State Watch

Kotek, Drazan set for rematch in Oregon governor’s race

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by Julia Mueller - 05/19/26 11:38 PM ET

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by Julia Mueller - 05/19/26 11:38 PM ET

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Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) is set for a rematch against Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan in the race for governor of the Beaver State, Decision Desk HQ projects.

Kotek narrowly won her first term in the governor’s mansion by less than four percentage points in a 2022 showdown against Drazan.

The rivals will face off again this fall for the seat that Cook Political Report rates “solid Democrat,” with Kotek favored to score another term. Oregon has not had a GOP governor in four decades, and Kotek is backed by top Democrats in the state.

But Kotek has struggled with her popularity numbers, giving Republicans hope of a possible flip.

Drazan, who was the favorite to defeat multiple rivals in Tuesday’s GOP primary, told the Salem Statesman Journal last month that she is “potentially crazy” in running a second time, but that she’s doing so to “actually fix what’s broken in our state.”

Kotek, who defeated several longshot competitors on the Democratic side, announced her reelection bid late last year, pitching the race as a choice “between a governor who will stand up for Oregon and protect what we believe in, or a governor who will let Donald Trump do whatever he wants.”

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