Oregon’s Incoming Governor Brown Has Worked to Expand Rights

Oregon’s next governor, Secretary of State Kate Brown, will take the helm of a state reeling from an ethics scandal that upended the unprecedented fourth term of John Kitzhaber.

Brown, a 54-year-old Democrat who is married to a man but describes herself as bisexual, has a history of working for liberal causes. She’ll assume the top office Feb. 18, when Kitzhaber’s resignation is effective. The Democrat quit amid allegations that his fiancee used an advisory position to benefit her consulting business.