Governor of Oregon

Statewide — all of Oregon

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Sources re-checked October 19, 2026 · How we research

Incumbent Democrat Tina Kotek is seeking a second term and won her party's May 19 primary with 84 percent of the vote. State Sen. Christine Drazan, the 2022 Republican nominee, won the Republican primary with 41 percent in a crowded field. It is Oregon's first gubernatorial rematch since 1978.[1]
Kotek was also cross-nominated by the Oregon Working Families Party in August; the Libertarian Party of Oregon cross-nominated Drazan in late July, the first time in 40 years the party has not fielded its own gubernatorial candidate. Pacific Green Party nominee Brett Smith is the only other candidate; the Independent Party of Oregon, Progressive Party and No Labels Party made no nomination.[2][12]

On the ballot · 3 candidates

Tina KotekDWorking FamiliesINCUMBENTGovernor of Oregon (since January 2023)Full profile →Christine DrazanRLibertarianOregon State Senator, District 26 (since October 2025)Full profile →Brett SmithPacific GreenFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

Tina Kotek
—
Christine Drazan
Opposes[8]
Has described herself as pro-life; in a 2022 interview said she would veto a bill to expand abortion access but did not plan to push new limits in a Democratic-controlled legislature. This statement is from her 2022 campaign; a 2026 statement was not found.
Brett Smith
—

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

Tina Kotek
Opposes[2]
Agreed, in a joint statement with the Working Families Party, to defend Oregon's sanctuary laws.
Christine Drazan
—
Brett Smith
—

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

Tina Kotek
Supports[4]
Commemorated the July 2025 signing of bills aimed at speeding middle-housing production and funding housing infrastructure, saying 'we have to cut red tape and get out of our own way.'
Christine Drazan
Supports[6]
Pledged in the October 13 debate to cut building regulations and overhaul Oregon's land-use laws.
Brett Smith
—

Expand public health coverage

Tina Kotek
Supports[6]
Said in the October 13 debate she is trying to preserve the state's Medicaid system from cuts under the Trump administration, and criticized Drazan's vote against a tax package funding the Oregon Health Plan.
Christine Drazan
—
Brett Smith
Supports[13]
Proposes opening the Oregon Health Plan to all Oregon residents regardless of income.

Raise the minimum wage

Tina Kotek
—
Christine Drazan
—
Brett Smith
In their own words[13]
“A single adult working full time in Oregon needs $26.46 an hour to cover basic needs without public assistance, and Oregon's minimum wage falls short of that figure by as much as $12 an hour in nonurban counties.”
On his campaign website, introducing a proposed surcharge on employers with 50 or more employees

Universal, publicly funded child care

Tina Kotek
Supports[2]
Committed, in exchange for the Working Families Party cross-nomination, to pursue statewide universal preschool modeled on Multnomah County's Preschool For All.
Christine Drazan
—
Brett Smith
—

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

Tina Kotek
—
Christine Drazan
—
Brett Smith
In their own words[14]
“It's a war. It's unconstitutional. It hasn't been sanctioned by Congress.”
In a 'Meet the Candidate' interview with KEPW 97.3, Aug. 2026, about the current U.S. war

ISSUE	Tina Kotek DWorking Families	Christine Drazan RLibertarian	Brett Smith Pacific Green
Protect legal access to abortion	—	Opposes[8] Has described herself as pro-life; in a 2022 interview said she would veto a bill to expand abortion access but did not plan to push new limits in a Democratic-controlled legislature. This statement is from her 2022 campaign; a 2026 statement was not found.	—
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations	Opposes[2] Agreed, in a joint statement with the Working Families Party, to defend Oregon's sanctuary laws.	—	—
Loosen zoning rules to build more housing	Supports[4] Commemorated the July 2025 signing of bills aimed at speeding middle-housing production and funding housing infrastructure, saying 'we have to cut red tape and get out of our own way.'	Supports[6] Pledged in the October 13 debate to cut building regulations and overhaul Oregon's land-use laws.	—
Expand public health coverage	Supports[6] Said in the October 13 debate she is trying to preserve the state's Medicaid system from cuts under the Trump administration, and criticized Drazan's vote against a tax package funding the Oregon Health Plan.	—	Supports[13] Proposes opening the Oregon Health Plan to all Oregon residents regardless of income.
Raise the minimum wage	—	—	In their own words[13] “A single adult working full time in Oregon needs $26.46 an hour to cover basic needs without public assistance, and Oregon's minimum wage falls short of that figure by as much as $12 an hour in nonurban counties.” On his campaign website, introducing a proposed surcharge on employers with 50 or more employees
Universal, publicly funded child care	Supports[2] Committed, in exchange for the Working Families Party cross-nomination, to pursue statewide universal preschool modeled on Multnomah County's Preschool For All.	—	—
Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad	—	—	In their own words[14] “It's a war. It's unconstitutional. It hasn't been sanctioned by Congress.” In a 'Meet the Candidate' interview with KEPW 97.3, Aug. 2026, about the current U.S. war

