Republican Christine Drazan Slightly Leads Democrat Governor Tina Kotek in Oregon’s Governor Race
In the race for Oregon’s governor, Republican candidate Christine Drazan has a narrow edge over Democrat incumbent Tina Kotek, as the GOP aims for its first victory in the state’s gubernatorial election since 1982.
A recent poll from DHM Research indicates Drazan is ahead by two points, with 45% of the vote compared to Kotek’s 43%. Pacific Green Party candidate Brett Smith garnered 4%, while 13% of those surveyed are still undecided, according to reporting from the Oregon Journalism Project.
The poll, which involved 600 likely voters, was conducted on September 11 for Grow Oregon, a group supported by business interests. It’s worth noting that Drazan’s lead is within the poll’s four-point margin of error.
“This poll confirms what we already see on the ground: Oregonians are ready for change, and they see Christine as the leader who can deliver it,” said Trey Rosser, a strategist for Drazan’s campaign.
He further remarked, “Four years ago, Tina Kotek made big promises on homelessness, housing, education, and affordability, but today, Oregonians are paying more, getting less, and watching the same problems get worse.”
Notably, the poll revealed that 59% of voters disapprove of Kotek’s performance, while only 37% approve. Furthermore, around 58% of those polled believe Oregon is moving in the wrong direction.
Voter concerns are clear: affordability stands out as the top issue at 87%, followed by K–12 education at 85%, and housing affordability at 78%. Taxes and homelessness have a similar level of concern at 77%, with crime coming in at 73%.
Drazan had previously led in some polls during the 2022 campaign until Kotek gained momentum toward the end. Ultimately, Kotek won that election with 47% to Drazan’s 43.5%, while the unaffiliated Betsy Johnson received nearly 9% of the vote.
The Kotek campaign highlighted the undecided voters and sought to associate Drazan with former President Donald Trump. “There are still a lot of voters who are undecided in this race, but the choice couldn’t be any clearer,” remarked Federico Araujo, spokesman for Kotek’s campaign. “Christine Drazan is ready to open the door to Trump’s agenda, and Gov. Kotek is fighting every day to protect Oregonians from federal overreach and harm.”
From a financial standpoint, Kotek has raised nearly $12 million since last year, with $8.2 million currently available. Drazan has raised $9.4 million, with $2.4 million on hand after a competitive primary race within her party.
The first debate between the candidates is set for October 1 at the University of Oregon, and Election Day is scheduled for November 3.
Interestingly, since Victor Atiyeh won the governorship in 1982 and was reelected that same year, every governor has been a Democrat, according to the official history from the Oregon Secretary of State.
