No one should have to live in a tent on a sidewalk. Houselessness is a humanitarian crisis in our own backyards. Everyone has the right to live somewhere in security, peace and dignity. But safe, affordable housing is out of reach for too many Oregonians. This challenge has two parts: the long-term lack of an adequate supply of affordable housing, and the immediate crisis we see on our streets.
Tina has responded to both. She is a national leader in addressing housing stability and will continue to bring forward concrete solutions to address Oregon’s housing crisis at the scale needed to solve it – from services for the unhoused to affordable rental housing to increasing homeownership. And, as local communities have struggled with houselessness, Tina brought unprecedented state resources to help.
Tina’s Accomplishments: Standing Up for People Who Need Housing
Tina’s Priorities for Tackling Oregon’s Housing Crisis
Oregonians treasure the clean air, clean water, and natural beauty of our state, and it is our responsibility to preserve it. It is also our responsibility to do what we can to combat climate change, which is a real and present danger that Oregonians are already experiencing firsthand. Oregon’s economy and the health of our communities require ongoing bold action to match the scale of this crisis. While Tina understands that Oregon alone cannot solve the climate crisis, she is committed to making sure Oregonians do our part.
Tina’s Track Record: Standing Up for a Climate-Friendly Future
Tina’s Priorities for Addressing Climate Change and Protecting Our Natural Environment
Two years ago, Oregonians were reeling from the most destructive wildfire season on record. At least nine people died, more than 4,000 homes were destroyed, and fires tore through over one million acres.
This year, Oregon faced similar weather conditions, but fire officials were able to respond faster and the damage was not as severe, thanks to legislation that Tina Kotek successfully negotiated in 2021.
But the threats posed by wildfire and smoke will only grow as the West Coast grapples with hotter, drier conditions due to climate change.
As Governor, Tina will do more to protect Oregon from wildfires by:
When someone is ready to seek help for a mental health concern or substance use, that help should be easy to find and available – no matter where you live or what you can afford. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the need for a stronger, more accessible system of mental health care and substance use treatment. In fact, the pandemic made things even more difficult for individuals already receiving care or in recovery. Additionally, the ongoing strain of low pay and high workload for frontline health care workers has created a crisis in the behavioral health workforce.
Tina’s Accomplishments: Standing Up for More Access to Care
Tina’s Priorities for Improving Oregon’s Behavioral Health System
Oregon thrives when Oregonians have financial stability and pathways to increased economic opportunity. The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that many of our neighbors are just a paycheck away from financial disaster and houselessness. Tina began her public service at the Oregon Food Bank, advocating for ways to help people feed their families. She knows that more family-wage jobs are the key to reducing poverty and lifting up all communities across the state. Tina also believes in the right to organize and has fought to protect workers’ access to collective power.
Tina’s Accomplishments: Standing Up for Working Families
Tina’s Priorities for Increasing Economic Opportunity
Tina believes contribution limits are long overdue and is committed to strengthening our democracy by ending the flow of unlimited and undisclosed money in politics. In these difficult times in our state and in our nation, we need to bolster the public’s confidence in our democratic institutions, and one of the ways we can do this is by improving campaign finance laws and transparency around elections.
As House Speaker, Tina made sure the state legislature referred Measure 107 to the ballot in the 2020 election, which voters passed overwhelmingly and amended the state constitution to finally allow for campaign finance limits. She also supported the passage of better election transparency policy and limits on campaign donations and spending. The limits bill did not pass the Oregon Senate, so Tina remains committed to getting comprehensive campaign finance reform passed into law in Oregon.
Tina’s Priorities for Campaign Finance Reform
Limits on individual donors of $2,000 for statewide candidates and $1,000 for legislative candidates.
Limits and restrictions on donations between different types of political action committees (PACs).
Individual small donor PACs with limitations proportional to the limits of other political action committees.
Increased transparency to reduce the influence of dark money by requiring robust disclosure of who is funding these efforts.
Small donor public financing that can match and multiply the impact of small donations.
Every Oregon child should have a safe place to receive a high-quality public education, and every working family needs access to affordable child care options. Before serving in the Oregon House, Tina advocated for children as the policy director for Children First for Oregon. She knows the importance of strong systems that support working families and will make sure children have what they need to succeed and graduate from high school.
Tina’s Accomplishments: Standing Up for Our Children
Tina’s Priorities for Improving Educational Outcomes
Systemic racism and inequities are woven into the fabric of our society, directly impacting our communities of color and undermining our shared efforts to create a state where everyone can truly thrive. As House Speaker, Tina listened to and worked with communities of color to promote solutions to injustice. As Governor, Tina will continue to address the legacy of systemic racism and inequality in Oregon by prioritizing racial justice in all policy areas.
Tina’s Accomplishments: Standing Up for BIPOC Communities
Tina’s Priorities for Addressing Racism and Empowering BIPOC Communities
All of us want to feel safe in our homes and in our communities. While Oregon has made progress in keeping guns out of the hands of people who should not have them, the recent increase in gun violence makes it clear that there is much more urgent work to be done. Tina believes that we need to continue to do the hard work to make our communities safer from senseless gun violence.
Tina’s Accomplishments: Standing Up for Gun Safety
Tina’s Priorities for Creating Safer Communities
The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the importance of quality, affordable health care and the necessity of a strong public health response system. Tina believes that all Oregonians deserve justice in health care – that means equitable access so that everyone, regardless of their race, income or zip code, has access to the care that they need.
Tina’s Accomplishments: Standing Up for Access to Health Care
Tina’s Priorities for Health Care Access and Public Health
Society is more fair and just when women have equal rights and protections, including the right to make health care choices about their bodies. Tina is a leader with a proven record of standing up for women’s rights and protections.
Tina’s Accomplishments: Standing Up for Women’s Rights and Reproductive Freedom
Tina’s Priorities for Advancing Women’s Rights and Defending Reproductive Freedom
Fighting for progress is going to take all of us. Join #TeamTina today and become a part of the campaign to build a more just future where everyone can succeed.