List of Speakers of the Oregon House of Representatives
Encyclopedia
This is a complete list of people who have served as Speakers of the Oregon House of Representatives
through the 2009 session. Oregon became a state on February 14, 1859, with prior sessions of the House organized under the territorial government and the provisional government. Prior to the adoption of the second set of Organic Laws
in 1845, the legislative body of the provisional government was the legislative committee, and leaders of that body are not listed below.
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
through the 2009 session. Oregon became a state on February 14, 1859, with prior sessions of the House organized under the territorial government and the provisional government. Prior to the adoption of the second set of Organic Laws
Organic Laws of Oregon
The Organic Laws of Oregon were two sets of laws passed in the 1840s that established a structure for government in the Oregon Country in the northwest corner of North America. These laws were created by a legislative committee formed after the Champoeg Meetings...
in 1845, the legislative body of the provisional government was the legislative committee, and leaders of that body are not listed below.
Before statehood
Session | Type | Name | District/County represented | Political party |
---|---|---|---|---|
1845 | Provisional Legislature | Morton M. McCarver | Tuality | |
1845 | Provisional Legislature | Robert Newell Robert Newell (Oregon politician) Robert "Doc" Newell , was an American politician and fur trapper in the Oregon Country. He was a frontier doctor in what would become the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of Ohio, he served in the Provisional Government of Oregon and later was a member of the Oregon State Legislature... H. A. G. Lee |
Champoeg Clackamas |
|
1846 | Provisional Legislature | Asa Lovejoy Asa Lovejoy Asa Lawrence Lovejoy was an American pioneer and politician in the region that would become the U.S. state of Oregon. He is best remembered as a founder of the city of Portland, Oregon... |
Clackamas | |
1847 | Provisional Legislature | Robert Newell Robert Newell Robert Newell VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.... |
Champoeg | |
1848-1849 | Provisional Legislature | Ralph Wilcox Ralph Wilcox Doctor Ralph Wilcox , was the first teacher and practicing doctor in Portland, Oregon, United States. He also served in the Provisional Government of Oregon, was a legislator during both the territorial period and when Oregon became a state, and a judge of Twality County during the provisional... Levi A. Rice |
Tuality Yamhill |
|
1849 | Territorial Legislature Oregon Territorial Legislature Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory... |
Asa Lovejoy Asa Lovejoy Asa Lawrence Lovejoy was an American pioneer and politician in the region that would become the U.S. state of Oregon. He is best remembered as a founder of the city of Portland, Oregon... |
Clackamas | |
1850 | Territorial Legislature | Ralph Wilcox Ralph Wilcox Doctor Ralph Wilcox , was the first teacher and practicing doctor in Portland, Oregon, United States. He also served in the Provisional Government of Oregon, was a legislator during both the territorial period and when Oregon became a state, and a judge of Twality County during the provisional... |
Washington | |
1851 | Territorial Legislature | William M. King | Washington | |
1852 | Territorial Legislature | Benjamin F. Harding Benjamin F. Harding Benjamin Franklin Harding was an American attorney and politician born in Pennsylvania. He held political offices in the Oregon Territory and later served as a United States Senator from the state of Oregon.-Early life:... |
Marion | Democrat |
1853 | Territorial Legislature | Z. C. Bishop | Washington | Democrat |
1854 | Territorial Legislature | L. F. Cartee | Clackamas | Democrat |
1855 | Territorial Legislature | Delazon Smith Delazon Smith Delazon Smith was a Democratic Party politician who briefly represented the state of Oregon in the U.S. Senate in 1859. He served for less than one month , making his term among the shortest on record in the Senate... |
Linn | Democrat |
1856 | Territorial Legislature | La Fayette Grover La Fayette Grover La Fayette Grover was a Democratic politician and lawyer from the US state of Oregon. He was the fourth Governor of Oregon, serving from 1870 to 1877... |
Marion | Democrat |
1857 | Territorial Legislature | Ira F. M. Butler | Polk | Democrat |
1858 | Territorial Legislature |
After statehood
Order | Session | Type | Name | County represented | Political party |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 1859 | Special | William G. T'Vault William G. T'Vault William Green T'Vault was a pioneer of the Oregon Country and the first editor of the first newspaper published west of the Missouri River. T'Vault led a wagon train of 300 that arrived in Oregon in 1845, after traveling on the Meek Cutoff, a branch of the Oregon Trail... |
