Summary
Current Position: Labor Commissioner” since 2018
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2023 US Representative for District 4
Val Hoyle (born February 14, 1964)is an American politician serving as the commissioner of Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI)(commonly referred to as the “Labor Commissioner”).
She is a former Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 14, which includes West Eugene, Junction City, and Cheshire. She was appointed to the House in August 2009 and was re-elected to serve full terms in 2010, 2012 and 2014. She served as co-chair of the House Committee on Rules.
In December 2021, Hoyle announced that she would be a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022 while incumbent Peter DeFazio has declined to run for reelection.
Source: Wikipedia
OnAir Post: Val Hoyle
About
Source: Campaign page
Val Hoyle’s record of standing up for Oregon’s hardworking families and small businesses stems from a lifetime of experience. Growing up in a family with union roots that go back three generations, Val’s firefighter father taught her that you have to work hard for everything you get — but you also have to hold the ladder so the next person has the opportunity to climb.
Val put those lessons to work as a waitress working for minimum wage and in her 25 years working in the private sector in the outdoor industry, focusing on retail sales and international trade.
She took that experience and those values with her when she turned to public service.
Val, her husband Stephen, and their two children.
Currently, Val serves as Oregon’s Labor Commissioner, a position voters statewide elected her to in 2018. As Labor Commissioner, Val ensures that workers are paid the wages and benefits they are owed under the law, oversees enforcement of civil rights and housing discrimination protections for Oregonians, and has jurisdiction over apprenticeship programs that provide workforce training across the state.
During the pandemic, she fought to expand the Oregon Family Leave Act and ensure workers could continue to earn money part-time while retaining their unemployment benefits. Val has secured a three-fold increase in settlements for victims of discrimination, and cracked down on employers who exploit their workers and compete unfairly with responsible businesses.
Previously, Val represented the residents of West Eugene and Junction City in the Oregon legislature. During her tenure, she was elected to the position of Majority Leader and led successful efforts to:
- Increase the state’s minimum wage.
- Provide paid sick leave for workers.
- Expand Oregon’s Clean Fuels program to reduce carbon emissions.
- Require universal background checks for firearm purchases.
- Expand ballot access through Oregon’s groundbreaking “Motor Voter” law.
- Pass a first-in-the-nation requirement for health insurers to cover 12-month supplies of birth control.
Val has made Lane County her home for more than twenty years. She and her husband Stephen raised their two children here. She and Stephen live in Springfield with their faithful dog Ronan.
Web
Campaign Site, Campaign Site, Wikipedia, LinkedIn
Politics
Source: none
Voting Record
HOYLE, VALERIE (VAL) has run in 5 races for public office, winning 3 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $3,229,098.
See: Vote Smart
Issues
Source: Campaign page
Val Hoyle’s record of standing up for Oregon’s hardworking families and small businesses stems from a lifetime of experience. From her union roots, to her leadership in the state legislature and her tenure as Labor Commissioner, she always puts working people first.
As Oregon’s Labor Commissioner, State Representative and Lane County community leader, Val has made a difference for working families and communities of the 4th Congressional District. And from her time as Oregon House Democratic Leader, she knows how to turn our progressive values into results. As our next Member of Congress, Val will tackle the most important priorities facing our future.
Democracy & Governance
VOTING RIGHTS
Access to democracy is a more urgent issue than it has been in a generation. Increased attacks on voting rights have surged across the country, undermining access to the ballot and fundamental protections of the Voting Rights Act. In the legislature, Val led the effort to pass Oregon’s automatic voter registration law to expand ballot access. She understands the clear role of the federal government in protecting this fundamental right, and will fight for:
- Passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
- Ending Citizens United and cracking down on corporate dark money in our elections.
- Passage of the For the People Act to protect voting rights and reduce the influence of money in politics.
Economy & Jobs
WORKING FAMILIES
As a working mom, Val has seen the struggles Oregon families face. In the legislature, she fought for paid sick leave, increasing Oregon’s minimum wage, and for the largest increase in public education funding in Oregon history. In Congress, we can count on her to stand up for women and their families, and fight for:
- Increasing the federal minimum wage to $15/hour and eliminating the tipped minimum wage.
