PORTLAND, OR – Latino Network Action Fund today announced its endorsement of Governor Tina Kotek for a second term as Governor.
“Governor Kotek doesn’t back down – and that’s exactly the leadership Oregon’s Latine families need right now,” said Tony DeFalco, executive director of Latino Network Action Fund. “Governor Kotek has been a relentless first line of defense against Donald Trump’s attacks on Latine communities. She strengthened protections for immigrants, expanded unemployment and workers compensation benefits, and increased Oregon’s minimum wage. When it matters most, Governor Kotek has always shown up for us.”
“I am honored to be endorsed by Latino Network Action Fund,” said Governor Kotek. “Latino Network Action Fund has been fighting for communities across our state, and they deserve a leader who has their backs. That’s why we fought back and won when President Trump tried to rip away the programs and protections our communities rely on. I will continue to defend our fundamental rights, lower costs, and build an economy that works for everyone.”
Throughout her career, Governor Kotek has been a steadfast champion for Oregon’s Latine communities:
- Governor Kotek issued an executive order to create a new Interagency Council for Immigrant and Refugee Coordination to strengthen the state’s ability to protect immigrant and refugee communities and joined 31 Oregon mayors in calling for an immediate halt to unlawful ICE immigration enforcement actions in our communities.
- In 2025, Governor Kotek passed landmark legislation making Oregon the first state to expand unemployment benefits to all striking workers, championing the bill early on to ensure it passed the legislature.
- Governor Kotek oversaw the rollout of Oregon’s landmark Farmworker Overtime law, ensuring farmworkers receive overtime pay and are brought in line with statewide standards by 2027, after championing its passage as Speaker.
- As Speaker, Governor Kotek created the nation’s first state-run retirement savings program for workers, passed legislation to raise the minimum wage across Oregon, and implemented the state’s paid family and medical leave program, which has paid out over $1 billion in benefits to more than 150,000 Oregonians as of March 2025.
Latino Network Action Fund joins a growing coalition supporting Governor Kotek’s reelection bid alongside PCUN, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Oregon State Fire Fighter Council, Oregon School Employees Association, Oregon Labor Federation, Oregon Nurses Association, Oregon Building Trades, North Coast Carpenters Union, SEIU Oregon, AFSCME Council 75, UFCW Local 555, Planned Parenthood Action Oregon, Alliance for a Safe Oregon Action, and more.
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ABOUT GOVERNOR KOTEK
Governor Tina Kotek has spent her career making history and fighting for others. Over the last three years, Governor Kotek has expanded access to affordable childcare, created thousands of new shelter beds, protected abortion access and vote-by-mail, and funded early literacy and summer learning programs. She has also been a national leader in pushing back against Donald Trump’s attacks on our communities, our healthcare, and our rights by blocking his illegal attempts to deploy the Oregon National Guard in our communities and working through the night to reverse his decision to strip food assistance from Oregonians by taking away SNAP benefits.
Governor Kotek is running for reelection to continue defending Oregon values and tackling the state’s biggest challenges – lowering costs, reducing homelessness, strengthening schools, expanding mental health and addiction care, and bringing affordable childcare to every corner of the state.
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