Tina Kotek
Encyclopedia
Tina Kotek is an American politician
from the state
of Oregon
. A Democrat
, she serves as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives
. She serves as the Democratic Leader and co-speaker pro tempore, a position she shares with Republican Andy Olson
in light of the chamber's 30–30 split.
, Kotek moved to Oregon in 1987, taking her undergraduate degree in religious studies at the University of Oregon
. She then went on to graduate study at the University of Washington
, gaining a master’s degree in international studies.
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 Oregon Food Bank. She co-chaired the Human Services Coalition of Oregon during the 2002 budget crisis and currently serves as the co-chair of the Governor’s Medicaid Advisory Committee.
Kotek, a lesbian
, is the only (but not the first) openly gay member of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
. Her election campaigns have won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
, which provides financial and strategic assistance.
In 2006, she was elected to the House from the 44th District in North and Northeast Portland
. She won a competitive three-way Democratic primary election with over half the vote. In the general election, she faced only nominal Republican
opposition, defeating her opponent by a margin of almost four-to-one. In 2004, she had been an unsuccessful candidate for the neighboring 43rd House District. She ran unopposed for re-election in 2008 and, as well as winning the Democratic primary in the 44th district, she also won the Republican primary through write-in votes. She therefore did not face a Republican challenger and was assured of re-election. In 2010, she faced a primary challenge but prevailed with over 85% of the vote. A Republican candidate filed for the post but Kotek won the general election with almost 81% of the vote.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, she serves as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
. She serves as the Democratic Leader and co-speaker pro tempore, a position she shares with Republican Andy Olson
Andy Olson
Andy Olson is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He serves in the Oregon House of Representatives for District 15, representing parts of Linn and Benton counties, including the city of Albany...
in light of the chamber's 30–30 split.
Biography
Born and raised in York, PennsylvaniaYork, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
, Kotek moved to Oregon in 1987, taking her undergraduate degree in religious studies at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. She then went on to graduate study at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, gaining a master’s degree in international studies.
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 Oregon Food Bank. She co-chaired the Human Services Coalition of Oregon during the 2002 budget crisis and currently serves as the co-chair of the Governor’s Medicaid Advisory Committee.
Kotek, a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, is the only (but not the first) openly gay member of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
. Her election campaigns have won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is an American political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials in US political life.The Victory Fund was founded in 1991...
, which provides financial and strategic assistance.
In 2006, she was elected to the House from the 44th District in North and Northeast Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. She won a competitive three-way Democratic primary election with over half the vote. In the general election, she faced only nominal Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
opposition, defeating her opponent by a margin of almost four-to-one. In 2004, she had been an unsuccessful candidate for the neighboring 43rd House District. She ran unopposed for re-election in 2008 and, as well as winning the Democratic primary in the 44th district, she also won the Republican primary through write-in votes. She therefore did not face a Republican challenger and was assured of re-election. In 2010, she faced a primary challenge but prevailed with over 85% of the vote. A Republican candidate filed for the post but Kotek won the general election with almost 81% of the vote.
External links
- Oregon State House - Tina Kotek official government website
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Tina Kotek (OR) profile
- Follow the Money - Tina Kotek
- Official campaign website