Andrea Salinas

Who Is Andrea Salinas?

Andrea Rose Salinas is a Democratic politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Oregon’s 6th Congressional District. She has held this seat since January 3, 2023.

Salinas and Lori Chavez-DeRemer became the first Latina members of Congress to represent Oregon when they were elected in 2022. That historic milestone marked a turning point for representation in the Pacific Northwest.

Congresswoman Andrea Salinas is the proud daughter of a Mexican immigrant, a first-generation American, and a dedicated public servant working for the people of Oregon’s sixth district.

Today, she serves her second term in Congress — representing a district that includes the state capital, Salem, and parts of Portland’s southwestern suburbs. She is a voice for working families, farmers, environmental protection, and labor rights.

Early Life: A Family Story and an American Dream

Born in San Mateo, Rooted in Resilience

Andrea Rose Salinas was born on December 6, 1969, in San Mateo, San Mateo County, California.

Her family story begins long before her birth. Her father immigrated to the United States as a child and picked cotton and tomatoes in the fields of the Rio Grande Valley before eventually going on to serve as a police officer.

That journey — from migrant fieldwork to law enforcement — defines the values Andrea Salinas carries into every vote and every policy she fights for. Her family’s story is an American story. It is one where hard work can provide a path to a better life.

First-Generation College Student

Andrea Salinas was the first in her family to earn a college degree. She attended the University of California, Berkeley. She earned her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1994. She studied psychology.

Moreover, she is a graduate of Emerge Oregon, which trains women Democrats to run for office. This training would later prove invaluable when she launched her first campaign for public office.

Career: From Congressional Aide to Congresswoman

Working the Halls of Congress: 1996–2008

After graduating from Berkeley, Salinas decided to pursue public service. She started at the federal level — learning the art of legislation from the inside out.

She served as staff to United States Senator Harry Reid of Nevada from 1996 to 1997, then as staff to United States Representative Fortney Hillman (Pete) Stark Jr. of California from 1997 to 2003, and later as staff to United States Representative Darlene Hooley of Oregon from 2006 to 2008.

Later, Andrea fell in love with the communities of the Willamette Valley while serving as a district aide for Congresswoman Darlene Hooley. That love for Oregon would keep her there permanently.

Advocate, Consultant, and Union Ally: 2008–2017

After her work with Congresswoman Hooley concluded, Salinas stayed in Oregon. She went on to serve as an advocate for labor unions, environmental groups, and reproductive rights organizations in Oregon.

She also served as legislative director of the Oregon Environmental Council, started her own legislative consulting firm, and was the Oregon Vice President of a political consulting firm. These years gave her a deep understanding of Oregon’s communities. They also gave her the experience to become an effective legislator.

Oregon State House: 2017–2022

In 2017, Salinas entered state politics directly. She became a member of the Oregon State House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023, serving as majority whip in 2021.

In the Oregon House of Representatives, she served as House Majority Whip and was the Chair of the House Health Care Committee. These leadership roles gave her a platform to fight for health care access, workers’ rights, and environmental protection at the state level. Furthermore, they prepared her for the demands of federal office.

Congressional Career: From New Seat to National Voice

Winning Oregon’s Newly Created 6th District (2022)

In November 2021, Salinas announced her candidacy to represent Oregon’s brand-new congressional district. It was a competitive race. There were originally sixteen candidates who entered the race, more than for any other congressional seat in the state in 2022.

She won. Andrea Salinas received 147,156 votes, capturing 50.0% of the vote, delivering a Democratic win in the new seat.

On January 3, 2023, she was sworn in as Oregon’s first-ever Congresswoman representing the 6th District.

Committee Assignments: Agriculture and Science

In Congress, Andrea is proud to serve on the House Agriculture and House Science, Space, and Technology Committees, where she crafts policies that will help level the playing field for Oregon farmers and rural communities and create more good-paying, union jobs.

These committee assignments reflect her district’s needs. Oregon’s 6th District is home to farms, forests, and growing technology sectors. Therefore, her seats on both committees allow her to address the district’s diverse economic landscape directly.

A Historic Milestone: Oregon’s First Latina Congresswomen

Salinas became one of the first two Oregon Latinas elected to Congress — alongside Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer from the 5th District. However, after the 2024 elections, Salinas stands as the only Latina currently representing Oregon in Congress.

Getting Legislation Signed Into Law

Even in a Republican-controlled House, Salinas delivered results. Salinas managed to get one bill in the Republican-controlled House passed and signed into law that restores the right of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to pursue land claims and compensation.

Additionally, in March 2024, Representative Salinas announced that she delivered $14,009,279 in Community Project Funding for Oregon’s Sixth District. The legislation passed Congress and was signed into law by the President on March 9, 2024.

Winning Reelection Decisively (2024)

In the November 2024 elections, Salinas ran for reelection against Republican Mike Erickson — the same opponent she defeated in 2022. The outcome was decisive.

Salinas had far outraised Erickson, with over $5 million in campaign contributions compared to his roughly $545,000. She received 180,869 votes, capturing 53.3% of the vote.

After winning, she made a clear promise to her constituents. “I am proud of everything we have accomplished over the last two years, but I know there is more work that needs to be done. Most importantly, I promise to listen and continue being a Representative for all Oregonians — no matter who you voted for in this election.”

Voting Record and Policy Positions (2025–2026)

Salinas has maintained a consistently progressive voting record in Congress. She earned a 100% score for 2025 and a 98% lifetime score from the AFL-CIO, voting consistently with working people on major labor, healthcare, and environmental issues.

She opposed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” She voted against legislation that would gut foreign assistance programs and eliminate federal funding for public broadcasting. Furthermore, she supported restoring collective bargaining rights for over one million federal workers.

As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture, she introduced legislation that would safeguard the Roadless Rule and permanently protect nearly 60 million acres of national forest lands in the U.S. She also introduced legislation to build a quantum workforce in Oregon and across the country.

Key Policy Priorities

Salinas’s legislative focus reflects the needs and values of Oregon’s 6th District. Her core priorities include:

• Healthcare access — Increasing federal funding for mental health services in public schools and protecting the Affordable Care Act
• Gun safety — Supporting common-sense legislation including background checks
• Reproductive rights — Opposing the overturning of Roe v. Wade and defending reproductive freedom
• Labor rights — Advocating for union workers and opposing anti-worker legislation
• Environmental protection — Defending the Roadless Rule and protecting Oregon’s forests and natural lands
• Rural communities — Securing federal funding for Oregon farmers, rural infrastructure, and public safety
• Tribal rights — Passing legislation to restore the rights of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

Personal Life: Family, Community, and Home in Tigard

Andrea and her husband, Chris, live in Tigard with their daughter, Amelia.

Tigard is a suburb of Portland, located within the 6th Congressional District she represents. Living in her district is not just a legal requirement for Salinas. It is a reflection of her deep connection to the communities she serves.

She is the daughter of a man who once picked crops in Texas fields. She grew up to become the first in her family to attend university. Today, she sits in the United States Congress. Her story is exactly the kind of story she works to make possible for others.

Congressional Career Summary

Year	Event	Result
2022	General Election, Oregon’s 6th District	Won — 147,156 votes (50.0%)
January 3, 2023	Sworn in as U.S. Representative	118th Congress
2024	Reelection, Oregon’s 6th District	Won — 180,869 votes (53.3%)
January 2025	Sworn in for second term	119th Congress
2025	AFL-CIO Labor Scorecard	100% (perfect score)
2026	Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture	Introduced Roadless Rule protection legislation