Kate Brown
Kate Brown is the 38th Governor of Oregon. She became the first openly LGBTQ person elected as the governor of a US State when she won a special election in 2016. She was re-elected to a full term in 2018.
Prior to her career in elected office, Kate advocated for Oregon children and families as a family law attorney. She taught at Portland State University, worked with the Juvenile Rights Project and co-founded the Oregon Women’s Health & Wellness Alliance. By working within the foster care system and with families navigating difficult circumstances, Kate gained invaluable insight into what it means to truly fight for a healthy, prosperous life for Oregonians.
From 2009 to 2015, Kate served as Oregon’s Secretary of State. While overseeing the Audits Division, she saved the state millions of dollars by increasing government efficiencies and rooting out waste. She successfully implemented an online voter registration system and received national recognition for her innovative use of technology to make it easier for active-duty service members and people with disabilities to vote.
Before being elected statewide, Kate served 17 years in the legislature, making history in 2004 as the first woman to serve as Oregon’s Senate Majority Leader. In 2007, she successfully spearheaded legislation that The Oregonian called the “state’s most sweeping package of ethics reforms in 34 years.” Kate also worked to pass Family and Medical Leave, required insurance companies to cover annual breast exams for women, and passed both the Oregon Equality Act and Family Fairness Act to protect LGBT rights.
Ran for:
Governor of Oregon
Location:
Oregon
Status: Serving second term
Past LPAC Endorsement: 2016