Barbara Smith Warner

Barbara Smith Warner (born 1967) is an American Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. She served as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives for the 45th district from 2014 to 2022.

Barbara Smith Warner
Majority Leader of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office July 19, 2019 – January 16, 2022
Preceded by	Jennifer Williamson
Succeeded by	Julie Fahey
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 45th district
In office January 15, 2014 – January 9, 2023
Preceded by	Michael Dembrow
Succeeded by	Thuy Tran
Personal details
Born	1967 (age 57–58) Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Gannon University (BA)

Early life and education

Born Barbara Smith in Erie, Pennsylvania, she is a graduate of Gannon University.^[1]

Career

Warner worked as a labor organizer in Washington, D.C., ran the Oregon House Democratic Caucus, and served as a labor liaison for Senator Ron Wyden and has been active as a community organizer for affordable health care and education access.^[1]

In November 2013, Michael Dembrow resigned from his seat in the Oregon House of Representatives when he was appointed to fill Jackie Dingfelder's seat in the Oregon Senate.^[2] Multnomah County Commissioners appointed Smith Warner to fill Dembrow's seat in the Oregon House a few weeks later.^[3] She was sworn in on January 15, 2014, shortly before the 2014 Legislative Short Session.^[4] In July 2019, she was elected as Majority Leader by the Oregon House Democratic Caucus,^[5] and served until January 2022.

On March 7, 2022, Smith Warner announced she would retire from the legislature.^[6] She was succeeded by optometrist Thuy Tran, a fellow Democrat and a former member of the Parkrose School Board.^[7]

In February 2023, Smith Warner was named executive director of The National Vote at Home Institute.^[8]

Personal life

Smith Warner and her husband Chris Warner, who served as chief of staff to former Portland City Commissioner Steve Novick, live in Portland's Rose City Park neighborhood with their two children.^[9]

Electoral history

2014 Oregon State Representative, 45th district^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Barbara Smith Warner	18,707	96.9
	Write-in		604	3.1
Total votes			19,311	100%

2016 Oregon State Representative, 45th district^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Barbara Smith Warner	24,843	98.1
	Write-in		488	1.9
Total votes			25,331	100%

2018 Oregon State Representative, 45th district^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Barbara Smith Warner	25,695	97.7
	Write-in		598	2.3
Total votes			26,293	100%

2020 Oregon State Representative, 45th district^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Barbara Smith Warner	31,326	97.3
	Write-in		883	2.7
Total votes			32,209	100%

External links

• Campaign website
• Legislative website Archived 2019-05-07 at the Wayback Machine