State Sen. Aaron Woods, D-District 13, right, at the Oregon Capitol in 2023.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
State Sen. Aaron Woods, a former tech executive serving his first term in the Oregon Legislature, died on Saturday. He was 75.
Two Democratic lawmakers told OPB that Woods died due to complications with cancer that had recently reemerged. The Wilsonville Democrat recently took a leave from this year’s legislative session to undergo treatment.
Woods was in Colorado receiving chemotherapy when he died. According to Senate Democrats, he was surrounded by his family. He had five adult children.
Democratic state leaders issued a joint statement Monday saying that Senate was mourning and that Woods would be remembered for his “wisdom, service and kindness.”
Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, praised Woods for his “deep heart for public service.”
“He loved being in the Senate and loved working on behalf of the people in his community,” Wagner said of Woods. “He brought a unique and important perspective to our work, and he was a kind and trusted friend. We are grieving his loss, and our thoughts are with his family.”
Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama, D-Portland, described Woods as a respected colleague and a dedicated public service. “He was a trailblazer in everything he did, always looking to the future and investing in opportunity for others. He was a cherished mentor to his staff, believing in personal growth for his team,” Jama said.
Woods grew up in Chicago and served a six-year stint in the U.S Army before beginning a career in the tech industry that led to work in Colorado. That career would ultimately bring him to Wilsonville, where he held senior roles at Tektronix and Xerox before retiring in 2019.
In 2022, Woods launched a campaign for a newly redrawn Senate district formerly held by Republicans. With new boundaries looping in Tigard, Wilsonville and Sherwood, Senate District 13 now strongly favors Democrats. Woods beat his Republican opponent in the race by more than 15 percentage points.
Given his tech background, Woods became a leading voice in the Legislature on responding to emerging challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Last year, he helped pass a bill regulating use of the technology in political ads.
Politically, he was a business-friendly Democrat, who also prioritized issues like civil rights and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Gov. Tina Kotek issued a statement saying that Woods “never expected to be an elected official” but his life was “defined by care and service to his country, his community and family.”
Woods was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023 and received treatment. Friends say he was in full form when he attended the Democratic National Convention as a delegate last year.
Woods’ death comes weeks after he was removed from legislative committees by Wagner. The Senate president’s office said the move was necessary because Woods needed to receive treatment for an undisclosed medical condition.
The news of Woods passing cast a shadow over the Senate chamber on Monday morning, as sometimes-tearful lawmakers remembered their former colleague. The entire chamber stood for a moment of silence as Woods’ name came up in a routine roll call.
“He loved being a senator and having the chance to serve with all of you in this chamber,” Wagner said.
Senate Minority Leader Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, remembered Woods as a statesman who often touted his own politically moderate views when the two discussed policy.
“He always used to tell me, ‘Bonham, I’m a centrist,’” Bonham said. “I said. ‘I’m looking forward to your voting record reflecting that.’”
It will be up to Democratic Party officials to nominate up to five people to serve out the rest of Woods’ term, which ends in January 2027. The ultimate decision is up to commissioners in the three counties Woods’ district touches: Washington, Yamhill and Clackamas.
In appointments for an open Senate seat, House lawmakers who represent a portion of the open Senate district are typically top contenders,. In the case of Senate District 13, those two lawmakers are House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, and state Rep. Courtney Neron, D-Wilsonville. If either of those lawmakers were to win the appointment, the lower chamber would need to fill its own vacancy.
Legislative Democrats will be keen to ensure they have their full numbers in both chambers this year. The party is pursuing a multibillion-dollar tax package to pay for roads and bridges. If Republicans refuse to support the bill, Democrats would need all of their members in both chambers in order to pass it.
It’s relatively rare for Oregon lawmakers to die in office. Longtime state Sen. Jackie Winters, R-Salem, died in office in 2019.
In 2020, state Rep. Mitch Greenlick, a Portland Democrat, died.
In 2021, then-Rep. Gary Leif, R-Roseburg, died of cancer.