Jackson | Democrat |
2. | 1860 | Regular | Benjamin F. Harding Benjamin F. Harding Benjamin Franklin Harding was an American attorney and politician born in Pennsylvania. He held political offices in the Oregon Territory and later served as a United States Senator from the state of Oregon.-Early life:... |
Marion | Democrat |
3. | 1862 | Regular | Joel Palmer Joel Palmer General Joel Palmer was an American pioneer of the Oregon Territory in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. He was born in Canada, and spent his early years in New York and Pennsylvania before serving as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives.Palmer traveled to the Oregon... |
Yamhill | Republican |
4. | 1864 | Regular | Isaac R. Moores, Jr. Isaac R. Moores, Jr. Isaac Ross Moores, Jr. was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon. The son of Isaac R. Moores, he was born in Illinois and moved to the Oregon Territory in 1852. In Oregon, he would serve in the Oregon House of Representatives, including as Speaker of that body.-Early... |
Marion | Republican |
4. | 1865 | Special | Isaac R. Moores, Jr. | Marion | Republican |
5. | 1866 | Regular | Francis A. Chenoweth Francis A. Chenoweth Francis A. Chenoweth was an American lawyer and politician in the Pacific Northwest. A native of Ohio, he lived in Iowa and Wisconsin before immigrating to the Oregon Territory. There he served in the legislature of the Oregon Territory and then the Washington Territory, including serving as... |
Benton | Republican |
6. | 1868 | Regular | John Whiteaker John Whiteaker John Whiteaker was an American politician, soldier, and judge primarily in Oregon. A native of Indiana, he joined the Army during the Mexican-American War and then prospected during the California Gold Rush. After moving to the Oregon Territory he served as a judge and member of the legislature... |
Lane | Democrat |
7. | 1870 | Regular | Benjamin Hayden | Polk | Democrat |
8. | 1872 | Regular | Rufus Mallory Rufus Mallory Rufus Mallory was an American educator, lawyer, and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of New York, he was a teacher in Iowa before moving to Oregon where he became an attorney. He was a district attorney before he served in the Oregon House of Representatives in the early 1860s. A... |
Marion | Republican |
9. | 1874 | Regular | John C. Drain | Douglas | Democrat |
10. | 1876 | Regular | James K. Weatherford | Linn | Democrat |
11. | 1878 | Regular | John M. Thompson | Lane | Democrat |
12. | 1880 | Regular | Zenas Ferry Moody Zenas Ferry Moody Zenas Ferry Moody was the seventh Governor of Oregon from 1882 to 1887.-Early life:Zenas Ferry Moody was born on May 27, 1832, in Granby, Massachusetts, to Thomas Hovey and Hannah Ferry. The family immigrated to Oregon Territory in 1851, traveling the Isthmus of Panama route... |
Wasco | Republican |
13. | 1882 | Regular | George W. McBride George W. McBride George Wycliffe McBride was a politician and businessman from the U.S. state of Oregon. An Oregon native, he served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly as Speaker of the House and as Oregon Secretary of State for two terms before election as United States Senator from Oregon. A Republican, he was... |
Columbia | Republican |
14. | 1885 | Regular Special |
W. P. Keady | Benton | Republican |
15. | 1887 | Regular | J. T. Gregg | Marion | Republican |
16. | 1889 | Regular | E. L. Smith | Hood River | Republican |
17. | 1891 | Regular | Theodore Thurston Geer Theodore Thurston Geer Theodore Thurston Geer was the tenth Governor of Oregon, serving from January 9, 1899 to January 14, 1903. The Republican politician was in office when the legislature adopted the "Oregon System", Oregon's system of initiative and referendum... |
Marion | Republican |
14. | 1893 | Regular | W. P. Keady | Multnomah | Republican |
18. | 1895 | Regular | Charles B. Moores Charles B. Moores Charles Bruce Moores was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Missouri, he came from a family of politicians including his father John H. Moores, his grandfather Isaac R. Moores, and uncle Isaac R. Moores, Jr. who all served in the Oregon Legislature... |
Marion | Republican |
1897 | House did not organize | E.J. Davis Henry L. Benson Henry L. Benson Henry Lamdin Benson was an American politician and jurist in the state of Oregon. He was the 44th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving from 1915 to 1921 on the state's highest court... both selected by rival factions |
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19. | 1898 | Special | E. V. Carter | Jackson | Republican |
19. | 1899 | Regular | E. V. Carter | Jackson | Republican |
