Oregon's Kid Governor or.kidgovernor.org

CONTACT: Mary Beth Herkert / Director of Civics Education / Mary.E.HERKERT@oregon.gov

Taneesh Garg of Portland’s, Springville K-8

Elected as the 2021, Oregon Kid Governor 

Salem, OR – On Wednesday, November 18, the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office announced that fifth graders from across the state elected Taneesh Garg of Portland as the 2021 Oregon Kid Governor® (ORKG). The announcement was made via Zoom, at Sringville K-8 where Taneesh is a 5th grade student. Taneesh’s community issue is Racism and you can watch his campaign video here: Finalists for the office of 2021 Oregon’s Kid Governor®

The Kid Governor Program is in its fourth year in Oregon and was started by the Connecticut Democracy Center in 2015, as a way of introducing Civics Education to fifth graders. In 2017, Oregon became the second state in the nation to implement the program. The program is open to all fifth graders in Oregon and those interested in becoming Kid Governor create a 1-3 minute video on why they should be Kid Governor, what their leadership skills are, explain a community issue that is important to them, and tell about their three-point plan that fifth graders will use to work on that community issue. Fifteen videos were submitted this year, and were narrowed down to seven, by a panel of independent judges who individually, watched and voted on the videos. Once the seven candidates were finalized, fifth graders from schools across the state, voted and selected Taneesh as Oregon’s next Kid Governor.

“Over 1800 students from 46 schools across Oregon, registered to nominate a candidate and or vote in this year’s election,” stated Secretary of State Bev Clarno. “This is a great way to not only teach our students about how their government works, but to actively engage our young leaders in their community.”  

Taneesh’s one year term will begin in January 2021, with his Inauguration. The other final candidates included:

Ruthie - Helping Kids Dream Big about their Future

Phia - Littering: Helping to Keep Oregon Green and Clean

Lohith - Global Warming and Climate Change

Evie - Shelter Animals

Brennah - Air Pollution

Abhi - Saving the Environment

To learn more about the Kid Governor Program and to view all of the candidate videos go to: http://or.kidgovernor.org/2020-statewide-election

You may also contact Mary Beth Herkert, Director of Oregon’s Kid Governor Program at 503-999-3239 or mary.e.herkert@oregon.gov