Gov. Tina Kotek is running for re-election as Oregon's governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.
She took office in 2023.
Kotek, a Democrat also running with the Working Families Party, faces Christine Drazan, running as a Republican with the Libertarian Party.
Candidate information
Office sought: Oregon Governor
Party: Democratic / Working Families Party
Education: Bachelor's degree in religious studies, University of Oregon, according to BallotReady; master's degree in international studies and comparative religion, University of Washington, according to the Western Governors' Association
Endorsements (claimed by endorsers): AFL-CIO; The Mother PAC; LGBT+ Victory Fund; Oregon Nurses Association; Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters
Experience and public service
Kotek served as a state representative in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2007 to 2022, according to BallotReady. She served as speaker of the Oregon House from 2013 to 2022.
Before entering elected office, Kotek worked as a policy advocate at the Oregon Food Bank from 1998 to 2002, according to BallotReady. She served as co-chair of the Human Services Coalition of Oregon in 2002, according to the Western Governors' Association, and as policy director at Children First for Oregon from 2003 to 2006, according to BallotReady. She has also served as co-chair of the Governor's Medicaid Advisory Committee, according to the Western Governors' Association.
On the issues
The following positions are based on Kotek's campaign website and statements on X.
Housing: Kotek said on X that she has "delivered $200M+ to build shelters and provide rental assistance for Oregonians." On her campaign website, she said she aims to end unsheltered homelessness for veterans, families with children, unaccompanied young adults and people 65 and older by 2025, and to continue to strengthen pathways to permanent housing.
Education: Kotek's campaign website states a goal of improving Oregon's graduation rates to 90% for all student groups by 2027. Her campaign progress page says she prioritized education in her first term.
Healthcare: Kotek said on her campaign website that she wants to expand trained outreach professionals and increase supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders. She also said she wants to invest in the behavioral health workforce by increasing compensation and simplifying career pathways.
Economy: Kotek said on X that she signed the POWER Act to require data centers to "pay their fair share of utility costs." Her campaign website says she has worked to address corporate price gouging and lower housing costs.
Reproductive healthcare: Kotek said on X that when federal funding for Planned Parenthood was cut, she "signed a law to keep their clinic doors open and provide healthcare to Oregonians." Her campaign website says she wants Oregon to be "a safe harbor for anyone seeking access to reproductive health care."
The Beaverton Beat candidate questionnaire was sent to Tina Kotek's campaign. No response was received as of Oct. 12, 2026. The policy positions below are drawn from her public campaign website and public records.
