Oregon State Sen. Jackie Winters Has Died at 82

State Sen. Jackie Winters (R-Salem), the only black woman in the Oregon Senate, has died at age 82.

Winters had been battling cancer for years and was rarely in the Capitol this session.

Winters, whose family operated three Jackie's Ribs restaurants, was first elected to the Oregon House in 1998 and moved up to the Senate in 2002. She rose to Senate minority leader in 2017 but gave up that position as her health worsened.

A longtime advocate for criminal justice reform, she was heavily invested in Senate Bill 1008,  reduction of Measure 11 mandatory minimum sentences for juveniles. Winters carried the bill on the Senate floor on April 16, where her colleagues passed it by a 20 to 10 vote. The bill subsequently passed the House.

"It was an honor to know and work with Jackie. Oregon would not be the state it is today without her incredible dedication to the causes and people she fiercely believed in," Senate Minority Leader Herman Baertschiger, Jr. (R-Grants Pass) said in a statement today. "Elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1998 as the state's first African-American Republican, Jackie was an icon and leaves a legacy for all Republicans. Her life is a great example that with hard work and a strong character, the American Dream is possible. She will be deeply missed."

Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem), who was close to Winters, mourned her passing.

"Jackie was what was good in public service and in everyday life. She was always trying to make things better for all Oregonians, on all fronts. She was a noble soul," Courtney said  in a statement. "She was a pioneering woman in the Oregon Legislature, a true historical figure. I've lost my partner in public service. The Legislature and Oregon has lost a dedicated servant. We've lost the best of the best."

Gov. Kate Brown, served with Winters in the Senate from 2002 until 2008, also issued a statement.

"Sen. Jackie Winters has been a bastion of integrity, justice, and common sense in the Oregon Legislature since she first took her seat in 1999," Brown said. "Her commitment to service knew no bounds. It shone through in every project she took on and every issue she tackled. I feel lucky to have had the privilege to call her my friend as well as my colleague for so many years."

"I will always remember her courage in moving forward on Senate Bill 1008 just this session. Her legacy will live on through her family and in her community through the legislation she spearheaded to improve the lives of all Oregonians."