28 Facts About Tina Kotek

Christine Kotek is an American politician serving as the 39th governor of Oregon since 2023.

Tina Kotek won the 2022 Oregon gubernatorial election, defeating Republican nominee Christine Drazan and independent candidate Betsy Johnson.

Tina Kotek became the first openly lesbian woman elected speaker of a US state house in 2013.

Tina Kotek was the longest-serving Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.

Tina Kotek was born on September 30,1966, in York, Pennsylvania, to Jerry Albert Tina Kotek and Florence.

Tina Kotek's father was of Czech ancestry and her mother's parents were Slovenes.

Tina Kotek's grandfather Frantisek Kotek was a baker from Tynec nad Labem.

Tina Kotek graduated second in her class from Dallastown Area High School.

Tina Kotek then worked in commercial diving and as a travel agent.

Tina Kotek earned a Bachelor of Science degree in religious studies from the University of Oregon in 1990.

Tina Kotek then studied at the University of Washington, earning a master's degree in international studies and comparative religion.

Tina Kotek co-chaired the Human Services Coalition of Oregon during the 2002 budget crisis and co-chaired the Governor's Medicaid Advisory Committee.

In 2004, Tina Kotek lost the Democratic primary for Oregon House District 43.

Tina Kotek rose in the House leadership, serving as the Democratic whip in the 2009 legislative session.

Tina Kotek was elected to the position, becoming the first out lesbian in the nation to serve as a legislative speaker.

Tina Kotek was reelected for in 2015,2017,2019, and 2021.

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

Tina Kotek later reversed her decision and restored the Democratic majority on the committee redrawing the congressional districts.

In January 2022, Tina Kotek announced her resignation from the House to focus on her gubernatorial campaign.

Tina Kotek was succeeded as speaker by Dan Rayfield and in the 44th district by Travis Nelson.

On September 1,2021, Tina Kotek declared her candidacy in the 2022 Oregon gubernatorial election.

Tina Kotek won the Democratic primary on May 17,2022.

Tina Kotek established a statewide goal of building 36,000 new housing units a year.

In March 2024, Tina Kotek signed bipartisan legislation to put $376 million toward housing production, including a $75 million revolving loan fund to enable localities to build affordable housing, $131 million for emergency housing, $123.5 to enable localities to acquire and develop shovel-ready housing, and $24.5 million to improve the energy efficiency and air quality in housing.

Tina Kotek initially proposed $500 million but legislators considered that too much.

Tina Kotek later responded by halting plans to create a formal office and issuing a "First Partner Handbook".

Tina Kotek was one of the Oregon Legislative Assembly's few openly LGBTQ+ members and the first lesbian speaker of a state house.

Tina Kotek considers herself a lapsed Catholic and attends an Episcopal church.