PORTLAND, OR – The Oregon State Fire Fighters Council (OSFFC), representing professional firefighters and emergency medical personnel across the state, today announced its endorsement of Governor Tina Kotek for a second term as Governor.
“From expanding paid family leave to lowering our retirement age to investing in wildfire preparedness, Governor Kotek has delivered for firefighters and working families across Oregon,” said Kevin Larson, OSFFC President. “She’s fought for us at every turn: increasing our cancer protections, expanding recruitment through apprenticeships, and making sure firefighters have a seat at the table.”
“I’m honored to have the endorsement of the Oregon State Fire Fighters Council and the brave firefighters who risk their lives to protect our communities every day,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “Oregon’s firefighters run toward danger so the rest of us don’t have to – and they deserve a governor who will always fight for their safety, their benefits, and the resources they need to do their jobs.”
Throughout her career, Governor Kotek has been a steadfast champion for Oregon’s firefighters, investing in the resources, benefits, and protections they need to keep Oregon safe:
- In 2026, Governor Kotek signed into law increased workers’ compensation benefits for injured workers to ensure Oregonians, including our firefighters, have the financial stability they need to recover and return to work.
- Governor Kotek has consistently backed policies that move Oregon away from a purely seasonal, crisis-driven wildfire response model, establishing the state’s first dedicated long-term resources for wildfire response and resilience to ensure local fire departments can recoup funds after keeping their communities safe.
- After the 2024 wildfire season devastated Eastern Oregon communities, Governor Kotek secured a federal Major Disaster Declaration and called a Special Legislative Session to appropriate $218 million for wildfire response and recovery.
- In 2024, she signed legislation lowering the PERS retirement age to 55 for firefighters, honoring long-term service and recognizing the physically demanding work they do to protect Oregon communities.
- Governor Kotek also expanded the circumstances under which firefighters can qualify for disability benefits under PERS and broadened the presumptive conditions allowed under workers’ compensation claims, recognizing the long-term toll that job-related injuries and exposure can take on firefighters’ health.
- Governor Kotek has championed the Oregon State Fire Fighters Apprenticeship program to ensure Oregon firefighters have proper training and that fire service reflects the communities it serves.
- She also ensured firefighters are represented on the Management-Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC), which reviews and addresses policy surrounding Oregon’s workers’ compensation laws and systems.
- After championing its passage as speaker, Governor Kotek oversaw the implementation of Oregon’s landmark paid family and medical leave law. As of March 2025, Paid Leave Oregon had paid out over $1 billion in benefits to more than 150,000 Oregonians.
The OSFFC joins a growing coalition supporting Governor Kotek’s reelection bid alongside the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Oregon School Employees Association, Oregon Labor Federation, Oregon Nurses Association, Oregon Building Trades, North Coast Carpenters Union, PCUN, SEIU Oregon, AFSCME Council 75, UFCW Local 555, The Mother PAC, Planned Parenthood Action Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon, Alliance for a Safe Oregon Action, and more.
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.