Tina Kotek

Tina Kotek (born September 30, 1966) is an American politician who served as speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2013 to 2022. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Tina Kotek
67th Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office
January 14, 2013 – January 16, 2022
Preceded byBruce Hanna
Arnie Roblan
Succeeded byDan Rayfield
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 (1966-09-30) September 30, 1966
York, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Aimee Wilson
EducationUniversity of Oregon (BA)
University of Washington (MA)

Early life and education

Born and raised in York, Pennsylvania, Kotek attended Dallastown Area High School. She moved to Oregon in 1987, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies from the University of Oregon. She then went on to graduate study at the University of Washington, earning a master’s degree in international studies.[1]

Career

Before being elected to office, Kotek worked as the policy director of Children First for Oregon, prior to which she was a public policy advocate for the Oregon Food Bank. She co-chaired the Human Services Coalition of Oregon during the 2002 budget crisis and serves as the co-chair of the Governor’s Medicaid Advisory Committee.

Oregon House of Representatives

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 percent of the vote. On April 26, 2007 Kotek was accused of violating Oregon state house rules when she kissed her wife on the house floor in response to Oregon passing marriage equality legislation.[2]

Kotek ran unopposed for re-election in 2008.[3] In 2010, she faced a Democratic primary challenge but won over 85% of the vote.[4] Kotek won the 2010 general election with almost 81% of the vote.[5] She has been re-elected every two years, through the 2020 election.[6]

Kotek rose in the House leadership, serving as the Democratic whip in the 75th Oregon Legislative Assembly. She was co-speaker pro tempore, a position shared with Republican Andy Olson due to the House's 30–30 partisan split during the 2011 session. In June 2011 Kotek was chosen by the House Democratic Caucus as their leader (succeeding Dave Hunt).[7]

After Democrats won a House majority in the 2012 election, they nominated Kotek for speaker of the House for the 2013 legislative session.[8] Kotek was elected to the position, and was re-elected for the two-year sessions in 2015, 2017 and 2019.[9][10]

After Governor John Kitzhaber resigned in February 2015, elevating Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown to the governorship, Kotek was mentioned as a possible successor to Brown.[11] Kotek denied interest in the job,[12] Brown later appointed Jeanne Atkins to fill the remainder of Brown's term as Secretary of State.

In December 2016, Kotek became the chair of the board of directors of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.[13]

2022 Oregon gubernatorial election
Main article: 2022 Oregon gubernatorial election

On September 1, 2021, Kotek declared her candidacy for the 2022 Oregon gubernatorial election.[14] She resigned as Speaker on January 16, 2022, and from her House seat on January 21 to focus on her campaign.[15][16]

Personal life

Kotek, a lesbian,[17] was one of the only openly-gay members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. Her election campaigns have won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund,[18] which provides financial and strategic assistance.

Kotek is married to Aimee Wilson.[19]

See also

References
  1. "Tina Kotek - Ballotpedia". Retrieved 2017-10-26.
  2. "Lesbian lobbyist accused of violating state house rules in Oregon". 26 April 2007.
  3. "Kroger wins (another) attorney general nomination". The Oregonian. 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  4. "Multnomah County Elections: 2010 primary results".
  5. "Oregon Secretary of State: 2010 general election results".
  6. "Tina Kotek". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  7. "Tina Kotek replaces Dave Hunt as Oregon House Democratic leader". The Oregonian. 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  8. "Rep. Kotek is Democrats' nominee for Oregon House speaker". Statesman Journal. November 15, 2012.
  9. "Oregon Legislature Convenes, Prepares For Session". Oregon Public Broadcasting. January 12, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  10. "Tina Kotek Re-Elected Oregon House Speaker, Focuses on Equality in Opening Remarks to the 79th Legislative Assembly" (PDF) (Press release). January 9, 2017.
  11. "Who will take Kate Brown's place as Oregon secretary of state?". The Oregonian. February 14, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  12. "OHSU lobbyist rumored as Brown's chief of staff". KOIN. February 16, 2015.
  13. "DLCC Announces New Board Leadership, Members". Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. December 7, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  14. Staff, The Associated Press, KATU (2021-09-01). "Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek announces run for governor". KATU. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  15. VanderHart, Dirk (January 6, 2022). "Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek resigning to focus on governor's race". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  16. "Oregon Democrats elect new Majority Leader and Speaker of the House nominee". KGW. January 16, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  17. 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.
  18. Cooper, Jonathon (November 16, 2012). "Voters last week elected the first openly gay U.S. senator and the first bisexual member of Congress". Huffington Post Politics. Huffington Post. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  19. "Out Lesbian Elected Oregon House Speaker". 16 November 2012.
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