KAHL
About the Candidate
A Veterinarian Who Heals Communities
“Oregon’s 1st Congressional District deserves a representative who has spent a career solving real-world problems, not a career politician.”
Oregon Native
Barbara Kahl is an Oregon native whose career spans business, military family service, charitable work, and veterinary medicine. She earned a Bachelor of Animal Science with a Minor in Chemistry from Oregon State University, Alpha-Zeta Honor Society, multiple Dean's List honors, and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the OSU/WSU combined College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2006.
Two Decades in Business
Her professional life began in retail, then expanded across 20 years in business: accounting with a world-leading frozen food manufacturer, years supporting her husband's U.S. Navy career and serving as a Navy Volunteer Ombudsman — the official liaison between command families and leadership — giving her firsthand insight into federal service, logistics, and community support systems. She then built a high-tech industry career at Intel Corporation in finance and purchasing administration, supporting multi-million-dollar budgets, establishing a global communications team, and managing a team of financial analysts and buyers.
Houston SPCA & Expert Witness
Dr. Kahl served at the Houston SPCA, one of the nation's premier animal welfare organizations, as one of a three-person veterinary team managing the health of an average population of 500 animals, with each veterinarian completing 10–20 surgeries daily, and serving as Interim Veterinary Operations Manager. As a court-recognized expert witness in animal neglect and cruelty cases, she brought chain-of-evidence protocols from the Houston SPCA to Oregon, implementing them through the USPCA and integrating them with sheriff departments across Marion and Polk counties.
Building Government from the Ground Up
In 2022, the American Samoa territorial government recruited Dr. Kahl as its chief veterinarian. Operating 8,000 miles from home, she built the territory's first-ever animal control unit, modernized the veterinary clinic from paper to digital records, drafted the territory's first comprehensive Veterinary Practice Act regulations submitted directly to attorneys working with the Governor, created an after-hours emergency veterinary service still in operation today, and directly supervised, hired, trained, and managed a staff of 15.
A Voice Before the Legislature
Dr. Kahl has testified before the Oregon Legislature on multiple occasions on agriculture, fiscal policy, animal welfare, and election integrity — bringing independent research, scientific credibility, and sound judgment to real policy outcomes. During Oregon's animal welfare legislative expansion in 2011, she partnered with the Animal Legal Defense Fund to support the legal parameters around animal seizure across multiple jurisdictions.
Why Congress
Oregon's 1st Congressional District — encompassing Tillamook, Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, and a portion of Multnomah county including Portland's western suburbs — has for too long been treated as a safe seat rather than a community with complex, competing needs. Dr. Kahl enters the race as a political outsider who has worked within government budgets, navigated federal regulatory agencies, built careers across high-tech, business, and agriculture, advocated before state legislatures, and delivered emergency services under pressure.
Recognition & Credentials
Proven Expertise
2012 Animal Welfare Award
The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association honored Dr. Kahl with its 2012 Animal Welfare Award — one of a small number of practitioners in Oregon's history to receive this distinction.
Oregon Legislature Testimony
Dr. Kahl has testified before the Oregon Legislature on multiple occasions on agriculture, fiscal policy, animal welfare, and election integrity — bringing independent research, scientific credibility, and sound judgment to real policy outcomes.
Professional Credentials
USDA-APHIS Accredited Veterinarian — Animal Reportable Disease & Tests
DEA Licensure (Schedule II–V controlled substances)
Human Animal Bond Certification — Human Animal Bond Research Institute, Washington, D.C.
Certificate of Equine Proficiency — Oregon State University
Certificate in Camelid Medicine and Surgery — Oregon State University
Certificate in Office Systems/Business Administration — San Diego, CA
Certified TLAER (Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue) — Macon, GA
Certified Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) — FEMA NIMS 100/200/700/10a/11a Emergency Management
Member: Oregon Veterinary Medical Association
The Journey
Career of Service
OSU
Bachelor of Animal Science
B.S. in Animal Science (Minor in Chemistry) from Oregon State University. Alpha-Zeta Honor Society, multiple Dean’s List.
2006
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Earned DVM from the OSU/WSU combined College of Veterinary Medicine.
2011
Animal Welfare Legislation
Partnered with the Animal Legal Defense Fund during Oregon’s animal welfare legislative expansion to support legal parameters around animal seizure.
2012
OVMA Animal Welfare Award
Honored by the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association — one of a small number of practitioners in Oregon’s history to receive this distinction.
2020
EquiSport Farm & Vet Service
Established EquiSport Farm and Veterinary Service, practicing across small animal, large animal, equine, camelid, and exotic species medicine.
2022
Chief Veterinarian, American Samoa
Recruited by the territorial government to build its first-ever animal control unit, modernize the veterinary clinic, and draft the territory’s Veterinary Practice Act.
2026
Running for Congress
Republican candidate for Oregon’s 1st Congressional District. Primary: May 19, 2026.
Core Values
What Drives Dr. Kahl
01
Accountability
Every dollar spent, every vote cast — transparent and accountable to the people of CD-1.
02
Evidence Over Ideology
Policy grounded in data, science, and real-world outcomes — not partisan talking points.
03
Community First
Decisions made for Oregon families, not Washington lobbyists or corporate donors.
Policy Priority — Education
Trust Parents. Free Teachers.
As your US Representative, I will improve K-12 education and champion federal school choice legislation that empowers Oregon families — regardless of income or zip code — to direct their child’s education dollars toward the school, curriculum, or program that fits how their child actually learns, whether that’s a public school, private school, vocational program, homeschool, or educational therapy.
01
School Choice & Parental Authority
Parents and communities, not Washington DC bureaucrats, should determine what Oregon children are taught, and I will oppose federal overreach into local curriculum decisions.
02
Freedom for Teachers
I will fight to protect teachers’ First Amendment rights and reduce coercive union influence that has long prioritized political agendas over student achievement and educator fulfillment — because when teachers are free to teach, students are free to learn.
03
Equal Funding, Real Reform
Federal education funding must be distributed equally, ensuring OR-1’s rural and coastal classrooms receive the same resources as urban districts. Real education reform means trusting parents, freeing teachers, and measuring schools by academic fundamentals, civic literacy, and workforce readiness — not ideology.
The Reality
Oregon ranks near the bottom of the nation in 4th grade math and reading — our children cannot wait for a broken system to fix itself.
Take Action
Join Barbara on the Campaign Trail
“Dr. Kahl does not need to be taught how Washington D.C. works. She needs only the opportunity to demonstrate that it can work better.”
Whether you can knock on doors, make calls, or chip in a few dollars — every action moves Oregon forward.