DPO Officers

Democratic Party of Oregon Chair Carla “KC” Hanson rose through the ranks of the DPO, initially becoming involved with the Multnomah County Democrats as a Precinct Committee Person following the 2004 Presidential election.

In 2007 she became Vice Chair of the Multnomah Democrats, and in 2008 began three terms of service as County Party Chair. Since then, KC has consulted on various political campaigns and continued her activism with both the Multnomah Democrats and the DPO.

Moving from Lawrence, Kansas, to Oregon in 1989, KC cut her Northwest political teeth in the 1990s on behalf of the LGBT community, battling the anti-gay initiative efforts of 1992 and 1994. The designated “Yardsign Lady” for the 1994 No on 13 Campaign, she traveled throughout the region with yardsigns stuffed in her pickup and a briefcase packed with a clipboard, pager, map … and a hammer. In her spare time, KC has spent 24 years as a small business owner, specializing in minor automotive paint repair.

KC emphasizes working as a team to achieve Democratic success: “Individuals don’t win elections nor do they create policy. Campaigns are won, and good policy is effected because teams of folks — sometimes with divergent opinions — work together for the common good. We are a huge Democratic team, and there are no roster limitations!”

KC is the first “out” lesbian to chair the Democratic Party of Oregon.

For the better part of her career, Eileen Kiely was a financial controller and manager for Daimler Trucks North America. She moved to Sunriver in 2015, beginning her “retirement career” as an outdoor leader and educator. Eileen ran for State Legislature in 2018, and in 2019 was elected Vice Chair of the Deschutes County Democrats as well as Democratic Party of Oregon Secretary.

Eddy is the Treasurer of the Democratic Party of Oregon, a proud son of Mexican immigrants, a Gresham City Councilor, a community organizer, and a small business owner. Elected in 2018, his top issues include transportation justice, institutional equity, revitalizing parks and recreation, and fixing Gresham’s financial crisis. Eddy is the founder of East County Rising, which works to increase civic engagement among underserved populations in East Multnomah County and supports candidates and elected officials who advance equitable policies. Eddy is a diehard Oregon Duck and lives in Gresham with his partner, Hugh, and their dog, Besitos.

Michelle Risher is the woman vice chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO), and the highest-ranking transgender person to be elected officer of a state, district, or territorial Democratic party.

A progressive lifelong registered Democrat of over 48 years, she is the immediate past chair of the DPO Stonewall Caucus, current chair of the Multnomah County Democrats (MCD) LGBT Caucus, and past MCD Budget and Finance chair, as well as being active in other DPO/MCD caucuses and events, including managing and organizing the joint MCD and DPO Stonewall Caucus joint entry in the Portland Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade.

Prior to moving to Portland in January of 2014, Risher served as a trustee and candidate screening chair of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, as well as a director of its PAC. A former union member and Teamsters’ steward, she has written three SCC-adopted DPO resolutions on behalf of its Stonewall Caucus, two of which were later adopted by the DNC. The focus of those resolutions is on comprehensive transgender healthcare, faith-based discrimination against the LGBTQ+ communities, and Trump’s efforts to eradicate and disenfranchise transgender, non-binary, and intersex folk.

Originally from Mobile, Alabama, where she lived from 1953-61 and 1977-1986, she has also resided for over a decade in Enon (OH), Tucson (AZ), and Houston (TX), before finding a true home in Oregon.

Travis Nelson is the grandson of Louisiana sharecroppers. When he was a small child his family moved from Louisiana to the Pacific Northwest in search of a better life. Travis was a Head Start kid who is thankful for the free public school lunches he received as a child. Prior to earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Washington State University, Travis earned his Associates degree in Nursing from a community college in rural Eastern Washington near the Oregon border. He is now a Board Certified Registered Nurse who has specialized in Medical/Surgical Nursing, Critical Care Nursing, Emergency Nursing, Case Management and has even served as a Charge Nurse on a Physical Rehabilitation Unit. Travis has now resided in North Portland for nearly a decade.

In addition to serving as a DNC Member, Travis serves the party as a Precinct Committee Person (PCP) in Multnomah County and as Western Director of the Democratic National Committee Black Caucus. Additionally, Travis served as a delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. In 2020, Travis had the honor of serving as Co-Chair of the Oregon Delegation to the Democratic National Convention, thanks to the support of Senators Jeff Merkely and Ron Wyden.

Travis works full time as a Union Representative where he advocates for his fellow Registered Nurses and fights for social justice. Travis is a member of the Oregon Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, AFL-CIO, Teamsters Local 117, American Federation of Teachers, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, The Urban League, The Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs (OABA), Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and is a board member of Nurses For Single Payer.

Serving his second 4-year term as a Democratic National Committeeman, Matt Keating (he/him) also serves Oregon voters as Eugene City Councilor (2021-2025) and Lane Community College Board Member (2013-2021).

A former broadcaster, Matt brings years of community organizing, political digital consulting, and field management expertise to his role as DNC Member. In both urban and rural settings, he’s worked for a multitude of Democratic candidates and allied organizations including MoveOn.org, Democracy for America, CREDO SuperPAC, and We Are Wisconsin.

Matt is active with the DNC’s Western States Regional Caucus, LGBT Caucus, Poverty Council, Interfaith Council, and DNC Council on the Environment & Climate Crisis.

Alongside Matt on many a progressive political adventure are his trusted pals Vegas, a rescue Great Dane and his talented and inspiring fiancée Becca.