Prior to her election to the Oregon Senate, Lieber worked for many years as an attorney prosecuting domestic violence and child abuse cases for the Multnomah County District Attorney's office. She was nominated by Governor Ted Kulongoski to the Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) on which she served for eight years (and chaired for five).[1]
Political career
Lieber was first inspired to run for public office after the election of Donald Trump as US President.[1] She ran for the District 14 seat in the Oregon Senate after incumbent DemocratMark Hass decided to run for Oregon Secretary of State, instead of re-election.[2] She defeated Republican candidate Harmony Mulkey in the general election, winning 69% to 30.8%, with 0.2% of the vote going to other candidates.[3]
On November 18, 2022, Lieber was elected Majority Leader by the Oregon Senate democratic caucus.[4] In June 2024, she announced she would step down from the role on July 15 to become co-chair of the joint ways and means committee, a position being vacated by Senator Elizabeth Steiner.[5]
In 2024, Lieber co-wrote a bill reinstating criminal penalties for drug possession, which had been removed in 2020 by Measure 110, as well as expanding access to drug treatment.[6] The bill was signed into law on April 1, 2024.[7]
Personal life
Lieber is gay and is the first openly lesbian member of the Oregon Senate.[8] She lives with her wife and two children.[1]
