Kotek Holds off Drazan, wins another term as Oregon Governor

Washington’s neighbor down south will see a returning governor for the next four years. Democratic incumbent, Tina Kotek, has been declared the winner for Oregon’s governor race, with about 100,000 votes ahead of her Republican opponent, Christine Drazan, according to the Associated Press.

Before election night ended, Drazan stated the race was not over in her speech to supporters, KATU reported.

“All the votes haven’t been counted, and I am continuing to pray for the victory for us,” Drazan said. “There is nothing that I wouldn’t do to serve the people of this state to make life better for all of you and all of your neighbors and every single person that lives here, because we desperately need it. … And we will not go quietly.”

A repeated match for Oregon Governor

This is the second time Republican state Senator Christine Drazan has run against Kotek. They faced each other in the 2022 governors’ race. Current results show Kotek leading with 51.7% of the vote and Drazan with 45.5%.

While Kotek maintained a comfortable statewide lead, she won only nine of Oregon’s 36 counties, the Associated Press reported. Those nine counties include Washington, Deschutes, Lane, Benton, Lincoln, Clackamas, Crook, Multnomah, Hood River, and Clatsop.

Drazan’s initial goal was to become Oregon’s first Republican governor elected since Vic Atiyeh in 1982, 44 years ago.

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