Suzanne Bonamici
American politician (born 1954)
Suzanne Marie Bonamici ( BONN -ə-MEE -chee ; born October 14, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Oregon's 1st congressional district , a seat she was first elected to in a 2012 special election . The district includes most of Portland west of the Willamette River , as well as all of Columbia , Clatsop , and Washington counties.
A Democrat , Bonamici represented the 17th district in the Oregon State Senate from 2008 to 2011.[ 1] She was first elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 2006.
Early life, education, and legal career
Bonamici was born in Detroit and raised in a small Michigan town. She earned an associate degree from Lane Community College in 1978, and a bachelor's degree in 1980 and J.D. in 1983, both from the University of Oregon .[ 2] After college, she became a legal assistant at Lane County Legal Aid in Eugene . After law school, she became a consumer protection attorney for the Federal Trade Commission in the nation's capital . She went into private practice in Portland and represented small businesses.[ 3]
Oregon legislature
Elections
In 2006, incumbent Democratic State Representative Brad Avakian decided to retire to run for the Oregon Senate . Bonamici ran for the open seat in Oregon's 34th House district and defeated Republican Joan Draper, 62%-36%.[ 4]
On April 30, 2008, commissioners from Washington and Multnomah Counties appointed Bonamici to represent Oregon's 17th Senate district. The seat became vacant when Avakian was appointed Commissioner of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries .[ 5] She was sworn in on May 19, 2008.
Bonamici was unopposed in the November 2008 special election for the balance of Avakian's four-year term, and was elected with 97% of the vote.[ 6] In 2010, she was reelected with 64% of the vote.[ 7]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
Special election
Bonamici during the 112th Congress
In early 2011, Bonamici was mentioned as a possible successor to Representative David Wu after The Oregonian and Willamette Week reported that Wu exhibited odd behavior and clashed with his staff amid apparent mental illness during the 2010 election cycle.[ 8] After Wu resigned from Congress, Bonamici announced her candidacy for the special election to replace him,[ 9] touting endorsements from former Governor Barbara Roberts , former Congresswoman Elizabeth Furse , and incumbent Oregon Attorney General John Kroger , among others.[ 10]
On November 8, 2011, Bonamici won the Democratic Party of Oregon 's nomination, with a majority of the vote in every county in the district and 66% of the vote overall, a 44-point margin over second-place finisher Brad Avakian . She defeated Republican nominee Rob Cornilles in the January 31, 2012, special election[ 11] by a 14-point margin.[ 12]
Before her election to Congress, Bonamici resigned from the Oregon Senate on November 21,[ 13] and was replaced by Elizabeth Steiner Hayward in December.[ 14]
2012 regular election
In November 2012, Bonamici was reelected to her first full term with over 60% of the vote.[ 15]
Tenure
Bonamici with Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson
On July 31, 2014, Bonamici introduced the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2014 (H.R. 5309; 113th Congress) into the House.[ 16] The bill would authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to spend $27 million a year for three years on their ongoing tsunami warning and research programs.[ 17]
Bonamici speaks at a town hall meeting in Sherwood in April 2017
Bonamici said, "the coastlines of the United States already play an integral role in the economic prosperity of this country and we must strengthen their preparedness and resiliency so they can continue to play that role going forward."[ 17] She added that the bill "will improve the country's understanding of the threat posed by tsunami events" because it will "improve forecasting and notification systems, support local community outreach and preparedness and response plans, and develop supportive technologies."[ 18]
In January 2023, Bonamici was one of 13 cosponsors of an amendment to the Constitution of the United States extending the right to vote to citizens sixteen years of age or older.[ 19]
During the 117th Congress , Bonamici voted with President Joe Biden 's stated position 99.1% of the time according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[ 20] She was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[ 21]
Bonamici voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel .[ 22] [ 23]
Committee assignments
Caucuses memberships
Electoral history
Oregon Legislature
United States Congress
Oregon's 1st congressional district : Results 2012–2022[ 33] [ 34] [ 35]
Year
Democratic
Votes
Pct
Republican
Votes
Pct
3rd Party
Party
Votes
Pct
3rd Party
Party
Votes
Pct
3rd Party
Party
Votes
Pct
2012 (Special)
Suzanne Bonamici
113,404
53.8%
Rob Cornilles
83,396
39.6%
Steve Reynolds
Progressive
6,798
3.2%
James Foster
Libertarian
6,618
3.1%
Write-ins
547
0.3%
2012
197,845
59.6%
Delinda Morgan
109,699
33.0%
15,009
4.5%
*
Bob Ekstrom
Constitution
8,918
2.7%
509
0.2%
2014
160,038
57.3%
Jason Yates
96,245
34.5%
James Foster
Libertarian
11,213
4.0%
Steve Reynolds
Pacific Green
11,163
4.0%
597
0.2%
2016
225,391
59.6%
Brian Heinrich
139,756
37.0%
Kyle Sheahan
12,257
3.2%
Write-ins
691
0.2%
2018
231,198
63.6%
John Verbeek
116,446
32.1%
Drew Layda
15,121
4.2%
484
0.1%
2020
297,071
64.6%
Christopher Christensen
161,928
35.2%
Write-ins
900
0.2%
2022
210,682
67.9%
Christopher Mann
99,042
31.9%
Write-ins
519
0.2%
* In the 2012 election, Steve Reynolds was co-nominated by the Libertarian and Pacific Green parties.[ 36]
Personal life
Bonamici is married to Michael H. Simon , a federal judge.[ 37] They have two children. Bonamici was raised Episcopalian and Unitarian, and subsequently converted to Judaism.[ 38] [ 39] She attends Congregation Beth Israel with her husband (who was born Jewish), and their children.[ 40] [ 41]
See also
References
^ "Suzanne Bonamici makes legislative resignation official" . The Oregonian . November 21, 2011. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2011 .
