He caucused with the Democratic-led majority for purposes of committee assignments.

[2] Ortiz was elected in November 2014 to succeed retiring Representative Peggy Wilson of Wrangell.

He defeated Wilson's endorsed candidate, Republican Chere Klein, by just 104 votes.

[3][4] Dan Ortiz has a wife, Lori, and three children.

He is a former schoolteacher who taught at Ketchikan High School.