Katherine Brown is an American politician and attorney who served as the 38th governor of Oregon from 2015 to 2023. A Democrat, she had a long political career in Oregon, serving in the state House of Representatives, the state Senate (including as majority leader), and as Secretary of State before assuming the governorship. She served the remainder of John Kitzhaber's term after his resignation and was elected to a full term in 2018.
June 21, 1960: Birth of Kate Brown
Kate Brown was born on June 21, 1960, in Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain, where her father was serving in the US Air Force.
1978: Graduation from Mounds View High School
Kate Brown graduated from Mounds View High School in Arden Hills, Minnesota, in 1978.
1981: Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Conservation
In 1981, Kate Brown received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Conservation, along with a certificate in women's studies, from the University of Colorado Boulder.
1985: Law Degree from Lewis & Clark College
Kate Brown earned her J.D. degree and a certificate in environmental law from the Lewis & Clark College Law School in 1985.
1991: Entry into Oregon House of Representatives
Kate Brown's political journey began in 1991 when she was appointed to the Oregon House of Representatives, filling a vacant seat.
1996: Election to the Oregon State Senate
Kate Brown was elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1996.
1997: Election to the Oregon State Senate
In 1997, Kate Brown transitioned from the Oregon House of Representatives to the Oregon State Senate.
1999: Shift in Political Philosophy
Brown's political philosophy evolved significantly from her early days in the state legislature to her later roles in public service, particularly when she became the caucus leader in 1999.
2003: Election as Majority Leader of the Oregon Senate
Kate Brown served as the Majority Leader of the Oregon Senate for three terms, starting in 2003.
July 2007: Announcement of Candidacy for Secretary of State
In July 2007, Kate Brown announced her intention to run for Oregon Secretary of State.
May 20, 2008: Democratic Nomination for Secretary of State
Kate Brown secured the Democratic nomination for Oregon Secretary of State on May 20, 2008.
2008: First Openly LGBT Person Elected Secretary of State
In 2008, Kate Brown achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first openly LGBT person elected secretary of state within a U.S. state.
2008: Implementation of Performance Audits
Upon assuming office, one of Kate Brown's initial priorities was to implement stringent performance audits aimed at achieving budget equilibrium. In 2008, these audits resulted in substantial cost savings, with a return of $8 for every dollar spent by the state.
2009: Passage of House Bill 2095
In 2009, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2095, a bipartisan bill.
2009: Introduction of House Bill 2005
Kate Brown introduced and successfully passed House Bill 2005 in 2009. This legislation was designed to combat fraud and abuse within the initiative and referendum system.
2009: Appointment as Oregon Secretary of State
Kate Brown served as the Oregon Secretary of State from 2009 to 2015.
2009: Rodel Fellowship Award
Kate Brown's contributions to American politics were recognized in 2009 when she was named one of 24 "Rising Stars" by the Aspen Institute and awarded the prestigious Rodel Fellowship.
March 2010: Successful Implementation of Online Voter Registration
By March 2010, a year after its introduction by Kate Brown, online voter registration had gained significant traction in Oregon, with nearly 87,000 Oregonians utilizing the platform to register.
2010: Continued Success with Performance Audits
Kate Brown continued to prioritize performance audits, reporting significant cost savings of $64 for every dollar invested in the division in 2010.
2011: Pioneering Technology for Voters with Disabilities
Oregon, under Kate Brown's leadership, became the first jurisdiction in the United States to employ iPad and tablet technology to assist voters with disabilities in marking their ballots in 2011.
October 2012: Recognition for Increasing Voter Accessibility
In October 2012, StateTech magazine highlighted Kate Brown's innovative use of iPad and tablet technology to improve voting accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
November 2012: Scheduling of Labor Commissioner Election
As Secretary of State, Brown faced criticism over the scheduling of the 2012 election for Labor Commissioner, with accusations of political maneuvering, which she denied.
January 2015: Controversy Surrounding Letter to FCC
In January 2015, Kate Brown faced scrutiny when it was revealed that a letter she sent to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of the Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger had been largely ghostwritten by Comcast, a company that had donated to her past campaigns.
February 18, 2015: John Kitzhaber's Resignation
On February 18, 2015, Governor John Kitzhaber resigned due to a public corruption scandal, paving the way for Kate Brown to become governor.
2015: Extension of Moratorium on Executions and "Motor Voter" Bill
Upon taking office in 2015, Kate Brown extended the moratorium on executions that Kitzhaber had put in place and signed into law a "motor voter" bill she had championed as secretary of state. This bill aimed to streamline voter registration by automatically registering eligible voters using their driver's license data.
