John Kitzhaber

John Kitzhaber is an American politician and physician who served as the 35th and 37th Governor of Oregon. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the longest-serving governor in the state's history, holding office from 1995 to 2003 and again from 2011 until his resignation in 2015. Before his governorship, Kitzhaber served in the Oregon House of Representatives and the Oregon State Senate, where he notably authored the Oregon Health Plan. His political career was marked by his focus on healthcare reform, environmental policy, and natural resource management, as well as his controversial decision to halt all executions in Oregon during his final term. He resigned in 2015 amid investigations into allegations of influence peddling involving his fiancée.