20. | 1901 | Regular | Levi Branson Reeder Levi Branson Reeder Levi Branson "Lee" Reeder was an attorney and Republican politician from Pendleton in the US state of Oregon. A native of Illinois, he served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1901–1903.-Early life:... |
Umatilla | Republican |
21. | 1903 | Regular Special |
Lawrence T. Harris Lawrence T. Harris Lawrence T. Harris was an American politician and lawyer in the state of Oregon. He was the 45th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving from 1914 to 1924. An a native Oregonian, he also served as a state court judge and in 1903 was the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives... |
Lane | Republican |
22. | 1905 | Regular | A. L. Mills | Multnomah | Republican |
23. | 1907 | Regular | Frank Davey | Marion | Republican |
24. | 1909 | Regular Special |
Clifton N. McArthur Clifton N. McArthur Clifton Nesmith McArthur was a U.S. Representative from Oregon, and grandson of Senator James Willis Nesmith. His father was a member of the Oregon Supreme Court, and Clifton twice served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.-Early life:McArthur was born in The Dalles, Oregon on June... |
Multnomah | Republican |
25. | 1911 | Regular | John P. Rusk | Wallowa | Republican |
24. | 1913 | Regular | Clifton N. McArthur Clifton N. McArthur Clifton Nesmith McArthur was a U.S. Representative from Oregon, and grandson of Senator James Willis Nesmith. His father was a member of the Oregon Supreme Court, and Clifton twice served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.-Early life:McArthur was born in The Dalles, Oregon on June... |
Multnomah | Republican |
26. | 1915 | Regular | Ben Selling Ben Selling Ben Selling was a businessman, philanthropist, civil rights advocate, and politician Portland, Oregon, United States. He was a noted leader in the Jewish community, and he owned a clothing store in downtown Portland.... |
Multnomah | Republican |
27. | 1917 | Regular | Robert N. Stanfield Robert N. Stanfield Robert Nelson Stanfield was an American politician and rancher from the state of Oregon. A native of the state, he was a rancher before entering politics and serving in the Oregon House of Representatives, including one session as Speaker... |
Umatilla | Republican |
28. | 1919 | Regular | Seymour Jones | Marion | Republican |
28. | 1920 | Special | Seymour Jones | Marion | Republican |
29. | 1921 | Regular Special |
Louis E. Bean | Lane | Republican |
30. | 1923 | Regular | K. K. Kubli | Multnomah | Republican |
31. | 1925 | Regular | Denton G. Burdick | Deschutes | Republican |
32. | 1927 | Regular | John H. Carkin | Jackson | Republican |
33. | 1929 Thirty-fifth Oregon Legislative Assembly The thirty-fifth Oregon Legislative Assembly convened in 1929 for its biennial regular session, starting January 14 and finishing March 4. Republicans not only controlled both chambers, but also held overwhelming majorities. Only four Democrats, two in the House and two in the Senate, were members... |
Regular | R. S. Hamilton R. S. Hamilton R.S. Hamilton, a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oregon, was the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives for its 1929 regular session.... |
Deschutes | Republican |
34. | 1931 | Regular | Frank J. Lonergan | Multnomah | Republican |
35. | 1933 | Regular Special |
Earl Snell Earl Snell Earl Willcox Snell was an Oregon businessman American Republican politician, serving in the Oregon House of Representatives, as the Oregon Secretary of State, and as the 23rd Governor of Oregon.... |
Gilliam | Republican |
36. | 1935 | Regular | John E. Cooter | Lincoln | Democrat |
37. | 1935 | Special | Howard Latourette | Multnomah | Democrat |
38. | 1937 | Regular | Harry D. Boivin Harry D. Boivin Harry Dolan Boivin was an Oregon lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives for four terms, from 1935 through 1942. He also served in the Oregon State Senate from 1955 to 1972... |
Klamath | Democrat |
39. | 1939 | Regular | Ernest R. Fatland | Gilliam | Republican |
40. | 1941 | Regular | Robert S. Farrell, Jr. Robert S. Farrell, Jr. Robert S. Farrell, Jr. was an American Republican politician in the state of Oregon.-Political career:He lived in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon and served as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention from Oregon in both 1940 and 1944. Farrell was elected as the Speaker of the Oregon... |
Multnomah | Republican |
41. | 1943 | Regular | William M. McAllister William M. McAllister William Menzies McAllister was an American politician and jurist in the state of Oregon. He served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives in the 1940s, served on the Oregon Supreme Court, and was Chief Justice of the court for eight years beginning in 1959.-Early years:William... |
Jackson | Republican |
42. | 1945 | Regular | Eugene E. Marsh | Yamhill | Republican |