Research notes & limits

Ballotpedia was blocked in this environment and the Oregon Secretary of State's certified candidate list could not be loaded (the Elections Division pages did not expose it), so the slate is a news-only check: OPB (July 23, August 21, September 16) reports Kotek, Drazan and Pacific Green's Brett Smith as the only names on the ballot, consistent with Wikipedia. Oregon elects its governor alone (no running mates). Drazan's 2026 stated positions are thinly sourced: her abortion statement dates from 2022, and her campaign website could not be loaded. Brett Smith has little public footprint; his profile rests on OPB reporting only (an earlier version relied on The Ballot Brief, which says its content is AI-assisted, and was removed, including its claims about his campaign priorities and Voters' Pamphlet statement). Drazan's roll-call votes were checked against the Oregon Legislature's official OData vote feed (2026 session only). No Oregon official record page for Kotek's 2023-2024 actions beyond those listed was reviewed.

Sources · 27

Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.

1.2026 Oregon gubernatorial election · Wikipedia Reference
2.Kotek snags final minor-party nomination, likely cementing a three-way race for Oregon governor · OPB · 2026-08-21 News report
3.Governor Kotek Signs Statewide Shelter Program into Law · Oregon Governor's Office · 2025-07-24 Official record
4.Governor Kotek Signs Bills that Break Down Barriers to Housing Construction · Oregon Governor's Office · 2025-07-28 Official record
5.Governor Kotek Extends Homelessness Emergency Executive Order · Oregon Governor's Office · 2025-01-09 Official record
6.Kotek, Drazan square off in final debate of governor's race · OPB · 2026-10-13 News report
7.Christine Drazan running for Oregon governor in 2026: What to know · KOIN 6 · 2025-10-27 News report
8.Drazan: 'Pro-life woman,' aware of Oregon laws · KOIN 6 · 2022-07-18 News report
9.HB 4088 (2026 Regular Session) · Oregon State Legislature · 2026-03-05 Official record
10.HB 4127 (2026 Regular Session) · Oregon State Legislature · 2026-03-06 Official record
11.HB 4134 (2026 Regular Session) · Oregon State Legislature · 2026-03-04 Official record
12.Oregon governor race third-party candidate Brett Smith · OPB · 2026-07-23 News report
13.Brett For Oregon (the Oregon Plan) · Brett Smith for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
14.Meet the candidate: Brett Smith for Oregon governor · KEPW 97.3 Whole Community News · 2026-08-07 News report
15.2026 Oregon gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
16.Governor Kotek Signs Statewide Shelter Program into Law · Oregon Governor's Office · 2025-07-24 Official record
17.Governor Kotek Signs Bills that Break Down Barriers to Housing Construction · Oregon Governor's Office · 2025-07-28 Official record
18.Tina Kotek · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
19.Governor of Oregon : Meet the Governor : State of Oregon · Office of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek · 2026-10-19 Official record
20.Tina Kotek - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
21.2026 Oregon gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
22.Christine Drazan running for Oregon governor in 2026: What to know · KOIN 6 · 2025-10-27 News report
23.Kotek, Drazan square off in final debate of governor's race · OPB · 2026-10-13 News report
24.Christine Drazan · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
25.Christine Drazan - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
26.Oregon governor race third-party candidate Brett Smith · OPB · 2026-07-23 News report
27.OPB's First Look: Spoiler alert? · OPB · 2026-09-16 News report