About Kate Brown

Senator Kate Brown began her career in public service over sixteen years ago. First elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1991, Kate served two successful terms in the House before being elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1996. In 1998, Senator Brown was elected Democratic Leader, where she successfully led the Senate Democratic Caucus from a 10-20 Minority to an 18-12 Majority.

With Democrats squarely in the majority, Kate Brown was elected by her caucus to serve as the Oregon’s first woman Senate Majority Leader in 2004.

Growing up in the Gopher State of Minnesota, Kate moved west to attend college. Attending the University of Colorado at Boulder, Kate earned a B.A in Environmental Conservation and Women’s Studies. After graduating college, Kate moved to Oregon where she received her law degree and Certificate in Environmental Law from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College.

Kate’s professional career has centered on public service. Kate has practiced family and juvenile law, taught at Portland State University and worked with the Juvenile Rights Project.

Throughout her career, Kate has been praised for her ability to thoughtfully consider difficult issues and build consensus to move Oregon forward.

Senator Brown has served as Chair of the Senate Rules and Elections Committees for years, stewarding landmark initiative reform legislation and moving Oregon to the forefront of transparent campaign finance reporting.

In 2001, the Republican controlled Legislature passed redistricting plans for legislative and congressional districts that Governor Kitzhaber vetoed. As Democratic Leader, Kate Brown took charge of offering an alternative plan for our Congressional districts – one that the Oregon courts adopted in its entirety.

In the 2005 legislative session, Brown led successful efforts to make Oregon’s state government open and accessible by taking legislative committee meetings to communities around the state, ensuring funding for a comprehensive review of Oregon’s ethics laws, and spearheading legislation creating a searchable online database of campaign contributions and expenditures, which The Oregonian called the best campaign finance disclosure law in the country.
Additionally, Brown led the Senate Democrats in their efforts to reduce the skyrocketing costs of health care, ensure that Oregon’s education dollars reach the classroom, and protect Oregon’s uniquely livable communities.
With her strong record of public service, integrity and fairness, Kate Brown has been the recipient many awards and distinctions including:

• National Public and Community Service Award from the American Mental Health Counselors Association


• Elected Chair of the Council of State Governments West.


• “Profiles in Courage" Award from Basic Rights Oregon


• Legislature of the Year Award from the Oregon Psychological Association


• Award for Outstanding Achievement by the Oregon Family Support Network


• Woman of Achievement Award from the Oregon Commission for Women.

In her free time, Kate enjoys riding her 24 year old horse Buranka and exploring the hiking trails of the Northwest with her husband Dan and her step-children Dylan and Jessie.