Kathleen Taylor elected new majority leader of the Oregon Senate
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Democrats in the Oregon Senate on Monday elected Senator Kathleen Taylor (D-Portland) as their next Senate Majority Leader.
Taylor will take office on July 15, the same day that former Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber takes office as the new co-chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, which is responsible for drafting the state budget and appropriating state funds.
Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) appointed Lieber as the new co-chair earlier this month after Senator Elizabeth Steiner (D-Portland) announced her resignation to focus on her campaign for state treasurer.
Taylor’s tenure as a state representative began in 2015, when she served a term in the Oregon House of Representatives. She assumed the Senate seat in 2017 after being elected to represent Senate District 21, which includes southeast Portland, Milwaukie and Oak Grove.
She currently serves as Chair of the Senate Labor and Economic Committee and a member of the Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire and Joint Audit Committees. In 2020, she served as Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Redistricting.
Wagner congratulated Taylor in a brief statement and said he looked forward to working with her and her team.
“This is an exciting moment for our caucus and the entire state,” Lieber said in a prepared statement. “Chair-elect Taylor brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to this office, and I am confident she will be the strong, capable leader Oregonians need in the Senate. I am so proud of what we have accomplished as a caucus over the past two years – from making major investments to grow our economy to tackling pressing issues like homelessness and the drug crisis. I know Chair-elect Taylor will build on these accomplishments and take us even further.”
In the same press release, Taylor thanked Lieber for her service and leadership of the Senate Democratic Caucus.
“I’m ready to get to work so we can continue to move our state in the right direction,” Taylor said. “In this new role, I will listen to Oregonians and deliver the results they want to see on the issues most important to them. I look forward to supporting our caucus and working with my legislative colleagues to make Oregon the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
Senate Republicans will also have a new leader for the next legislative session in 2025. Senate Republicans elected Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, in April. Bonham was elected after former Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, was barred from running for re-election under Measure 113 due to his participation in and leadership of the 2023 Senate walkout. The 2024 legislative session was his last session before the end of his term.
In addition, Bonham will not be eligible for re-election after his term expires in 2027.
Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equality issues. Reach her at [email protected] or X @DianneLugo
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