Tawna Sanchez

The Honorable
Tawna Sanchez
Sanchez in 2024
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 43rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2017
Preceded byLew Frederick
Personal details
Born
Tawna Dee Sanchez

(1961-08-23) August 23, 1961 (age 63)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materMarylhurst University (BA)
Portland State University (MA)
Signature
Tawna Sanchez's voice
Sanchez receiving an award from the League of Minority Voters of Oregon
Recorded May 18, 2024

Tawna Dee Sanchez (born August 23, 1961) is an American politician, currently serving as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives. She represents the 43rd district, which covers parts of north-central Portland.

Early life and education

Sanchez was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Sanchez is of Shoshone-Bannock, Ute, and Carrizo descent and was the second person of Native American descent elected to serve in the Oregon legislature (following Jackie Taylor) and the first to represent Portland.[1]

Sanchez graduated with a bachelor's degree from Marylhurst University and with a master's degree from Portland State University.

Career

She has worked with the Native American Youth and Family Center for much of her life.[2][3]

Sanchez has served on the Oregon Child Welfare Advisory Commission and the Oregon Family Services Review Commission.[2]

She won election to the House in 2016, narrowly defeating Roberta Phillip-Robbins in the Democratic primary and running unopposed in the general election.[4][5][6][7]

As of 2023 Sanchez is the co-chair of the Oregon legislature's joint Ways and Means committee, along with Senator Elizabeth Steiner.[8]

Electoral history

2016

2016 Oregon State Representative, 43rd district [9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tawna Sanchez 31,052 98.5
Write-in 457 1.5
Total votes 31,509 100%

2018

2018 Oregon State Representative, 43rd district [10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tawna Sanchez 31,885 98.7
Write-in 425 1.3
Total votes 32,310 100%

2020

2020 Oregon State Representative, 43rd district [11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tawna Sanchez 39,274 98.8
Write-in 479 1.2
Total votes 39,753 100%

2022

2022 Oregon State Representative, 43rd district Democratic primary [12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tawna Sanchez (incumbent) 13,247 99.34
Democratic Write-in 88 0.66
Total votes 13,335 100.0
2022 Oregon State Representative, 43rd district[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tawna Sanchez (incumbent) 33,466 91.80
Republican Tim LeMaster 2,943 8.07
Write-in 48 0.13
Total votes 36,457 100.0

See also

References

  1. ^ Edge, Sami (March 6, 2024). "Oregon planned to mark 250 years since Declaration of Independence without giving tribes a voice. 2 lawmakers changed that". OregonLive.com. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Tawna Sanchez's Biography". Project VoteSmart. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  3. ^ Quirke, Steven (September 8, 2016). "Tawna Sanchez to bring a new perspective to Salem". Street Roots. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  4. ^ "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  5. ^ Hammill, Luke (May 20, 2016). "Closest race for Oregon Legislature decided: Tawna Sanchez wins". The Oregonian (OregonLive.com). Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  6. ^ Hammill, Luke (May 18, 2016). "Controversial neck-and-neck race for Legislature may head for recount". The Oregonian (OregonLive.com). Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  7. ^ Slovic, Beth (May 18, 2016). "In Surprising Reversal, Tawna Sanchez Now Leads Roberta Phillip-Robbins in House District 43". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  8. ^ VanderHart, Dirk (March 23, 2023). "Budget writers unveil a no-frills plan for Oregon's next 2 years". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  11. ^ "November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  12. ^ "May 17, 2022, Primary Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  13. ^ "November 8, 2022, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.