The leadership of the Democratic Party for Oregon is changing. House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner of Portland resigned on Sunday, to be replaced by Rep. Julie Fahey of Eugene. Rep. Tina Kotek will be stepping down as Oregon’s House Speaker in February to concentrate on her gubernatorial bid. Now, State Rep. Dan Rayfield of Corvallis is expected to replace Kotek as Speaker after receiving the official nomination from Democratic representatives.
A secret ballot vote was conducted via video conference on Sunday. In the contested race, Rayfield won out against Rep. Janelle Bynum of Happy Valley. Had she received the nomination, Bynum would have been the first Black speaker of the House in state history.
“I’m deeply honored that my caucus has entrusted me with this nomination,” Rayfield said in a statement. “I recognize this comes with tremendous responsibility at a pivotal moment for families across our state.”
With support from supermajority Democrats, Rayfield will almost certainly prevail in the formal election on Feb. 1.
Bynum congratulated Rayfield in a statement Sunday, and emphasized the importance of creating leadership opportunities for people of color.
“I issue this challenge to the Democratic Party: Commit to mentoring, stepping aside, and creating pathways for leadership development,” Bynum said. “These are the ways qualified Oregonians of color will enter into these halls of power. We are capable of so much more than the opportunities that are open to us.”
In an interview with OPB, Bynum said she’d expected to be backed by Kotek for the position, after they reached an agreement last year, but Kotek did not give an endorsement.
“I’ve always been about challenging this notion of Black or brown leadership that’s not ready or not qualified,” said Bynum, a former engineer who holds an MBA and owns several McDonald’s restaurants. “I know just like in corporate America, it takes people to open doors, it takes people to train and mentor. I didn’t have those and I got really far. I was taken seriously.”
Bynum said she offered her congratulations to Rayfield via text after the vote on Sunday, as well as making a request to be considered for co-chair of the Legislative budget committee. The position, currently held by Rayfield, is one of the most powerful roles in the Capitol.
Rayfield, 42, was first elected to the House in 2014. In a statement Sunday, he stressed the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I know many are still hurting. The Omicron variant is contributing to workforce shortages and challenges for our students, educators and families,” he said. “But I know there is a brighter future ahead and I am committed to working with both parties and both chambers to lead the entire state forward.”
By Kevin Coalwell
Do you have a story for The Advocate? Email editor@corvallisadvocate.com