For the last sixteen years, Kate Brown has served in the Oregon State Legislature.  She was first appointed to the House of Representatives in November of 1991, and then elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1992, winning by seven votes. She served two complete terms in the Oregon House before being elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1996, where she is currently completing her third term. In 1998, she was elected as Oregon’s first female Senate Democratic Leader.

As a legislator, Kate has been a long time advocate for Gay/Lesbian Civil Rights legislation. Most recently, she championed Oregon’s domestic partnership and antidiscrimination legislation (SB 2 and HB 2007), which were signed into law by Governor Kulongoski in May of 2007. In 2004, she publicly opposed Measure 36 - Oregon’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban Initiative. She also has worked closely with Basic Rights Oregon to educate her colleagues on the importance of transgender issues. She fought against deleting references to the transgender community in the civil rights bill as a way to pass the legislation.

Kate has also been extremely active in women’s issues. In 1991, she sponsored Oregon’s first Contraceptive Equity legislation. For 15 years, she tirelessly pursued this basic women’s health care option, finally passing Contraceptive Equity in the 2007 session. In addition, she has been a vocal supporter of comprehensive sex education, STI prevention and treatment and has adamantly opposed attacks on women’s reproductive freedom in the legislature. In 2006, she publicly opposed Measure 43, Oregon’s Parental Notification Initiative. She has been a strong supporter of local Gay and Women’s Rights advocacy organizations, including Basic Rights Oregon, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon and Planned Parenthood. She took the lead in passing mammogram and women’s health mandates in 1993, 1999 and 2005.

The race for Secretary of State is expected to be one of the most competitive races of 2008 in Oregon.  It is the first time the position has been open since 1984.  Oregon does not have a Lt. Governor, which makes this race that much more important.

Help Kate win this exciting breakthrough race by contributing to her campaign today.