Tina Kotek is the Governor of Oregon. She assumed office on January 9, 2023. Her current term ends on January 11, 2027. Kotek received a B.S. in religious studies from the University of Oregon and an M.A. in international studies from the University of Washington. Kotek worked as the policy director of Children First for Oregon and a public policy advocate with the Oregon Food Bank. Kotek ran for the Oregon House of Representatives in 2004, and first won election to the House in 2006. While in the House, Kotek served as co-speaker pro tempore in 2011, as the House Democratic Leader in 2012, and as House Speaker from 2013-2022, making her the longest serving Oregon Speaker of the House at the time. While in the House, Kotek focused on legislation affecting housing. NPR's Laurel Wamsley described Kotek as "the driving force behind Oregon's [House Bill 2001]," which allowed duplexes in areas zoned for single-family housing in cities with more than 10,000 people. Kotek said, "We all know we have a housing crisis. We need multiple tools. One of them is to smooth and encourage additional construction." In the House, Kotek also supported legislation that increased funding for public education, guaranteed sick leave and medical leave for employees, and created a three-tiered minimum wage system. Kotek resigned from the House on January 21, 2022, to run for governor.
