Tina Kotek
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.
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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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) |
| Education | |
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. 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 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).