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Tina Kotek

Democrat, Working Families candidate for Governor, Oregon · Incumbent

Governor of Oregon

Tina Kotek is the Democratic Governor of Oregon and has held the office since January 2023, after defeating Christine Drazan in 2022. She announced her reelection campaign in December 2025. She is on the November 3, 2026 ballot as the Democratic nominee, also listed as the Working Families nominee, in a rematch with Drazan.

Where Kotek stands

Housing and homelessness: Says she has made housing permits faster, cut red tape and funded infrastructure. Cites an 11.5% year-over-year rise in Oregon housing starts as evidence of progress.
Affordability and utility costs: Signed the POWER Act, which lets state regulators set separate rates for large power users like data centers. Says the law lowers household utility costs by making data centers pay their fair share.
Data centers: Supports a moratorium on new data center development in Oregon.
Early childhood education: Proposes universal preschool across Oregon in a second term.
K-12 education: Proposes cutting absences, raising classroom time to the national average by the end of a second term, tightening diploma requirements and limiting social media on school devices. Supports early literacy (science of reading) programs.
Economy and jobs: Proposes replacing the state's economic development agency with a new Department of Commerce, recruiting investment in renewable energy and biosciences, and making more land ready for development.
Health care and food assistance: Pledges to protect Oregonians from federal cuts to the Oregon Health Plan and food assistance, and to work to bring federal tax dollars back to Oregon.
Immigration enforcement: Opposes aggressive enforcement of federal immigration laws in Oregon.
Elections and voting: Pledges to fight attempts to change Oregon's mail-in voting system.
Federal administration: Opposed the National Guard deployment in Portland and the freeze of SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown.

Background

Governor of Oregon, 2023–present
Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, 2013–2022
Oregon State Representative, 2007–2022
Democratic nominee for Governor, 2022 (won the general election against Christine Drazan)

In the news

Umatilla declares emergency over lost revenue from Gov. Kotek's data center permit pause Oregon Capital Chronicle, October 20, 2026
Two longtime rivals seek new audiences in Oregon governor's race. Who will persuade voters? Oregon Capital Chronicle, October 20, 2026
Governor Kotek Issues Executive Order to Protect Healthcare Access Oregon Governor's Office, October 13, 2026
Kotek, Drazan focus on development at final debate in Bend for Oregon governor's race Oregon Capital Chronicle, October 13, 2026
In rematch, Kotek, Drazan tangle over issues in contentious debate for governor KATU, October 1, 2026

Also running for Governor

Brett Smith Pacific Green
Christine Drazan Republican, Libertarian

Sources

Last researched October 23, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.