Tina Kotek

Tina Kotek has faced several ethics-related controversies during her career, though no criminal charges or convictions have been reported. In 2021, the Oregon House Conduct Committee investigated allegations that Kotek, then Speaker of the House, created a hostile work environment for former Rep. Diego Hernandez. The committee concluded her behavior did not meet the legal threshold of severe or pervasive conduct required to substantiate the claim. In 2024, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission deadlocked 4-4 and effectively dismissed complaints regarding Kotek’s attempt to establish an Office of the First Spouse for her wife, Aimee Kotek Wilson. The commission found no evidence of ethics law violations, though the proposal triggered high-level staff resignations and public scrutiny. Separately, following a 2025 audit by the Secretary of State’s Office that identified minor, unintentional ethics violations, the commission began an investigation into Kotek’s office spending. This includes $9,330 for a staff holiday party, parking reimbursements for the first lady and a federal lobbyist, and concert tickets for security detail and official events. The investigation is ongoing to determine if these expenses violate state ethics statutes. A 2022 complaint alleging Kotek improperly induced a rival candidate to withdraw by promising policy support was also dismissed after the Oregon Elections Division determined the process was handled by non-partisan staff.