Topic: Christine Gregoire

Christine O'Grady "Chris" Gregoire (pronounced /ˈɡrɛɡwɑr/; born March 24, 1947) is the 22nd and current Governor of the state of Washington, and a member of the Democratic Party. Gregoire defeated Republican candidate Dino Rossi in 2004, and again in 2008. She is the second female governor of Washington.

Chris O’Grady was raised in Auburn, Washington, by her mother, who worked as a short-order cook to support the family. After graduating from Auburn Senior High School, she attended the University of Washington in Seattle, graduating in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech in sociology. She attended law school at Gonzaga University in Spokane, receiving her Juris Doctor in 1977.

She went to work as an assistant attorney general in the office of state Attorney General Slade Gorton, a Republican. As an assistant attorney general, Gregoire concentrated on child-abuse cases, coordinating with social workers to get children removed from abusive family situations and placed with relatives or foster homes. Gregoire's first child, Courtney, was born in Spokane in 1979. Her second daughter, Michelle, was born in 1984. Michelle played soccer for Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and Governor Gregoire is proud to call herself a 'soccer mom'. She is a season ticket holder for Seattle Sounders FC.