Kate Brown

Kate Brown
Born	Katherine Brown 6/21/1960
Birthplace	Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Title	38th Governor of Oregon
Known for	38th Governor of Oregon, first openly LGBT person elected governor of a U.S. state
Education	Lewis & Clark College (JD)
Children	2 stepchildren
Awards	Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow (2009)

Kate Brown (born Katherine Brown; June 21, 1960) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 38th governor of Oregon from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Brown's political career spanned more than three decades, during which she held seats in the Oregon House of Representatives, the Oregon Senate, and the office of Oregon Secretary of State before ascending to the governorship. She assumed the state's highest executive office upon the resignation of John Kitzhaber in February 2015 and subsequently won a special election in 2016 and a full-term election in 2018. Brown made history as the first openly bisexual person to serve as a governor in the United States and the first openly LGBT individual elected to a statewide office in any U.S. state when she won the secretary of state race in 2008. Before entering politics, Brown practiced family law in Portland, Oregon. Since leaving office in January 2023, she has taken on a role as president of the Willamette Falls Trust, an organization with Native leadership dedicated to restoring public access to Willamette Falls.

Early Life

Katherine Brown was born on June 21, 1960, in Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain. Her birth in Spain was the result of her family's residence abroad at the time. Brown grew up in the United States, where she eventually settled in Oregon and built her career in law and public service. Details of her childhood and family background beyond her birthplace remain limited in publicly available records.

Brown's upbringing led her to pursue higher education in Colorado before relocating to the Pacific Northwest, where she would establish deep roots in the Portland metropolitan area. Her early experiences, including navigating her identity as a bisexual woman, informed her later career in public advocacy and politics.

Education

Brown earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She subsequently attended Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree. Her legal education at Lewis & Clark College, known for its law program with a focus on environmental and public interest law, situated Brown in Oregon's legal community and provided a foundation for her later career in both family law practice and state politics.

Career

Oregon House of Representatives (1991–1997)

Brown began her career in elected office in 1991 when she won a seat representing the 13th district of the Oregon House of Representatives. She succeeded Judy Bauman in the position and served three terms in the House, remaining in office until January 1997. During her tenure in the House, Brown focused on issues related to family law and social policy, drawing on her background as an attorney. She was succeeded in the 13th district seat by Dan Gardner.

Oregon Senate (1997–2009)

In 1997, Brown transitioned from the House to the Oregon Senate, representing the 21st district. She succeeded Shirley Gold in the Senate seat and went on to serve three terms, remaining in the chamber until January 2009. Brown's tenure in the Senate was marked by her rise to a leadership position; she served three terms as majority leader of the Oregon Senate from 2003 to 2009, making her one of the most prominent figures in the chamber during that period.

As majority leader, Brown played a central role in shaping the legislative agenda and shepherding bills through the Senate. Her legislative work during this period covered a range of policy areas. In 2007, the Oregon State Bar recognized Brown for her contributions to public service.

Brown was succeeded in the 21st district Senate seat by Diane Rosenbaum when she moved on to the office of Secretary of State.

Secretary of State of Oregon (2009–2015)

Brown was elected as the 24th Secretary of State of Oregon in 2008, taking office on January 5, 2009. She served under Governors Ted Kulongoski and John Kitzhaber, succeeding Bill Bradbury in the position. Her election to this statewide office was historically significant: she became the first openly LGBT person elected to a statewide office in any U.S. state and the first openly LGBT person to serve as a secretary of state within a U.S. state.

As Secretary of State, Brown oversaw the state's elections division, audits division, and archives division. One of her notable achievements was the implementation of Oregon's online voter registration system, which celebrated its first anniversary during her tenure and was recognized as a modernization of the state's electoral infrastructure. The office also explored innovative approaches to making voting more accessible, including the use of iPads to assist voters with disabilities.

Brown also emphasized the role of the state audits division in ensuring government accountability. In a 2011 statement reviewed by PolitiFact Oregon, she cited the return on investment the state was receiving from its audit spending.

In 2009, Brown was selected by the Aspen Institute as one of 24 "rising stars" in governance for its Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership program, a bipartisan fellowship that identifies emerging political leaders across the United States.

When Brown assumed the governorship in February 2015, she was succeeded as Secretary of State by Jeanne Atkins, who was sworn into the office to fill the vacancy.

Governor of Oregon (2015–2023)

Assumption of Office

On February 18, 2015, Brown became the 38th Governor of Oregon upon the resignation of John Kitzhaber, who stepped down amid an ethics investigation involving his fiancée. As Secretary of State, Brown was first in the line of succession and assumed the office immediately. She selected Brian Shipley as her chief of staff as she began organizing her administration.

