Politics is messy. Relationships are messier. When you mix the two in a place like Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, things get downright weird. People have been searching for the "wife" of former Congressman Kurt Schrader for years, often getting tangled up in names like Janna Davis or wondering about his life in Davis, California. Here is the reality: Kurt Schrader's wife is Susan Mora (often referred to as Susan Mora-Schrader).
If you’re looking for a Janna Davis, you’re likely hitting a dead end or a case of mistaken identity. The real story involves a high-profile divorce, a second marriage that raised eyebrows in D.C., and a whole lot of horses.
The Martha Schrader Years
Before Susan, there was Martha. Kurt and Martha Northam met back at Cornell University in the early 70s. They were the ultimate power couple of Clackamas County. They moved to Oregon in 1978, ran Three Rivers Farm in Canby, and raised five kids.
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They didn't just share a home; they shared a career path. When Kurt moved up the political ladder, Martha often followed right into the seats he vacated. It was a political hand-off that worked for decades. But the "curse" of the 5th District—where seemingly every representative ends up divorced—caught up to them. In 2011, after 35 years of marriage, they called it quits.
It was a shocker for Oregon insiders. They cited "irreconcilable differences," and just like that, one of the state’s most stable political partnerships evaporated.
Who is Susan Mora-Schrader?
Enter Susan Mora. Kurt married Susan in early 2017. In fact, he actually skipped his own swearing-in ceremony for his fifth term in Congress to go on his honeymoon. That’s a bold move for a sitting politician. They reportedly went to Argentina to ride horses.
Susan isn't just a "political wife." She’s a "political insider" by her own description. She has worked as a lobbyist and has deep ties to the D.C. scene. This created a bit of a localized firestorm back in Oregon. While Kurt was representing Oregonians, Susan was registered to vote in Clarksburg, Maryland.
She even maintained a primary residence tax credit in Maryland. For a representative of Oregon’s 5th, having a wife who is firmly planted in the D.C. suburbs wasn't a great look. It gave his political opponents a massive target. They called him "out of touch." They said he spent more time at his wife’s place in Maryland than with his constituents in Canby or Salem.
The Great Horseback Controversy
If you want to know what Susan and Kurt are really about, look at the horses. Susan ran a blog for a while documenting their equestrian adventures. In 2021, while Congress was technically in a "district work period" (which is supposed to be for meeting voters), the couple was on an epic cross-country horseback trip.
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Susan’s blog was incredibly detailed. She wrote about:
- Training the horses (specifically Kurt’s horse, Guillermo).
- Navigating equine-friendly sleeping spots.
- Crossing the state line from Maryland into West Virginia.
- The "melee" that happened when one horse backed into another.
Honestly, the blog was a goldmine for his critics. While Kurt was supposed to be answering emails about healthcare or infrastructure, he was "coaxing Guillermo into a trailer." It’s these kinds of details that stick in a voter's mind. It wasn't just about the absence; it was the specific, documented leisure of it all.
Clearing Up the Confusion
Let’s talk about the "Davis" and "Janna" rumors. There is often confusion because Kurt Schrader has a background in veterinary medicine (he's a DVM). People sometimes associate high-level vets with UC Davis in California. However, Kurt got his degrees from the University of Illinois and Cornell.
As for "Janna Davis," there is no public record of a Janna Davis being married to Kurt Schrader. It’s possible this is a mix-up with another political figure or a private individual with a similar name. In the world of SEO and Google searches, names often get mashed together until a "ghost" person is created.
Where Are They Now?
Kurt Schrader lost his primary in 2022 to Jamie McLeod-Skinner, a loss many attribute to that "out of touch" perception fueled by his lifestyle in Maryland with Susan. Since leaving Congress in 2023, he hasn't exactly disappeared.
He’s moved into the private sector, working as a principal at Williams & Jensen, a major lobbying firm. It’s a natural fit given Susan’s background in the same industry. They still spend a significant amount of time with their horses.
Actionable Insights for Following the Story
If you're trying to track the influence of former members of Congress like Schrader, here is what you should actually look at:
- Lobbying Disclosures: Check the House and Senate lobbying disclosure databases. You’ll see exactly which pharmaceutical or agricultural interests Schrader is now representing.
- Clackamas County Politics: Martha Schrader remains a fixture in Oregon politics as a Clackamas County Commissioner. Her career didn't end with the divorce.
- Property Records: If you're curious about the "home base" vs. "D.C. base" debate, Maryland and Oregon property tax records are public. They tell a much clearer story than campaign flyers ever will.
The "wife" story isn't just about gossip. It’s about how a politician’s personal life and their spouse’s professional location can fundamentally shift their political brand. For Kurt Schrader, the move from Three Rivers Farm to a Maryland horse trail was the beginning of the end of his career in the House.