Jennifer Williamson (born 1973)[1] is an American attorney, Democratic politician, and political strategist who represented Oregon's 36th District in the Oregon House of Representatives. She served as Majority Leader from 2015 to 2019.

Jennifer Williamson
Majority Leader of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office
July 10, 2015 – July 19, 2019
Preceded byVal Hoyle
Succeeded byBarbara Smith Warner
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 36th district
In office
January 12, 2013 – January 16, 2020
Preceded byMary Nolan
Succeeded byAkasha Lawrence-Spence
Personal details
Born (1973-11-16) November 16, 1973 (age 51)
Washington County, Oregon, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Oregon (BA)
Willamette University (JD)

Early life and education

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Born in Washington County, Oregon, Williamson graduated from the University of Oregon,[2] and received a J.D. degree from Willamette University College of Law.[3]

Political career

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In 2012, she defeated Sharon Meieran in the Democratic primary to replace state representative Mary Nolan.[4]

Williamson was named a 2014 Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow.[5]

On February 10, 2020, Williamson abruptly dropped out of the race for Oregon Secretary of State in response to allegations of unusual campaign spending while an Oregon House member. Williamson has defended her campaign expenditures as legal under Oregon campaign finance laws and ethics regulations.[6]

Williamson currently works for political consulting firm Strategies 360[7] and serves as the executive director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon.[8]

Electoral history

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2012 Oregon State Representative, 36th district[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jennifer Williamson 26,785 82.2
Republican Bruce Neal 5,664 17.4
Write-in 129 0.4
Total votes 32,578 100%
2014 Oregon State Representative, 36th district[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jennifer Williamson 21,626 85.0
Libertarian Amanda Burnham 3,602 14.2
Write-in 202 0.8
Total votes 25,430 100%
2016 Oregon State Representative, 36th district[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jennifer Williamson 28,875 88.7
Libertarian Amanda Burnham 3,519 10.8
Write-in 149 0.5
Total votes 32,543 100%
2018 Oregon State Representative, 36th district[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jennifer Williamson 28,081 98.0
Write-in 559 2.0
Total votes 28,640 100%

References

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  1. ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (June 28, 2017). "The Good, the Bad and the Awful: Our 2017 Ranking of Portland-Area Lawmakers". Willamette Week. Portland, Oregon: City of Roses Newspapers. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  2. ^ "State Representative Jennifer Williamson". Democratic Party of Oregon. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  3. ^ "Representative Jennifer Williamson". VoteSmart. Retrieved January 15, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Kozinskiy, Olga (November 13, 2012). "Emerging Women". Willamette Week. Portland, Oregon: City of Roses Newspapers. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  5. ^ "About the Rodel Fellowship Program". Archived from the original on 2016-05-25. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  6. ^ Monahan, Rachel (February 10, 2020). "Worldwide Travel Highlights Unusual Campaign Spending by Former Oregon House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson". Willamette Week. Portland, Oregon: City of Roses Newspapers. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  7. ^ "Jennifer Williamson". Strategies 360. Archived from the original on 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  8. ^ "With Abortion Protection Bill Pending in Salem, Planned Parenthood Advocates Names Interim Leader". Willamette Week. 2023-03-24. Archived from the original on 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  9. ^ "Official Results | November 6, 2012". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "November 4, 2014, General Election, Official Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  11. ^ "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  12. ^ "November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
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Oregon House of Representatives
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Oregon House of Representatives
2015–2019
Succeeded by