vote.[22] She was reelected every two years through 2020.[23]

Kotek with Portland Mayor Sam Adams and fellow State Representative Lew Frederick posing for a photo at a Sunday Parkways event in Portland

Pre-speakership House career[edit]

Kotek 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).[24]

Speakership[edit]

Speaker Kotek with then State Representative Cliff Bentz, looking on as Governor John Kitzhaber signs HB2800, authorizing funding for the Columbia River Crossing

After Democrats won a House majority in the 2012 election, they nominated Kotek for speaker of the House for the 2013 legislative session.[25] She was elected to the position, becoming the first out lesbian in the nation to serve as a legislative speaker.[26][27] She was reelected for in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021.[28][29] She is Oregon's longest-serving speaker of the House.[30]

In December 2016, Kotek became the chair of the board of directors of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.[31] She left the post in July 2019.[32]

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.[33][34] Kotek later reversed her decision and restored the Democratic majority on the committee redrawing the congressional districts.[35][36]

In January 2022, Kotek announced her resignation from the House to focus on her campaign.[37] She was succeeded as speaker by Dan Rayfield[38] and in the 44th district by Travis Nelson.[39]

During her time as speaker, Kotek introduced legislation to allow for more housing construction in Oregon.[40] In 2017, she unsuccessfully pushed for legislation to permit duplexes in residential neighborhoods that were previously exclusively zoned for single-family housing.[41] 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.[42][41]

Governor of Oregon[edit]

Kotek and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici at a 2023 Memorial Day ceremony in Beaverton

2022 gubernatorial campaign[edit]

On September 1, 2021, Kotek declared her candidacy in the 2022 Oregon gubernatorial election.[43] Her main opponent in the Democratic primary was State Treasurer Tobias Read. She won the Democratic primary on May 17, 2022.[44]

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.[45] 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.[46][47]

Tenure[edit]

Kotek was sworn in on January 9, 2023.[48] On her first day in office, she declared a state of emergency due to homelessness.[49] 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).[50] At the time she took office, Oregon was ranked as one of the states most severely underproducing housing relative to demand.[51]

In 2024, Kotek's legislative priority was to boost housing production in Oregon. In March 2024, she 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.[50] She initially proposed $500 million but legislators considered that too much.[52]

Personal life[edit]

Kotek and her wife, Aimee Wilson, met in 2005 and married in a private ceremony in 2017.[53] They have lived together in Portland's Kenton neighborhood since 2005.[14][54] Kotek was one of the Oregon Legislative Assembly's few openly LGBTQ+ members and the first lesbian speaker of a state house.[55]

Kotek considers herself a lapsed Catholic and attends an Episcopal church.[14]

Electoral history[edit]

Oregon House of Representatives[edit]

2006 Oregon State Representative, 44th district [56]
Party 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%
2008 Oregon State Representative, 44th district [57]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tina Kotek 20,044 97.6
Write-in 490 2.4
Total votes 20,534 100%
2010 Oregon State Representative, 44th district [58]
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%
2012 Oregon State Representative, 44th district [59]
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%
2014 Oregon State Representative, 44th district [60]
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%
2016 Oregon State Representative, 44th district [61]
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%
2018 Oregon State Representative, 44th district [62]
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%
2020 Oregon State Representative, 44th district [63]
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[edit]

Main article: 2022 Oregon gubernatorial election
Oregon Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election, 2022[64]
Party 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%
2022 Oregon gubernatorial election[65]
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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Statement of Organization for Candidate Committee". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022.
  6. ^ "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
  7. ^ "Jerry A. Kotek's Obituary (2011) York Daily Record". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  8. ^ "Florence C. Kotek's Obituary (2007) York Daily Record". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  9. ^ "1930 US Census for Little Ferry, Bergen, New Jersey". FamilySearch. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  10. ^ "United States Social Security Death Index". FamilySearch. 1974. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980". FamilySearch. 1924. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "Státní oblastní archiv v Praze". ebadatelna.soapraha.cz. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Tina Kotek - Ballotpedia". Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  16. ^ "The Voter's Self-Defense Guide, Tina Kotek's Biography". Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  17. ^ "UO Alumni, Media Mentions, 3/31/2022". Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  18. ^ "Oregon Voter's Guide, May 2022, Tina Kotek". Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  19. ^ "Emily's List, Tina Kotek". Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  20. ^ "Kroger wins (another) attorney general nomination". The Oregonian. June 19, 2008. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
  21. ^ "Multnomah County Elections: 2010 primary results". Archived from the original on May 18, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  22. ^ "Oregon Secretary of State: 2010 general election results". Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  23. ^ "Tina Kotek". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ "Rep. Kotek is Democrats' nominee for Oregon House speaker". Statesman Journal. November 15, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "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
  28. ^ "Oregon Legislature Convenes, Prepares For Session". Oregon Public Broadcasting. January 12, 2015. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ "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.
  31. ^ "DLCC Announces New Board Leadership, Members". Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (Press release). December 7, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  32. ^ "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.
  33. ^ "Redistricting". Albany Democrat-Herald. April 16, 2021. p. A4. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ 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.
  36. ^ "Oregon Supreme Court Dismisses Two Challenges to New Legislative Map". Willamette Week. November 22, 2021. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022.
  37. ^ 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.
  38. ^ "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.
  39. ^ "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.
  40. ^ "What Should Oregon Look Like? The Fight Over Single-Family Zoning". opb. 2024.
  41. ^ a b Isaiah (December 21, 2023). "A Bipartisan Vision for the Benefits of Middle Housing: The Case of Oregon". The Century Foundation.
  42. ^ "Oregon Legislature Votes To Essentially Ban Single-Family Zoning". NPR. 2019.
  43. ^ "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.
  44. ^ 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.
  45. ^ "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.
  46. ^ "Democrat Tina Kotek will be Oregon's next governor". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  47. ^ 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.
  48. ^ "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.
  49. ^ "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.
  50. ^ 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.
  51. ^ "Oregon lawmakers send Gov. Tina Kotek's $376M housing package to her desk for signature". Statesman Journal. 2024.
  52. ^ "Gov. Tina Kotek's $500 million bill targets Oregon's housing crisis with infrastructure boost, land use expansions". oregonlive. February 4, 2024.
  53. ^ "Meet Tina Kotek's Wife Aimee Wilson - Family & Parents". thefamilynation.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  54. ^ "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.
  55. ^ 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.
  56. ^ "Official Results | November 7, 2006". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  57. ^ "Official Results | November 4, 2008". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  58. ^ "Official Results November 2, 2010". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  59. ^ "Official Results | November 6, 2012". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  60. ^ "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.
  61. ^ "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  62. ^ "November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  63. ^ "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.
  64. ^ "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.
  65. ^ "2022 General Election Unofficial Results". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tina Kotek.
Oregon House of Representatives
Preceded by Speaker pro tempore of the Oregon House of Representatives
2011
Served alongside: Andy Olson 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Oregon House of Representatives
2011–2013
Served alongside: Kevin Cameron 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
2013–2022 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Oregon
2023–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Oregon
2022 		Most recent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Vice President Order of precedence of the United States
Within Oregon 		Succeeded by
Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by
Otherwise Mike Johnson
as Speaker of the House
Preceded byas Governor of Minnesota Order of precedence of the United States
Outside Oregon 		Succeeded byas Governor of Kansas
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