- Universal preschool and federal support to ensure affordable child care costs for working families.
- Comprehensive paid family and medical leave for all workers.
- Strong enforcement of protections against discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
- Federal investments in workforce training and expanding the apprenticeship model so all Oregonians have the opportunity to “earn while they learn” a skilled trade.
- Passage of the PRO Act to make it easier for workers to form unions and collectively bargain.
Environment & Energy
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
Climate change and environmental degradation isn’t a future threat: it is an immediate emergency that we are experiencing today in the form of wildfires, extreme heat, drought, contaminated water, and more. In the legislature, Val helped expand Oregon’s Clean Fuels program to reduce carbon emissions, worked to move Oregon off of coal power, and increased renewable energy standards for utilities. In Congress, she will work to reestablish the United States as a global leader in addressing climate change, fight for clean air and water, and protect Oregon’s natural treasures. Val’s plan to tackle the climate crisis includes:
- Moving America to a 100% Clean Electricity standard.
- Fighting for a just transition to a renewable energy future that provides good jobs for Oregonians and protects families from high energy costs.
- Halting new fossil fuel leasing on our federal public lands.
- Pushing for the federal investments necessary to make Oregon a leader in renewable energy generation.
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
Oregon’s housing crisis has many faces, from homeless encampments in our cities, to families trying to reestablish their lives after being displaced by wildfires, to the less visible but no less urgent reality of people living in a vehicle or on the couches of friends and family. In our coastal communities, short stay rentals from corporations like Airbnb make the problems even worse. The high cost of housing across this district prevents businesses from recruiting workers and pinches working families. A huge part of the problem stems from decades of the federal government having completely abandoned its responsibilities on public and affordable housing. As our next member of Congress, Val will:
- Fight for major investments in new public housing in the communities hardest hit by the affordable housing shortage, including workforce housing.
- Shift tax policies that subsidize the wealthy toward creating more opportunities for first-time home ownership.
- Get the federal government to recognize homelessness as a crisis to mobilize resources.
- Strengthen the enforcement of fair housing laws.
Health & Education
HEALTH CARE
There is no question that the Affordable Care Act made significant improvements, but the reality is that our health care system is still not affordable for most Americans, with sky-high deductibles and out of control prescription costs meaning that care is still not universal. Val’s health care priorities include:
- Passing universal health care legislation to ensure that every American has access to affordable, quality care when they need it.
- Finally allowing Medicaid and Medicare to bargain with Big Pharma on prescription costs, and ensuring those savings are available to all Americans.
- Lowering unaffordable deductibles so that health insurance is an actual benefit, instead of a shell game.
- Protecting the integrity of Medicare and Social Security, so we can keep our promises to older Americans.
- Safeguarding abortion access and reproductive healthcare for all Americans.
EDUCATION
As the first in her family to graduate from college and someone who struggled with dyslexia in school, Val knows first-hand the power of public education to build opportunity for people and create a strong foundation for a vital economy. As Labor Commissioner, Val has championed paid apprenticeship programs that provide hands-on workforce training throughout Oregon, and expanded apprenticeship opportunities beyond the building and construction trades in partnership with labor unions, employers and community colleges. In the legislature, she was one of the loudest voices in favor of K-12 and higher education funding. Unfortunately, the federal role in education took a giant step backwards during the Donald Trump/Betsy DeVos administration. Val will fight for:
- Canceling crippling student loan debt and reforming the predatory student loan industry.
- Direct federal investment in public education at all levels, including funding to support free community college for all.
- Full federal funding of IDEA to finally fulfill the promise of a free and appropriate public education for students with disabilities.
- Ensuring that the federal government keeps its commitment to fund Title I so that all students have equal access to quality public education.
See Also
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Wikipedia
Valerie Anne Hoyle (née Toomey; born February 14, 1964)[1] is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Oregon’s 4th congressional district since 2023. Until 2023, she served as the commissioner of Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI)[2] (commonly called the “Labor Commissioner”).
