Diego Hernandez (born 1986/87) is an American Democratic politician who served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2017 to 2021. He represented the 47th district, which covers parts of east Portland.

Biography

Hernandez graduated from Reynolds High School in Troutdale, and graduated with a bachelor's degree from the

University of Oregon The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc, and its co-founder, billion ...

and with a master's degree from

Portland State University Portland State University (PSU) is a public research university in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 1946 as a post-secondary educational institution for World War II veterans. It evolved into a four-year college over the following two decad ...

. He became a teacher and was elected to the Reynolds School District Board in 2012, becoming its first Hispanic member, on which he still serves despite being elected to the House. Hernandez was appointed to the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs in 2014. Hernandez was elected to the House in 2016 to succeed the retiring Jessica Vega Pederson, defeating

Independent Party of Oregon The Independent Party of Oregon (IPO) is a centrist political party in the U.S. state of Oregon with more than 135,000 registrants since its inception in January 2007. The IPO is Oregon's third-largest political party and the first political part ...

candidate Michael Langley with 67% of the vote. In 2020 Hernandez was accused of sexual harassment by seven women, prompting calls for his resignation from then House Speaker

Tina Kotek Tina Kotek (born September 30, 1966) is an American politician and the governor-elect of Oregon. Kotek served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2013 to 2022. She was the first openly lesbian person to serve as a speaker of ...

and other Democrats. On May 4, 2020 the interim House Conduct Committee required Hernandez to provide 24-hours’ notice before entering the Capitol and ordered no contact with his accusers. Facing the possibility of being the first legislator ever expelled from the Oregon House, Hernandez announced his resignation on February 22, 2021, which took effect on March 15, 2021.

Personal life

Hernandez, who was 29 at the time of election, was the youngest person serving in the Oregon legislature. He is unmarried. He is now using the alias "Juan Hernandez".

Electoral history

References

External links

Campaign website

Legislative website

School board website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hernandez, Diego 1980s births Living people Democratic Party members of the Oregon House of Representatives School board members in Oregon Politicians from Portland, Oregon 21st-century American politicians Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Oregon Portland State University alumni University of Oregon alumni