From the time he started gathering signatures as a teenager to put campaign finance reform on the ballot, Dan Rayfield has made efforts to bring people together and help them create opportunities for a better future. Born in California, Rayfield graduated from Tigard High School, Western Oregon University and the Willamette University College of Law. His work as an attorney primarily involves fighting for individuals with consumer and civil rights cases against large corporations, insurance companies, and others.

 

Rayfield was first elected to the Legislature in 2014 to represent House District 16. The Corvallis resident served as co-chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, the state’s lead budget writing committee, from 2019-2022 and his careful budget management has helped stabilize the state’s once unreliable revenue system. Oregon has built record reserves to protect essential social services during his tenure as budget chair and is among the best-prepared states for a future economic downturn.

 

In 2022, Rayfield was elected as Speaker of the Oregon House. In his first session serving in the role, he guided critical investments to support housing development, prevent homelessness, support small businesses, working families and stronger schools. This included more support for continuing summer education opportunities; increasing and enhancing behavioral health services; a dedicated climate budget to address drought, extreme weather and infrastructure needs; and a bipartisan infrastructure package for rural Oregon.​