Christine "Tina" Kotek was born on September 30,1966 and is an American politician serving as the 39th governor of Oregon since 2023.
23 Facts About Tina Kotek
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Tina Kotek won the 2022 Oregon gubernatorial election, defeating Republican nominee Christine Drazan and independent candidate Betsy Johnson.
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Tina Kotek became the first openly lesbian woman elected speaker of a US state house in 2013, and was the longest-serving Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.
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Tina Kotek was born on September 30,1966, in York, Pennsylvania, to Jerry Albert Tina Kotek and Florence.
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Tina Kotek's father was of Czech ancestry and her mother's parents were Slovenes.
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Tina Kotek's grandfather Frantisek Kotek was a baker from Tynec nad Labem.
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Tina Kotek graduated second in her class from Dallastown Area High School.
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Tina Kotek then worked in commercial diving and as a travel agent.
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Tina Kotek earned a Bachelor of Science degree in religious studies from the University of Oregon in 1990.
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Tina Kotek then studied at the University of Washington, earning a master's degree in international studies and comparative religion.
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Tina Kotek co-chaired the Human Services Coalition of Oregon during the 2002 budget crisis and co-chaired the Governor's Medicaid Advisory Committee.
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In 2004, Tina Kotek lost the Democratic primary for Oregon House District 43.
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Tina Kotek rose in the House leadership, serving as the Democratic whip in the 2009 legislative session.
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Tina Kotek was elected to the position, becoming the first out lesbian in the nation to serve as a legislative speaker.
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Tina Kotek was reelected for in 2015,2017,2019, and 2021.
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In December 2016, Tina Kotek became the chair of the board of directors of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.
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Tina Kotek later reversed her decision and restored the Democratic majority on the committee redrawing the congressional districts.
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In January 2022, Tina Kotek announced her resignation from the House to focus on her campaign.
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Tina Kotek was succeeded as speaker by Dan Rayfield and in the 44th district by Travis Nelson.
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On September 1,2021, Tina Kotek declared her candidacy in the 2022 Oregon gubernatorial election.
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Tina Kotek won the Democratic primary on May 17,2022.
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Tina Kotek was one of the Oregon Legislative Assembly's only openly LGBTQ+ members and the first lesbian speaker of a state house.
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Tina Kotek considers herself a lapsed Catholic and attends an Episcopal church.