| State house | Oregon |
|---|---|
| State | Oregon |
| Predecessor | Sherrie Sprenger |
| Term start | January 11, 2021 |
| Constituency | 17th (2021–2023) 11th (2023–present) |
| Party | Republican |
| Occupation | Politician, farmer |
| Alma mater | Oregon State University |
| Birth date | c. 1987 |
| District | 11th |
| District 2 | 17th |
| Predecessor 2 | Marty Wilde |
| Successor 2 | Ed Diehl |
| State house 2 | Oregon |
Jami Cate (born 1986/87) is an American Republican politician and farmer serving as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives. She currently represents the 11th district, which covers parts of Linn County and Marion County, including the cities of Lebanon, Sweet Home, and Jefferson.
First elected to the legislature in 2020, she previously represented the 17th district, and assumed office in January 2021.
Early life and education
Cate is a fifth-generation Linn County farmer, and grew up on a multi-generation farm family north of Lebanon, Oregon. She received her bachelor's degree from Oregon State University in Crop and Soil Science.[1][2]
Career
In 2020, after incumbent Sherrie Springer stepped down to run for the Linn County commission, Cate announced her candidacy for the Oregon House of Representatives' 17th district. She won the crowded Republican primary with 26.6% of the vote, or 2,903 votes, defeating Scott Sword by just 34 votes.[3][4] She went on to win the November general election against Democratic candidate Paige Hook.[5]
In 2022, following redistricting, Cate was drawn into the 11th District, where she ran for re-election and defeated Mary Cooke in the November general election.[6][7][8]
In July 2025, Cate declared her candidacy for Oregon's 6th Senate district in 2026.[9]
Political positions
Following the Standoff at Eagle Pass, Cate signed a letter in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's decision in the conflict.[10]
References
- ^ Swanson, Scott. "Rep. Cate reflects on first term in House | Lebanon Local". Archived 2023-04-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Representative Jami Cate Biography". www.oregonlegislature.gov. Archived 2023-04-25 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Cate wins GOP primary as Sword concedes race". The New Era. Archived 2023-04-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Martini, Pete. "Oregon primary: Cate leads crowded Republican field for House District 17". Statesman Journal. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Gehrett, Les (November 4, 2020). "Cate dominates House District 17 race". Albany Democrat Herald. Archived 2023-04-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "November 2022 Oregon elected officials results". KEZI 9 News. Archived 2023-04-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Era, The New. "Rep. Jamie Cate to run for re-election in District 11". The New Era. Archived 2023-04-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Swanson, Scott. "Cate enters her second term in House | Lebanon Local". Archived 2023-04-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Shumway, Julia (2025-07-16). "Oregon representative announces run for state Senate". OregonLive. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
- ^ "OR Republicans 2024-2-5 Joint letter on Texas"