43. | 1947 | Regular | John Hubert Hall John Hubert Hall John Hubert Hall was an American Republican politician from the US state of Oregon. He was Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives in 1947, fourth in line to the governorship, when the governor, secretary of state, and senate president were all killed in a plane crash... |
Multnomah | Republican |
44. | 1949 | Regular | Frank Van Dyke | Jackson | Republican |
45. | 1951 | Regular | John F. Steelhammer John F. Steelhammer John F. Steelhammer was an American politician in the state of Oregon. He attended Western Oregon College , and graduated from the Willamette University College of Law with a doctorate in law. He was an attorney, lobbyist, and served in the Oregon House of Representatives, including one term as... |
Marion | Republican |
46. | 1953 | Regular | Rudie Wilhelm, Jr. | Multnomah | Republican |
47. | 1955 | Regular | Edward A Geary | Klamath | Republican |
48. | 1957 | Regular Special |
Pat Dooley | Multnomah | Democrat |
49. | 1959 | Regular | Robert B. Duncan Robert B. Duncan Robert Blackford Duncan was an American politician from the state of Oregon. A Democrat, he served multiple terms in the Oregon Legislative Assembly and as a U.S. congressman from Oregon. In the Oregon House of Representatives he served as speaker for four years, and in the U.S. House he... |
Jackson | Democrat |
49. | 1961 | Regular | Robert B. Duncan Robert B. Duncan Robert Blackford Duncan was an American politician from the state of Oregon. A Democrat, he served multiple terms in the Oregon Legislative Assembly and as a U.S. congressman from Oregon. In the Oregon House of Representatives he served as speaker for four years, and in the U.S. House he... |
Jackson | Democrat |
50. | 1963 | Regular Special |
Clarence Barton | Coos | Democrat |
51. | 1965 | Regular Special |
F. F. Montgomery | Lane | Republican |
51. | 1967 | Regular Special |
F. F. Montgomery | Lane | Republican |
52. | 1969 | Regular | Robert Freeman Smith Robert Freeman Smith Robert Freeman "Bob" Smith in Portland, Oregon, is an American politician.-Early life:Smith grew up in Burns, Oregon. He attended Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, graduating in 1953 with an agricultural degree... |
Harney | Republican |
52. | 1971 | Regular Special |
Robert Freeman Smith Robert Freeman Smith Robert Freeman "Bob" Smith in Portland, Oregon, is an American politician.-Early life:Smith grew up in Burns, Oregon. He attended Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, graduating in 1953 with an agricultural degree... |
Harney | Republican |
53. | 1973 57th Oregon Legislative Assembly The 57th Oregon Legislative Assembly convened for its regular session from January 8 to July 6, 1973. There was also a special session from January 24 to February 24, 1974.... |
Regular | Richard O. Eymann Richard O. Eymann Richard O. Eymann was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Alberta, Canada, he served as an airman during World War II and then graduated from Dartmouth College... |
Lane | Democrat |
53. | 1974 57th Oregon Legislative Assembly The 57th Oregon Legislative Assembly convened for its regular session from January 8 to July 6, 1973. There was also a special session from January 24 to February 24, 1974.... |
Special | Richard O. Eymann Richard O. Eymann Richard O. Eymann was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Alberta, Canada, he served as an airman during World War II and then graduated from Dartmouth College... |
Lane | Democrat |
54. | 1975 | Regular | Philip D. Lang | Multnomah | Democrat |
54. | 1977 | Regular | Philip D. Lang | Multnomah | Democrat |
54. | 1978 | Special | Philip D. Lang | Multnomah | Democrat |
55. | 1979 | Regular | Hardy Myers Hardy Myers Hardy Myers is a lawyer and Democratic politician who served three terms as attorney general of the state of Oregon, United States... |
Multnomah | Democrat |
55. | 1980 | Special | Hardy Myers Hardy Myers Hardy Myers is a lawyer and Democratic politician who served three terms as attorney general of the state of Oregon, United States... |
Multnomah | Democrat |
55. | 1981 | Regular Special |
Hardy Myers Hardy Myers Hardy Myers is a lawyer and Democratic politician who served three terms as attorney general of the state of Oregon, United States... |
Multnomah | Democrat |
56. | 1983 | Regular Special |
Grattan Kerans Grattan Kerans Grattan Kerans is an American politician from Oregon. He was a member of the Oregon Legislative Assembly in the House of Representatives from 1974 through 1984, and in the Oregon State Senate from 1986 to 1993. He held the position of Speaker of the House during the 1983 legislative... |
Lane | Democrat |
57. | 1985 | Regular | Vera Katz Vera Katz Vera Katz is a Democratic politician in the state of Oregon. She was the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives and was the 45th mayor of Portland, Oregon's most populous city. Growing up in New York City, she moved to Portland in 1962 and was elected to the Oregon... |
