Representative Les AuCoin

Les AuCoin served as a Representative from Oregon in the United States Congress from 1975 to 1993. A member of the Democratic Party, Les AuCoin contributed to the legislative process during 9 terms in office.

Les AuCoin’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the House of Representatives, Les AuCoin participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Walter Leslie AuCoin ( oh-KOYN; born October 21, 1942) is an American politician. In 1974 he became the first person from the Democratic Party to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon’s 1st congressional district since it was formed in 1892. The seat has been held by Democrats ever since. AuCoin’s 18-year tenure—from the 94th United States Congress through the 102nd—is the sixth-longest in Oregon history. In his career, AuCoin took a prominent role in abortion rights, local and national environmental issues, multiple-use management of federal forests, and national security. During the presidency of Ronald Reagan, he wrote the ban to stop Interior Secretary James Watt’s plan to open the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf to oil exploration. AuCoin was an early advocate of diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China and arms control with the Soviet Union, and a critic of U.S. support for the Nicaraguan Contras and the rightist government of El Salvador in the 1980s. At the time of his retirement in 1993, he was 84th in overall House seniority, dean of the Oregon House delegation, a majority whip-at-large, and a veteran member of the House Appropriations Committee. AuCoin was a two-term member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1971 to 1974. In his second term, he was House Majority Leader, at the age of 31. He is a full-time author, writer, lecturer and occasional blogger. AuCoin is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One. He and his wife Susan live in Portland.