Kotek wins Oregon governorship after 2022 rematch

Salem, Oregon. CBS News projected Tuesday that Democratic Governor Tina Kotek won reelection to a second term. The victory concluded a competitive race against Republican Christine Drazan in a state that has not elected a Republican governor since 1982.

The contest served as a rematch of the 2022 election, where Kotek narrowly defeated Drazan. Polls indicated a challenging environment for the incumbent. A September DHM Research poll found that 58% of Oregon residents disapproved of Kotek's job performance. In the same survey, 59% of voters said the state was heading in the wrong direction.

Kotek faced shifting political support compared to her first term. While she previously relied on major labor unions, the state’s largest public education union declined to endorse her in the 2026 matchup. Drazan, a former statehouse leader, focused her campaign on the state's economic struggles and rising homelessness. She blamed these issues on Kotek and the Democratic majority in the statehouse.

Kotek countered by linking Drazan to President Donald Trump. The strategy aimed to capitalize on the president's low approval ratings in Oregon, a state he lost by more than 14 points in 2024. The campaign also addressed local affordability concerns.

A school shooting in Bend earlier in the year influenced the race. A 16-year-old gunman killed three students and a teacher before an armed bystander shot and killed him. Both candidates visited Bend following the incident. Kotek declared a state of emergency to coordinate aid for the affected area.