Hi there, it’s Janelle. As we continue to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week, I wanted to take a quick moment to correct a drafting oversight and shine a light on some of the trailblazing Representatives in the Oregon State Legislature who paved the way for legislators like me. I stand on the shoulders of giants, and I look to them for motivation and inspiration more than they will ever know.

William McCoy was the first African American elected to the Oregon State Legislature.

Margaret Louise Carter was the first African American woman elected to the Oregon State Legislature.

Avel Gordly was the first African American woman elected to the Oregon State Senate.

Senators McCoy, Carter, and Gordly (and so many more) exemplify excellence and continue to push our state and our nation closer to the one Dr. King dreamed of all those years ago. 

In gratitude, I carry their names and legacies forward. 

Onward, 

Janelle