Shortly after taking office, Brown signed into law legislation that had been passed during the legislative session. Among the early bills she signed was the Oregon Motor Voter Act, an automatic voter registration law that registered eligible citizens to vote when they obtained or renewed a driver's license, making Oregon the first state in the nation to implement such a system.

2016 Special Election

In 2016, Brown ran in a special election to serve out the remainder of Kitzhaber's gubernatorial term. She appeared on the primary ballot and was expected to win the Democratic nomination. Brown won both the primary and the general election, becoming the first openly LGBT person elected governor of a U.S. state. She was also the second woman elected governor of Oregon, following Barbara Roberts.

2018 Reelection

Brown was reelected to a full four-year term as governor in the 2018 general election. Her second full campaign allowed her to present a record of governance to voters, and she successfully retained the office.

Governorship and Policy

During her tenure as governor, Brown confronted a series of significant challenges. Her administration dealt with issues including wildfire management, the COVID-19 pandemic, racial justice protests in Portland in 2020, and various legislative battles over climate policy, education funding, and healthcare. Brown signed legislation related to emergency preparedness and health care access during her time in office.

The Oregon legislature passed House Bill 2005 during the 2009 session, which Brown was involved with during her transition from legislative leadership to the Secretary of State's office.

Brown's second term was marked by declining public approval. By the end of her tenure in January 2023, she had the lowest approval ratings of any incumbent U.S. governor at that time. She was succeeded by Tina Kotek, who took office on January 9, 2023.

Post-Governorship

After leaving the governor's office, Brown took on a new role as president of the Willamette Falls Trust, an organization with Native leadership dedicated to creating public access to Willamette Falls in West Linn, Oregon. The organization works on an inter-tribal public access project at the site. In July 2025, Brown publicly discussed the progress of the Willamette Falls public access project, describing it as being a "major step closer to becoming a reality."

Personal Life

Kate Brown is openly bisexual, a fact she has discussed publicly throughout her political career. She has two stepchildren. Brown's openness about her sexual orientation has been a notable aspect of her public identity and has contributed to her historical significance as an elected official. She has been recognized by LGBT organizations and publications for her role as a barrier-breaking political figure. In 2015, The Advocate included Brown among its finalists for Person of the Year.

Brown has resided in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area for much of her adult life, having settled there after attending law school at Lewis & Clark College. She practiced family law in Portland before entering politics.

Recognition

Brown's career has been marked by several notable recognitions and historical firsts. In 2008, her election as Oregon Secretary of State made her the first openly LGBT person elected to a statewide office in any U.S. state. In 2016, her election as governor made her the first openly LGBT person elected governor of a U.S. state.

In 2007, Brown was honored by the Oregon State Bar for her contributions to public service and law.

In 2009, the Aspen Institute selected Brown as one of 24 emerging political leaders for its Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership, a bipartisan program that identifies elected officials from across the United States with the potential for national leadership.

Brown was named a finalist for The Advocate's Person of the Year in 2015, recognizing her significance as an openly bisexual governor. She has also served as a grand marshal for the Southern Oregon Pride celebration.

The Oregon chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recognized aspects of Brown's legislative work in its legislative reports during her tenure.

Legacy

Kate Brown's legacy in Oregon and American politics is defined principally by her status as a pioneering openly LGBT elected official. Her election as Secretary of State in 2008 and as governor in 2016 represented milestones in LGBT political representation in the United States. As the first openly bisexual person to serve as a state governor, Brown's career demonstrated the expanding possibilities for LGBT individuals in American public life.

Her policy contributions include the landmark Oregon Motor Voter Act, which she signed into law in 2015, making Oregon the first state to implement automatic voter registration through its motor vehicle licensing system. This legislation was subsequently studied and adopted in various forms by other states. Her earlier work as Secretary of State in implementing online voter registration also contributed to Oregon's reputation as a leader in election modernization.

Brown's tenure as governor was, however, also characterized by significant controversy and declining public confidence. Her administration faced criticism on multiple fronts, and by the time she left office in January 2023, her approval ratings were the lowest of any sitting U.S. governor in the country. The contrast between her historical significance as an LGBT political pioneer and her low approval ratings at the end of her governorship reflects the complexity of her legacy.

Since leaving office, Brown has continued her involvement in Oregon public life through her leadership of the Willamette Falls Trust, focusing on the restoration of public access to the historically and culturally significant Willamette Falls site, a project involving collaboration with Native tribal communities.