Multnomah | Democrat |
57. | 1987 | Regular | Vera Katz Vera Katz Vera Katz is a Democratic politician in the state of Oregon. She was the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives and was the 45th mayor of Portland, Oregon's most populous city. Growing up in New York City, she moved to Portland in 1962 and was elected to the Oregon... |
Multnomah | Democrat |
57. | 1989 | Regular Special |
Vera Katz Vera Katz Vera Katz is a Democratic politician in the state of Oregon. She was the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives and was the 45th mayor of Portland, Oregon's most populous city. Growing up in New York City, she moved to Portland in 1962 and was elected to the Oregon... |
Multnomah | Democrat |
58. | 1991 | Regular | Larry Campbell Larry Campbell (Oregon politician) Larry L. Campbell a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oregon, served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives in the early 1990s, representing Eugene.... |
Lane | Republican |
58. | 1993 | Regular | Larry Campbell Larry Campbell (Oregon politician) Larry L. Campbell a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oregon, served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives in the early 1990s, representing Eugene.... |
Lane | Republican |
59. | 1995 | Regular Special |
Bev Clarno | Deschutes | Republican |
60. | 1997 | Regular | Lynn Lundquist | Deschutes | Republican |
61. | 1999 | Regular Special |
Lynn Snodgrass Lynn Snodgrass Lynn Snodgrass is a politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. She served in the Oregon House of Representatives. A Republican, she was elected Speaker in 1998, succeeding fellow Republican Lynn Lundquist. At the time, many Republicans felt Lundquist was too accommodating to Democratic Governor John... |
Clackamas | Republican |
62. | 2001 | Regular Special |
Mark Simmons | Union | Republican |
63. | 2003 | Regular | Karen Minnis Karen Minnis Karen Minnis is a Oregon Republican politician in United States. She was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1998 to 2009, and served as Speaker of the House from 2003 to 2006.-Early life:... |
Multnomah | Republican |
63. | 2005 Seventy-third Oregon Legislative Assembly The seventy-third Oregon Legislative Assembly was the Oregon Legislative Assembly 's period from 2005 to 2006. The seventy-third Oregon Legislative Assembly was the Oregon Legislative Assembly (OLA)'s period from 2005 to 2006. The seventy-third Oregon Legislative Assembly was the Oregon Legislative... |
Regular | Karen Minnis Karen Minnis Karen Minnis is a Oregon Republican politician in United States. She was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1998 to 2009, and served as Speaker of the House from 2003 to 2006.-Early life:... |
Multnomah | Republican |
64. | 2007 | Regular | Jeff Merkley Jeff Merkley Jeffrey Alan "Jeff" Merkley is the junior United States Senator from Oregon. A member of the Democratic Party, Merkley was a five-term member of the Oregon Legislative Assembly representing House District 47, located in eastern Multnomah County within the Portland city limits... |
Multnomah | Democrat |
65. | 2009 Seventy-fifth Oregon Legislative Assembly The seventy-fifth Oregon Legislative Assembly convened beginning on , for its biennial regular session. All of the 60 seats in the House of Representatives and half of the 30 seats in the State Senate were up for election in 2008; the general election for those seats took place on .Democrats took... |
Regular | Dave Hunt Dave Hunt (Oregon politician) Dave Hunt is an American politician in the state of Oregon. A Democrat, he is the State Representative for District 40 of the Oregon House of Representatives. He was elected House Majority Leader for the 2006–2008 session, succeeding Minority Leader Jeff Merkley, who was chosen as Speaker... |
Clackamas | Democrat |
66. | 2011 76th Oregon Legislative Assembly The 76th Oregon Legislative Assembly convened beginning on , for its regular session. All of the 60 seats in the House of Representatives and 16 of the 30 seats in the State Senate were up for election in 2010; the general election for those seats took place on .In 2010, Oregon voters passed Ballot... |
Regular | Bruce Hanna Bruce Hanna Bruce Hanna is a Republican politician from Roseburg in the US state of Oregon. He serves in the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 7, which spans Lane and Douglas counties... (Co-Speaker) |
Roseburg | Republican |
Arnie Roblan Arnie Roblan Arnold L. "Arnie" Roblan is a former educator and a Democratic politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. He has served in the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 9, which spans the southern Oregon Coast, since 2005... (Co-Speaker) |
Coos Bay | Democrat | |||