Suzanne Bonamici

Suzanne Marie Bonamici (/ˌbɒnəˈmiːtʃi/ BONN-ə-MEE-chee; born October 14, 1954) is an American 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 Yamhill, Columbia, Clatsop, and Washington counties.

Suzanne Bonamici
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 31, 2012
Preceded by	David Wu
Member of the Oregon Senate from the 17th district
In office May 19, 2008 – November 21, 2011
Preceded by	Brad Avakian
Succeeded by	Elizabeth Steiner Hayward
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 34th district
In office January 2, 2007 – May 19, 2008
Preceded by	Brad Avakian
Succeeded by	Chris Harker
Personal details
Born	Suzanne Marie Bonamici October 14, 1954 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Michael Simon
Children	2
Relatives	Neil Simon (through marriage)
Education	Lane Community College University of Oregon (BA, JD)
Website	House website

A Democrat, Bonamici previously 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 law 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 went on to earn her 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. Following 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. She ran for the open seat in Oregon's 34th House district and defeated Republican Joan Draper 62%-36%.[4]

On April 30, 2008, Bonamici was appointed by Commissioners from both Washington and Multnomah counties 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 percent of the vote.[6] In 2010, she won re-election with 64% of the vote.[7]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Special election

Bonamici during the 112th Congress

In early 2011, Bonamici's name was floated as a possible successor to then-Congressman David Wu after The Oregonian and Willamette Week reported Wu exhibited odd behavior and clashed with his staff in the midst of apparent mental illness during the 2010 election cycle.[8] Following Wu's resignation 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, winning an outright majority of the vote in every county in the district and capturing 66% of the vote overall, with a 44-point margin over second-place finisher Brad Avakian. She faced Republican nominee Rob Cornilles in the special election on January 31, 2012,[11] winning by a 14-point margin.[12]

Prior to 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 won re-election to her first full term with over 60% of the vote.[15]

Legislation

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 on-going tsunami warning and research programs.[17]

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 this 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]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Science, Space and Technology
  • United States House Science Subcommittee on Environment
  • United States House Science Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
• Committee on Education and the Workforce
  • Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services (Chair)
  • Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training

• Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

Caucuses memberships

• Congressional STEAM Caucus
• Congressional Progressive Caucus.[19]
• Congressional Arts Caucus[20]
• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus[21]
• Climate Solutions Caucus[22]
• Medicare for All Caucus

Electoral history

Oregon's 1st congressional district: Results 2012–2018[23][24]

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	<1.0%
2012			197,845	59.6%		Delinda Morgan	109,699	33.0%				15,009	4.5%	*	Bob Elkstrom	Constitution	8,918	2.7%				509	<1.0%
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	<1.0%
2016			225,391	59.6%		Brian Heinrich	139,756	37.0%		Kyle Sheahan		12,257	3.2%		Write-ins		691	<1.0%
2018			231,198	63.6%		John Verbeek	116,446	32.1%		Drew Layda		15,121	4.2%				484	<1.0%
2020			297,071	64.6%		Christopher Christensen	161,928	35.2%		Write-ins		900	<1.0%

* In the 2012 election, Steve Reynolds was co-nominated by the Libertarian and Pacific Green parties.[25]

Personal life

She is married to Michael H. Simon, a federal judge.[26] They have two children, Andrew and Sara. Bonamici was raised Episcopalian and Unitarian, and now attends synagogue with her husband, who is Jewish, and their children.[27]

See also

• Women in the United States House of Representatives

References

1. "Suzanne Bonamici makes legislative resignation official". The Oregonian. November 21, 2011.
2. "Legislator Information Database". ddcapp.oklegislature.gov. Oklahoma Legislature. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
3. "About Suzanne | Suzanne Bonamici for Congress". Bonamiciforcongress.com. 2012-01-31. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
4. "OR State House 34 Race - Nov 07, 2006". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
5. "Bonamici named to replace Avakian in state Senate". Beaverton Valley Times. May 1, 2008.
6. "OR State Senate 17 - Special Election Race - Nov 04, 2008". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
7. "OR State Senate 17 Race - Nov 02, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
8. "Oregon Democratic leaders say they hope Wu gets help, put off talk of his political future". The Oregonian. OregonLive. February 19, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
9. "Bonamici announces bid for Wu's seat in Congress". Statesman Journal. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
10. "Endorsements". Bonamici for Congress. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
11. "Oregon - County Vote Results". Associated Press. November 9, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
12. "January 31, 2012, Special Election Abstracts of Votes Representative in Congress, 1st District Official Results" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
13. Staff (December 22, 2011). "Physician to sit in state seat". The Hillsboro Argus. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
14. Mapes, Jeff (December 21, 2011). "A Washington County commissioner at sea casts decisive vote to fill Oregon Senate seat". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
15. Brown, Kate. "2012 election results" (PDF). OR STATE SEC OF STATE. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
16. "H.R. 5309 - All Actions". United States Congress. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
17. Marcos, Cristina (September 8, 2014). "House passes bill to authorize tsunami forecasting programs". The Hill. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
18. "Representative Bonamici Introduces Bipartisan Tsunami Warning Bill". Safer Coastlines. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
19. "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
20. "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
21. "Members". Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
22. "90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members". Citizen´s Climate Lobby. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
23. "January 31, 2012, Special Election Official Results" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
24. "Election Statistics, 1920 to Present". History, Art and Archives United States House of Representatives. United States House of Representatives Office of the Historian. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
25. "Voters' Pamphlet, Oregon General Election, November 6, 2012" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
26. Duin, Steve (August 6, 2011). "In the wake of David Wu case, accusations fly in Oregon's First District". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
27. "Suzanne Bonamici". The Oregonian. Oregon Special Election voter guide. Retrieved January 23, 2012.

External links

• Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici official U.S. House website
• Suzanne Bonamici for Congress
• Suzanne Bonamici at Curlie

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Appearances on C-SPAN