Tina Kotek Says She’s a Defender of Women. She Has a History of Ignoring Sexual Harassment Complaints.

Democrats

A 2018 investigation found the Democratic gubernatorial candidate fostered a ‘sexually hostile environment’ in the Oregon statehouse

Democratic Oregon gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek / Getty Images Josh Christenson • November 2, 2022 5:00 am

Tina Kotek has built an image as a protector of “women’s rights,” touting her efforts to end workplace discrimination and defend survivors of sexual assault throughout her career.  But a review of her time as Oregon House speaker reveals a record of neglect and disregard for sexual harassment.

Complaints and lawsuits filed at the height of the #MeToo movement allege that Kotek for years ignored accusations of sexual misconduct against state lawmakers. One of those complaints alleges that a lawmaker groped female state senators as well as interns—and that Kotek looked the other way. Another charges that a state representative told a young woman working in the legislature “to get ready for a birthday spanking,” according to notes Kotek took about the incident, but that Kotek did nothing. And an investigation by Oregon’s labor commissioner in 2018 found Kotek had fostered a “sexually hostile environment in the Capitol.”

That record is a far cry from the pro-woman advocacy she’s leaned on throughout her gubernatorial run, during which she has told voters that she has “fought to advance equity for women” and described herself as a “leader with a proven record of standing up for women’s rights and protections.” With a week to go until Election Day, Kotek is in a close race against Republican opponent Christine Drazan, with the RealClearPolitics average giving Drazan a 1.7-point lead. Kotek served as House speaker from 2013 to 2022, when she announced her run for governor.

But Jackie Sandmeyer, an official tasked with handling misconduct complaints in the Oregon legislature, said Kotek was willing to do anything to keep her office quiet.

“Kotek thinks she is a tough lesbian, but really she will try to bribe you to keep you quiet,” Sandmeyer told her successor as legislative equity officer, Nate Monson. “She’ll offer you whatever you want—money, resources for the office.”

Kotek allowed female interns to work for state senator Jeff Kruse (R.) even though she knew he had a history of groping female colleagues, the labor commissioner’s investigation revealed. State senator Sara Gelser had accused Kruse in 2016 of sexually harassing her before the interns were hired at the close of the year. Kruse