A Democrat, Hoyle formerly served in the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 14, which includes West Eugene, Junction City, and Cheshire. She was appointed to the House in August 2009 and reelected to full terms in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
In December 2021, Hoyle announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022. The seat was open after incumbent Peter DeFazio decided not to run for reelection.[3]
Early life and education
Hoyle was born on Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, in 1964. She grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire, where her father Dan Toomey was a firefighter, union official, and later a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.[4] She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Emmanuel College in Boston.[5]
Early political career
In 1999, Hoyle and her family moved to Lane County, Oregon, where she joined the education advocacy group Stand for Children. Before serving in the Oregon legislature, she worked in sales and marketing for bicycle manufacturers Burley Design and Cane Creek, and served as legislative aide and policy analyst for State Senator Floyd Prozanski. She was also a director of the United Way of Lane County.[6]
Oregon House of Representatives
Hoyle was appointed to the Oregon House of Representatives in August 2009 to replace Chris Edwards, who was appointed to the Oregon State Senate.[7] In 2010, she was reelected to a full term, defeating Republican Dwight Coon and Independent Kevin Prociw.[8] On November 6, 2012, Hoyle again defeated Coon to win a second full term.[9]
Before the 2011 legislative session, Hoyle was elected assistant caucus leader of the Oregon House Democrats. During the 2011 legislative session, she was co-vice chair of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education, and served on the House Committees on Health Care and Business & Labor.[10] She also served on the Governor’s Health Care Transformation Team.
On November 15, 2012, after House Democrats selected Tina Kotek as speaker of the Oregon House, Hoyle was elected to lead the Oregon House Democrats as House majority leader for the 2013 Legislative Session.[11] During the 2013 legislative session, she co-chaired the House Task Force on O&C Counties and was vice chair of the House Committee on Rules.
Shortly before the 2014 legislative session, former State Representative Chris Garrett received an executive appointment to the Oregon Court of Appeals[12] and Hoyle was named chair of the House Committee on Rules. Hoyle also served as a legislative co-chair of the Oregon Elder Abuse Prevention Workgroup.
After Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber resigned in February 2015, elevating Kate Brown to the governorship, The Oregonian named Hoyle as a possible successor to Brown as Oregon Secretary of State.[13] Hoyle stepped down as majority leader in 2015 to run for Oregon secretary of state. In the 2016 Democratic primary, she came in second place, receiving 33.81% of the vote to Democratic nominee Brad Avakian’s 39.06%.[14]
Labor commissioner
In 2018, Hoyle ran to become Oregon’s 10th labor commissioner, a nonpartisan elected position.[15] She won the race outright in May, receiving 52% of the vote and winning 17 of 36 counties.[15][16] Former Tualatin Mayor Lou Ogden received 36% and Jack Howard, a La Grande attorney and former Union County Commissioner, received 12%.[16] The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries serves a four-year term, has offices in Portland, Eugene, and Salem, oversees enforcement of wage and hour laws, including prevailing wage and civil rights enforcement, certifies apprenticeship programs, and provides employment law technical assistance for employers.[17]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2022
On December 1, 2021, Hoyle announced her candidacy for Oregon’s 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in 2022. The seat was held by fellow Democrat and New England native Peter DeFazio, who announced that he was not running for reelection after 18 terms.[3] Polling conducted by Public Policy Polling in March 2022 found Hoyle to be favored in the Democratic primary.[18] She benefited from more than $500,000 in spending by super PACs during the primary.[19] In November 2022 Hoyle was elected to the House.
