Teresa Alonso Leon
{{Short description|American politician (born 1975)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Teresa Alonso Leon
|image = Teresa Alonso Leon.jpg
|state_house = Oregon
|district = 22nd
|term_start = January 9, 2017
|term_end = January 9, 2023
|predecessor = Betty Komp
|successor = Tracy Cramer
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1975}}
|birth_place = Michoacán, Mexico
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|education = Western Oregon University (BA)
Portland State University (MPA)
}}
Teresa Alonso Leon (born 1975) is an American Democratic politician who served in the Oregon House of Representatives for three terms from 2017 to 2023. She represented the 22nd district, which covers parts of Marion County along Interstate 5, from Woodburn down to northern Salem.
Biography
Alonso Leon was born in the Mexican state of Michoacán and moved to Gervais, Oregon at the age of 4.{{cite web|url=http://oregonhumanities.org/magazine/move-fall-winter-2015/whose-state-is-this/1384/|title=Whose State Is This?|author=Walth, Brent|publisher=Oregon Humanities|accessdate=January 15, 2017|archive-date=January 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116182939/http://oregonhumanities.org/magazine/move-fall-winter-2015/whose-state-is-this/1384/|url-status=live}} She self-identifies as an Indigenous Mexican and a member of the Purépecha community.{{cite web|url=https://ktvz.com/news/2021/04/26/oregon-house-votes-to-replace-columbus-day-with-indigenous-peoples-day/ |title=Oregon House votes to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day |publisher=KTVZ |accessdate=2024-09-07}} She graduated with a bachelor's degree from Western Oregon University in 2002, and with a master's degree in Public Administration from Portland State University in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/168059/teresa-alonso-leon#.WHwjHnfMwZc|title=Teresa Alonso Leon's Biography|publisher=Project VoteSmart|accessdate=January 15, 2017|archive-date=October 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031050654/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/168059/teresa-alonso-leon#.WHwjHnfMwZc|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://dpo.org/people/teresa-alonso-leon|title=State Representative Teresa Alonso Leon|publisher=Democratic Party of Oregon|accessdate=January 15, 2017|archive-date=January 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118114540/http://dpo.org/people/teresa-alonso-leon|url-status=live}} Alonso Leon, who became a United States citizen in 2012, was appointed to the Woodburn City Council in 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/285944-162654-komp-will-not-seek-re-election-for-district-22-seat-alonso-leon-announces-candidacy|title=Shake-up coming in House District 22, as Komp foregoes re-election bid in 2016|author=Francke, Tyler|newspaper=The Portland Tribune|date=December 18, 2015|accessdate=January 15, 2017|archive-date=December 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221005804/http://www.pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/285944-162654-komp-will-not-seek-re-election-for-district-22-seat-alonso-leon-announces-candidacy|url-status=live}}
In December 2015, Alonso Leon announced her candidacy for the House seat vacated by the retiring Betty Komp. She defeated Republican Patti Milne, a former state representative, in the general election with 55% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873777|title=November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes|publisher=Oregon Secretary of State|accessdate=January 15, 2017|archive-date=September 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922111443/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873777|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-rep-citizen-teresa-alonso-leon/|title=She Became A Citizen 5 Years Ago. Now, She's An Oregon Lawmaker|author=Lehman, Chris|publisher=Oregon Public Broadcasting|date=January 6, 2017|accessdate=January 15, 2017|archive-date=January 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108181058/http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-rep-citizen-teresa-alonso-leon/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/09/teresa-alonso-leon-blazes-path-future-leaders/96371100/|title=Teresa Alonso Leon blazes path for future leaders|newspaper=Statesman Journal|date=January 9, 2017|accessdate=January 15, 2017|archive-date=October 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031050653/https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/09/teresa-alonso-leon-blazes-path-future-leaders/96371100/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.pamplinmedia.com/wbi/152-news/331523-211008-alonso-leon-elected-to-house-district-22|title=Alonso Leon elected to House District 22|author=Comnes, Julia|newspaper=Woodburn Independent|date=November 9, 2016|accessdate=January 15, 2017|archive-date=November 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112210049/http://www.pamplinmedia.com/wbi/152-news/331523-211008-alonso-leon-elected-to-house-district-22|url-status=live}} Alonso Leon became the first immigrant Latina elected to the Oregon legislature.{{cite web|url=http://www.pamplinmedia.com/go/42-news/337797-217596-diversity-increasing-in-oregon-legislature|title=Diversity increasing in Oregon Legislature|author=Achen, Paris|publisher=Outlook|date=December 26, 2016|accessdate=January 15, 2017|archive-date=July 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706155935/https://pamplinmedia.com/go/42-news/337797-217596-diversity-increasing-in-oregon-legislature|url-status=live}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2016 Oregon State Representative, 22nd District{{cite web
| title = November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes
| url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873777
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = January 19, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230119071743/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873777
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Teresa Alonso Leon
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 9,604
| percentage = 55.3}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Patti Milne
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 7,711
| percentage = 44.4}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 61
| percentage = 0.4}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 17,376
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2018 Oregon State Representative, 22nd District{{cite web
| title = November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes
| url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873825
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = April 6, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230406153942/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873825
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Teresa Alonso Leon
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 9,630
| percentage = 59.6}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Marty Heyen
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 6,486
| percentage = 40.2}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 33
| percentage = 0.2}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 16,149
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2020 Oregon State Representative, 22nd District{{cite web
| title = November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes
| url = https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2020.pdf
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = November 12, 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221112205917/https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2020.pdf
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Teresa Alonso Leon
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 12,168
| percentage = 56.7}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Anna Kasachev
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 9,218
| percentage = 43.0}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 59
| percentage = 0.3}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 21,445
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://teresafororegon.com/ Campaign website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alonso Leon, Teresa}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:American politicians of Mexican descent
Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections
Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Oregon
Category:Hispanic and Latino American women in politics
Category:American people of Purépecha descent
Category:Democratic Party members of the Oregon House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Category:Mexican emigrants to the United States
Category:Oregon city council members
Category:People from Gervais, Oregon
Category:People from Woodburn, Oregon
Category:Politicians from Michoacán
Category:Portland State University alumni
Category:Western Oregon University alumni