Gov. Tina Kotek is running for reelection as Oregon's governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She faces Christine Drazan, who carries Republican and Libertarian affiliation, according to BallotReady election data.
Kotek runs with Democratic and Working Families Party affiliation. She is certified for the ballot. She has served as governor since 2023, according to BallotReady. Before that, she represented a district in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2007 to 2022 and served as speaker of the House from 2013 to 2022.
Candidate information
Party: Democratic / Working Families Party
Education: Bachelor's degree in religious studies, University of Oregon, according to BallotReady; master's degree in international studies and comparative religion, University of Washington, according to the Western Governors' Association
Endorsements (claimed by endorsers): AFL-CIO; The Mother PAC; LGBT+ Victory Fund; Oregon Nurses Association; Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters
Experience and public service
- Governor of Oregon, 2023–present
- Speaker, Oregon House of Representatives, 2013–2022
- State representative, Oregon House of Representatives, 2007–2022
- Co-chair, Governor's Medicaid Advisory Committee
- Co-chair, Human Services Coalition of Oregon, 2002
- Policy director, Children First for Oregon, 2003–2006
- Policy advocate, Oregon Food Bank, 1998–2002
On the issues
The following positions are based on Kotek's campaign statements and responses.
Housing: Kotek said on her campaign website that she has focused on easing Oregon's housing crisis since taking office. She said she has delivered $200M+ to build shelters and provide rental assistance, according to a post on her X account.
Her campaign site lists a goal of ending unsheltered homelessness for veterans, families with children, unaccompanied young adults and people 65 and older, a target her campaign originally set for 2025.
Economy: Kotek said she signed the POWER Act to require data centers to pay their fair share of utility costs. Her campaign site says she has worked to counter corporate price gouging and lower housing costs.
Healthcare and behavioral health: Kotek's campaign says she has worked across the aisle to increase access to mental health and addiction care. Her priorities include expanding trained outreach professionals for people experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders, and investing in the behavioral health workforce through higher compensation and simplified career pathways.
Reproductive rights: Kotek said she signed a law to keep Planned Parenthood clinics open in Oregon after federal funding was cut. Her campaign site lists ensuring Oregon remains a safe harbor for reproductive health care access as a priority.
Education: Kotek's campaign says she made education a top priority in her first term. Her stated goal is improving Oregon's graduation rates to 90% for all student groups by 2027.
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
