Who's In the Race
Democratic incumbent Tina Kotek and Republican challenger Christine Drazan face each other in Oregon's governor's race, with the general election set for Nov. 3.
Both primaries were held May 19 and certified with Kotek winning the Democratic primary with 87 percent of the vote and Drazan winning the 15-candidate Republican primary with 41 percent.
Endorsements
Former President Barack Obama endorsed Kotek, as well as Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner, and Secretary of State Christina Stephenson.
The Oregon Farm Bureau endorsed Drazan in February. The National Federation of Independent Business endorsed her in September. The two business-oriented endorsements signal Drazan's effort to consolidate support among small-business owners and agricultural interests in a state where Democrats hold a structural advantage.
Race Outlook: Ratings and Polling
All four major rating outlets lean toward Kotek. Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball both rate the race Lean Democratic, updated Oct. 28. Inside Elections and the consensus rating both rate it Lean Democratic, updated Oct. 23.
A Silver Bulletin polling average of 13 polls, as of Oct. 1, shows Kotek leading Drazan 46 percent to 44 percent, with 7 percent undecided.
Previous Elections
In the 2024 presidential election, Oregon backed Democrat Kamala D. Harris with 55 percent of the vote, compared to 41 percent for Republican Donald J. Trump, a 14-point Democratic margin that reflects the state's consistent lean in federal contests.
The 2026 contest is a partial rematch of the 2022 governor's race, when Kotek defeated Drazan by 66,727 votes (917,074 to 850,347) in a three-way race that also included Independent Betsy Johnson, who drew 168,431 votes. Kotek's winning share in that three-way field was about 47 percent of the total vote.
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