John Kitzhaber

Who is John Kitzhaber?

John Albert Kitzhaber is the 37th and current Governor of Oregon. A member of the Democratic Party, Kitzhaber has served three nonconsecutive terms as Governor, from 1995 to 2003 and a third term since 2011. He also served in the Oregon House of Representatives and Oregon Senate, including as Senate president. He was also an emergency room surgeon and has worked as a health care administrator.

Born in Colfax, Washington, Kitzhaber is a graduate of Dartmouth College, earning his M.D. from Oregon Health & Science University. Kitzhaber began his career as an emergency room physician before he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1978. He served one term in the Oregon House from 1979 to 1981 and was elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1982. He served three terms in the Oregon Senate from 1983 to 1993, and served as Oregon's Senate President from 1985 to 1993.

In 1994, after incumbent Governor Barbara Roberts announced she would not run for reelection, Kitzhaber declared his candidacy to run for Governor.