2015: Assumption of Governorship
Kate Brown became the 38th governor of Oregon in 2015, following the resignation of Governor John Kitzhaber.
April 2016: Fundraising Success in 2016 Campaign
By April 2016, Kate Brown had demonstrated significant fundraising success for her 2016 campaign, amassing over $800,000.
July 2016: Signing of HB3402 (Speed Limit Increase)
In July 2016, Governor Brown signed HB3402, which increased the speed limit on certain Oregon highways.
November 2016: Special Election Victory
Kate Brown secured victory in the November 2016 special election, winning the right to serve out the remaining two years of Kitzhaber's term.
2016: Election for Remaining Gubernatorial Term
After assuming the governorship in 2015, Kate Brown won the special election in 2016 to serve the remainder of John Kitzhaber's term.
2016: First Openly LGBT Person Elected Governor
Kate Brown made history in 2016 as the first openly LGBT person elected governor of a U.S. state, further cementing her place as a trailblazer.
January 2017: Appointment of Nik Blosser as Chief of Staff
Following the resignation of Kristen Leonard, Kate Brown appointed Nik Blosser as her third chief of staff in January 2017.
June 2017: Signing of Oregon Equal Pay Act and Transgender Equity Bill
June 2017 marked a significant step forward for equality in Oregon, as Kate Brown signed into law the Oregon Equal Pay Act, prohibiting employers from considering job seekers' salary history during hiring, and a transgender equity bill.
January 2018: Criticism for Handling of Oregon DHS Child Welfare
Audits published in January 2018 led to criticism of Brown's management of the Oregon Department of Human Services Child Welfare division.
March 2018: Dismissal of State Librarian
In March 2018, Brown faced criticism for firing state librarian MaryKay Dahlgreen, a decision that drew scrutiny.
July 2018: Mediation Between Companies and Unions on Ballot Initiatives
In July 2018, Brown facilitated meetings between Oregon companies and unions regarding ballot initiatives, aiming to prevent both from being successful, leading to complaints about potential agreements made in exchange for political support.
November 2018: Re-election as Governor of Oregon
Kate Brown was re-elected as the Governor of Oregon in November 2018, defeating Republican Knute Buehler.
November 2018: Proposal for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Limit
In November 2018, as part of a budget plan, Governor Brown proposed a 30-year plan to limit Oregon's greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade system.
2018: Re-election as Governor of Oregon
Kate Brown was re-elected for a full term as the governor of Oregon in 2018.
June 20, 2019: Authorization of State Troopers to Locate Absent Senators
On June 20, 2019, Governor Brown authorized state troopers to locate and return 11 Republican state senators who had left the Oregon Senate to prevent a quorum, aiming to block the passage of a climate change bill.
August 2019: Appointment of Misha Isaak to the Oregon Court of Appeals
Brown's appointment of Misha Isaak to the Oregon Court of Appeals in August 2019 raised concerns among members of the State Bar Association, particularly after the resignation of the Public Records Advocate and the release of correspondence that reflected negatively on Isaak.
2019: Advocacy for Childhood Vaccinations
During a measles outbreak in Oregon in 2019, Governor Brown publicly encouraged parents to get their children vaccinated.
2019: Recall Petition Concerns
Recall petitions against Brown in 2019 and 2020 highlighted various concerns about her governorship.
2019: Recall Petition Attempt
The Oregon Republican Party and an independent group attempted to remove Brown from office through a recall petition in 2019, but they did not gather enough signatures to be successful.
March 23, 2020: Issuance of Stay-at-Home Order During COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 23, 2020, Governor Brown issued a stay-at-home order for Oregon in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Additional Recall Petition Attempts
In 2020, separate recall petitions were launched against Brown, citing concerns about her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, but neither petition garnered enough signatures to trigger a recall election.
August 2021: Signing of Law Regarding Graduation Requirements
In August 2021, Governor Brown signed a law that changed graduation requirements for Oregon students, sparking debate about its implications.
November 2021: Low Job Approval Rating
In November 2021, Brown's job approval rating stood at 43%, the lowest among U.S. governors, reflecting a challenging political landscape.
October 2022: Further Decline in Job Approval Rating
By October 2022, Brown's approval rating had fallen to 40%, remaining the lowest in the country, indicating continued challenges.
December 2022: Commutation of Death Row Sentences
In December 2022, Governor Brown commuted the sentences of all individuals on death row in Oregon, expressing her belief that the death penalty was morally and functionally flawed.
2023: End of Governorship
Kate Brown's term as the governor of Oregon ended in 2023.