Oregon's governor is resigning from office

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) has officially announced his resignation from office. The news comes after an ethics scandal regarding the actions of Kitzhaber's fiancee, Cylvia Hayes, as a private consultant.

Last week, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced that the pair were being investigated amid suspicion Hayes used their relationship for the benefit of her business.

"It is not in my nature to walk away from a job I have undertaken — it is to stand and fight for the cause," Kitzhaber said in a statement. "For that reason I apologize to all those people who gave their faith, time, energy and resources to elect me to a fourth term last year and who have supported me over the past three decades."

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Secretary of State Kate Brown (D) is the next in line to succeed Kitzhaber, whose resignation is effective Wednesday.