^ "Legislator Information Database" . ddcapp.oklegislature.gov . Oklahoma Legislature. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021 .
^ "About Suzanne | Suzanne Bonamici for Congress" . Bonamiciforcongress.com . January 31, 2012. Archived from the original on October 31, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2016 .
^ "OR State House 34 Race - Nov 07, 2006" . Our Campaigns. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016 .
^ "Bonamici named to replace Avakian in state Senate" . Beaverton Valley Times . May 1, 2008.
^ "OR State Senate 17 - Special Election Race - Nov 04, 2008" . Our Campaigns. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016 .
^ "OR State Senate 17 Race - Nov 02, 2010" . Our Campaigns. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016 .
^ "Oregon Democratic leaders say they hope Wu gets help, put off talk of his political future" . The Oregonian . OregonLive. February 19, 2011. Archived from the original on February 22, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011 .
^ "Bonamici announces bid for Wu's seat in Congress" . Statesman Journal . Retrieved August 6, 2011 .
^ "Endorsements" . Bonamici for Congress. Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2011 .
^ "Oregon - County Vote Results" . Associated Press. November 9, 2011. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2011 .
^ "January 31, 2012, Special Election Abstracts of Votes Representative in Congress, 1st District Official Results" . Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2012 .
^ "Physician to sit in state seat" . The Hillsboro Argus . December 22, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2011 .
^ Mapes, Jeff (December 21, 2011). "A Washington County commissioner at sea casts decisive vote to fill Oregon Senate seat" . The Oregonian . Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2011 .
^ Brown, Kate. "2012 election results" . OR STATE SEC OF STATE. Archived from the original on October 11, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2016 .
^ "H.R. 5309 - All Actions" . United States Congress. September 9, 2014. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014 .
^ a b Marcos, Cristina (September 8, 2014). "House passes bill to authorize tsunami forecasting programs" . The Hill . Archived from the original on September 10, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014 .
^ "Representative Bonamici Introduces Bipartisan Tsunami Warning Bill" . Safer Coastlines. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014 .
^ "H.J.Res.16 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States extending the right to vote to citizens sixteen years of age or older" . Congress.gov. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023 .
^ Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (April 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?" . FiveThirtyEight . Retrieved November 15, 2023 .
^ Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). "Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no" . The Hill . Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023 .
^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved October 30, 2023 .
^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session" . Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives . Retrieved October 30, 2023 . {{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link )
^ "Caucus Members" . Congressional Progressive Caucus. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017 .
^ "Membership" . Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018 .
^ "Members" . Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018 .
^ "90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members" . Citizen´s Climate Lobby. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2018 .
^ "Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute" .
^ "Membership" . Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment. Retrieved September 17, 2024 .
^ "Official Results | November 7, 2006" . Oregon Secretary of State . Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023 .
^ "Official Results | November 4, 2008" . Oregon Secretary of State . Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023 .
^ "Official Results November 2, 2010" . Oregon Secretary of State . Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023 .
^ "January 31, 2012, Special Election Official Results" . Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2019 .
^ "Election Statistics, 1920 to Present" . History, Art and Archives United States House of Representatives . United States House of Representatives Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2019 .
^ "Official Results of November General" (PDF) . Oregon Secretary of State . Archived (PDF) from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023 .
^ "Voters' Pamphlet, Oregon General Election, November 6, 2012" . Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2019 .
^ Duin, Steve (August 6, 2011). "In the wake of David Wu case, accusations fly in Oregon's First District" . The Oregonian . Archived from the original on October 13, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011 .
^ Kampeas, Ron (October 16, 2018). "A guide to the Jewish Democratic House candidates in the 2018 midterm elections" . Jewish Telegraphic Agency . Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022 .
^ @kampeas (March 14, 2022). "Register" (Tweet ). Retrieved July 28, 2023 – via Twitter .
^ "Suzanne Bonamici" . The Oregonian . Oregon Special Election voter guide. Archived from the original on January 1, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2012 .
^ "162nd Annual Meeting" (PDF) . Congregation Beth Israel . Portland, Oregon . May 27, 2020. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023 .
External links