Kotek Seeks Second Term in Oregon Governor's Race, Facing Rematch with Drazan

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced in early December 2025 that she would seek reelection in 2026, setting up a rematch against Republican former state Senator Christine Drazan, who lost to Kotek by a few percentage points in the 2022 general election. Kotek is a Democrat; the general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026. In her reelection announcement, Kotek highlighted her opposition to Trump administration actions, including resisting an attempted National Guard deployment to Portland and defending SNAP benefits during a federal government shutdown. She received endorsements from U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and several labor unions. However, by March 2026 Kotek had lost the backing of two previous allies, the Oregon Education Association and the Working Families Party; the teachers' union reported that 75% of its members voted to remain neutral in this cycle, a shift from its 2022 endorsement of Kotek. Primary elections were held May 19, 2026, with Kotek winning the Democratic nomination with 84% of the vote and Drazan winning the Republican nomination with 41%. Separately, Kotek's office credited the 2026 legislative session with delivering affordability measures and stabilizing services for vulnerable Oregonians. As of July 2026, Kotek indicated willingness to discuss tax reform aimed at making Oregon more economically competitive, while cautioning that any changes would need to be revenue neutral and avoid underfunding essential programs, citing the state's existing budget deficit. It remains unresolved what specific tax reform proposals, if any, will move forward in the Legislature, and how the loss of union neutrality versus endorsement will affect the November general election outcome.