Tenure
In the House, Hoyle generally voted with the majority of other Democratic members, but there were exceptions. On January 31, 2023, Hoyle was among seven Democrats to vote for H.R.497:Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, a bill which would lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers.[20][21]
In 2023, Hoyle was among 56 Democrats to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21 which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[22][23]
Hoyle was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[24]
Caucus memberships
Committee assignments
Personal life
Hoyle lives outside Springfield, Oregon, and is married with two adult children.[27]
Hoyle is Roman Catholic.[28]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Val Hoyle | 11,336 | 50.4 | |
| Republican | Dwight Coon | 10,041 | 44.6 | |
| Independent | Kevin Prociw | 1,078 | 4.8 | |
| Write-in | 51 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 22,506 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Val Hoyle | 14,413 | 54.3 | |
| Republican | Dwight Coon | 11,309 | 42.6 | |
| Libertarian | Sharon A Mahler | 790 | 3.0 | |
| Write-in | 38 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 26,550 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Val Hoyle | 12,370 | 55.6 | |
| Republican | Kathy Lamberg | 9,769 | 43.9 | |
| Write-in | 94 | 0.4 | ||
| Total votes | 22,233 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Val Hoyle | 375,762 | 52.3 | |
| Nonpartisan | Lou Ogden | 253,977 | 35.3 | |
| Nonpartisan | Jack Howard | 86,477 | 12.0 | |
| Write-in | 2,520 | 0.4 | ||
| Total votes | 718,736 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Val Hoyle | 171,372 | 50.5 | |
| Republican | Alek Skarlatos | 146,055 | 43.1 | |
| Independent | Levi Leatherberry | 9,052 | 2.7 | |
| Constitution | Jim Howard | 6,075 | 1.8 | |
| Pacific Green | Mike Beilstein | 6,033 | 1.8 | |
| Write-in | 490 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 339,077 | 100% | ||
References
- ^ “Val Hoyle”. Oregon Labor Law Conference. October 18, 2019. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
- ^ “Oregon reaches milestone as new labor commissioner, Val Hoyle, sworn in”. January 7, 2019. Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- ^ a b “Val Hoyle to run for Congress as DeFazio opts not to seek re-election in 2022”. KATU. Portland, OR. December 1, 2021. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ Dean Shalhoup (January 21, 2023). “Nashua native Val Hoyle looks back on nearly 50 years in politics”. The Telegraph. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ “Representative Val Hoyle”. VoteSmart.org. Archived from the original on October 31, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
- ^ Galbreath, David (April 8, 2022). “Who Will Replace DeFazio?”. The Torch. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ^ “Commissioners appoint education advocate to House seat”. The Register Guard. September 24, 2009. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
- ^ “Lane County Elections”. Lane County. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
- ^ “Eugene Register-Guard”.
- ^ “Oregon State Legislature Committee Assignments”. Oregon State Legislature. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
- ^ “The Oregonian”. November 16, 2012. Archived from the original on November 20, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
- ^ Gaston, Christian (December 24, 2013). “Oregon Rep. Chris Garrett gets judicial nod, triggering another appointment for the Oregon House”. OregonLive.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ “Who will take Kate Brown’s place as Oregon secretary of state?”. The Oregonian. February 14, 2015. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
- ^ “Val Hoyle – Ballotpedia”. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- ^ a b VanderHart, Dirk; Wilson, Conrad (May 14, 2018). “Oregon Voters Select Val Hoyle As New Labor Commissioner”. OPB. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c “May 15, 2018, Primary Election Abstract of Votes”. Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ “Commissioner of Labor and Industries Val Hoyle”. Oregon Bluebook. Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ Lehman, Chris (March 31, 2022). “Val Hoyle holds big lead among 4th District Democratic candidates for Congress, poll shows”. Oregon Live. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ Lehman, Chris (May 18, 2022). “Hoyle wins Democratic nomination in Oregon’s 4th Congressional District”. Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ^ “Seven Democrats join Republicans in vote to lift vaccine mandate for healthcare workers”. January 31, 2023. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ “On Passage – H.R.497: To eliminate the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on”. August 12, 2015. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ “H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … — House Vote #136 — Mar 8, 2023”. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ “House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria”. Associated Press. March 8, 2023. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). “Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no”. The Hill. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ “Endorsed Candidates”. NewDem Action Fund. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ “Progressive Caucus”. Progressive Caucus. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ “BOLI: Meet the Commissioner : About : State of Oregon”. www.oregon.gov. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ^ “Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress” (PDF). Pew Research Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2023.
- ^ “Official Results November 2, 2010”. Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ “Official Results | November 6, 2012”. Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ “November 4, 2014, General Election, Official Abstract of Votes”. Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ “November 8, 2022, General Election Abstract of Votes” (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
External links
- Congresswoman Val Hoyle official U.S. House website
- Val Hoyle for Congress campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
