Christine Drazan

Gov. Tina Kotek and state Sen. Christine Drazan, facing off again for Oregon governor, are offering competing visions for the state's struggling schools. Kotek points to a cell phone ban, increased school funding, and a new accountability system, saying progress is underway but will take more than one term. Drazan wants to replace Department of Education and state board leadership, end social promotion by third grade, and reinstate graduation skills requirements.

The candidates also split on a new federal school-choice tax credit program: Drazan would opt Oregon in, while Kotek remains skeptical of the Trump administration's rules. Both want more instructional time and reforms to funding formulas, as districts face budget cuts, closures, and a higher education system under financial strain.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has directed the state Department of Environmental Quality to pause processing new air and water discharge permits for data centers until July 1, 2027, a move described as a de facto temporary moratorium. The order, issued in an Oct. 9 letter to DEQ Director Leah Feldon, is meant to create room for possible policy and regulatory reforms when the Legislature convenes in 2027. Kotek had previously said she lacked authority to impose a statewide moratorium without legislative approval.

The decision follows mounting pressure over data centers' water and power use, rising utility costs, and large local tax breaks, set against arguments from industry and labor groups that the facilities bring jobs and investment to rural areas. Republican gubernatorial challenger Christine Drazan had called for a full moratorium last month. Oregon, home to over 120 data centers across more than 2,000 acres with thousands more planned, joins New York and Texas among states recently restricting new data center permitting amid growing national scrutiny of the industry's environmental footprint.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan met in Medford for their second debate of the governor's race, a wide-ranging hourlong discussion on affordability, schools, homelessness and economic development. The event, hosted by KOBI5, was less combative than their first encounter but surfaced sharp policy divides, especially on taxes.

Kotek stopped short of committing to tax code changes but said she'd pursue "tweaks" to keep Oregon competitive, pointing to a business-focused Prosperity Council she convened this year. Drazan pledged to cut taxes and repeal Oregon's estate tax, criticizing Kotek for a string of new levies passed during her first term. Both candidates addressed business retention following Dutch Bros' planned move from Grants Pass to Arizona, SNAP benefit changes tied to federal policy shifts, and Oregon's struggling K-12 schools, with Kotek defending incremental reforms and Drazan calling for vouchers and bigger changes. The candidates agreed on opposing a sales tax and favoring a pause on new data centers.

Polling shows the race is extremely tight, with Drazan holding a narrow, statistically insignificant lead over Kotek among likely voters.

Oregon's 2026 governor's race between Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan remains a toss-up, polling similarly tight to their 2022 contest, when Kotek won narrowly. A Drazan victory would be historic: Oregon hasn't elected a Republican governor in 44 years. Kotek has leaned heavily on tying Drazan to President Trump's unpopularity in the state, while Drazan has distanced herself from Trump and shifted toward working-class, bio-focused messaging after a divided GOP primary win.

Interviews with voters in Sherwood, a Portland suburb that nearly perfectly mirrors Oregon's statewide party registration and split three votes between the candidates in 2022, show ambivalence rather than enthusiasm on either side. Many voters say they are motivated more by fear of the alternative than support for their chosen candidate — concerns about housing costs, jobs, taxes, and Trump-era politics are driving decisions. Analysts say this anxiety-driven dynamic could determine turnout and ultimately decide the outcome of a race both candidates have framed as existential for Oregon's future.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, a Democrat, and Republican state Senator Christine Drazan met Thursday in Eugene for the first televised debate of the gubernatorial race, with election day about a month away. The two sparred over affordability, abortion rights, federal enforcement and data centers, trading pointed criticisms throughout the exchange.

Reaction from voters afterward was mixed. Some said Drazan struggled to counter her legislative record, while others felt both candidates leaned heavily on attacking each other rather than laying out clear plans. Several undecided voters said the debate did little to sway them, describing it as contentious without a clear winner.

Kotek and Drazan are scheduled to debate twice more, in Bend and Medford, but will not hold a televised debate in Portland before the election. The race is one of the most closely watched gubernatorial contests this cycle, with control of Oregon's executive branch at stake.

Oregon Democrats criticized Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan after she appeared alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the Oregon Republican Party's Reagan Dinner in Hillsboro. The Latino Network Action Fund and the Democratic Party of Oregon held a rally condemning the appearance, citing DeSantis' record on immigration and LGBTQ+ issues. Democratic Party of Oregon chair Nathan Soltz argued that DeSantis' values, and those of former President Trump, do not align with Oregon values, framing Drazan's association with DeSantis as inconsistent with her campaign's moderate positioning.

Drazan and DeSantis did not respond to requests for comment. Oregon Republican Party Chair Connie Whelchel defended the visit, calling it "especially meaningful" and noting the party welcomes peaceful protest while pointing to state rankings favoring Florida over Oregon. The episode underscores how national political figures and messaging are shaping the closely watched Oregon governor's race.

Candidates for Oregon governor are set for a series of fall debates, but for the first time in decades, none will take place in Portland. Incumbent Democratic Governor Tina Kotek and Republican Senator Christine Drazan have both said they are willing to debate in Portland, but they could not agree on a venue or host TV station. Kotek accepted an invitation from KOIN, while Drazan declined; Drazan accepted offers from two competing stations, which Kotek turned down.

Both candidates have agreed to debate in Eugene, Bend, and Medford next month, and will appear together Thursday at an Oregon Business and Industry forum hosted by the Portland Business Journal. Some of the out-of-market debates will be broadcast or streamed to Portland audiences, though questions are expected to focus on those local communities rather than the Portland metro area, home to the largest share of Oregon voters. The race is considered close, with recent polling showing Drazan holding a narrow edge over Kotek.

Oregon's gubernatorial race took center stage over Labor Day, as incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and Republican challenger Christine Drazan both courted worker support ahead of the November election. Kotek attended the Northwest Oregon Labor Council's annual Labor Day picnic at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, telling thousands of union members she would back them at the bargaining table. Attendees included members of AFSCME, SEIU, Teamsters and UFCW, along with other Democratic officials such as Secretary of State Tobias Read.

Drazan, who did not attend a Labor Day event, posted a pro-worker video pledging to bring jobs and investment back to Oregon and reverse business relocations out of the state. The contest comes as Oregon faces a rising cost of living and unemployment ticking above the national rate. Oregon has a strong union tradition, with unionization rates well above the national average, and labor groups have historically leaned Democratic, though both parties are working to win worker votes this cycle.