The 2026 Oregon gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Oregon. Democratic incumbent Tina Kotek is seeking a second term. She is being challenged by Republican former nominee Christine Drazan.

Primary elections took place on May 19, 2026.[1] Kotek won the Democratic nomination with 84% of the vote, while Drazan won the Republican nomination with 41% of the vote.

This election will mark Oregon's first gubernatorial rematch since 1978.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Forest "Fora" Alexander, rabbi and political activist[4]
  • James Atkinson IV, inventor and 2024 Portland mayoral candidate[5][4]
  • Donnie Beckwith, businessman[4]
  • David Beem, salesperson[4]
  • Brittany N. Jones, political activist and non-profit founder[6][4]
  • Cal Kishawi[7][4]
  • Steve Laible, children's author[4]
  • Tristan Sheppard, volunteer firefighter[8][4]
  • Miranda Weigler, policy and strategy consultant[4]

Endorsements

Declined to endorse
Labor unions
Political parties & organizations
News publications

Results

Results by county
  Kotek
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
Democratic primary results[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tina Kotek (incumbent) 385,999 83.6
Democratic Brittany N. Jones 13,939 3.0
Democratic Forest "Fora" Alexander 12,684 2.8
Democratic Miranda Weigler 10,161 2.2
Democratic Tristan Sheppard 6,006 1.3
Democratic James Atkinson IV 5,902 1.3
Democratic David Beem 4,863 1.1
Democratic Steve Laible 3,692 0.8
Democratic Cal Kishawi 2,422 0.5
Democratic Donnie Beckwith 1,799 0.4
Democratic Write-in 14,228 3.1
Total votes 461,695 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Endorsements

Danielle Bethell
Local officials
Ed Diehl
Organizations
Christine Drazan
Organizations
Newspapers

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Danielle
Bethell
Ed
Diehl
Christine
Drazan
Chris
Dudley
David
Medina
Other Undecided
Hoffman Research Group (R)[30][A] April 23–24, 2026 620 (LV) ± 3.9% 18% 35% 14% 8%[b] 25%
Nelson Research[31] April 14–17, 2026 515 (LV) ± 4.3% 2% 18% 37%[c] 18% 7% 18%

Results

Results by county
  Drazan
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  Diehl
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
Republican primary results[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Christine Drazan 172,474 40.5
Republican Ed Diehl 140,458 33.0
Republican Chris Dudley 71,929 16.9
Republican David Medina 21,742 5.1
Republican Danielle Bethell 9,629 2.3
Republican Brad Peters 1,827 0.4
Republican Paul Romero 1,615 0.4
Republican Kyle Duyck 1,562 0.4
Republican Robert Neuman 680 0.2
Republican Martin Ward 539 0.1
Republican Hope Dalrymple 534 0.1
Republican DeAngelo Turner 377 0.1
Republican Wen Waddell 321 0.1
Republican Tim Youker 248 0.1
Republican Write-in 1,622 0.4
Total votes 425,557 100.0

Independents

Candidates

Withdrawn

  • Alexander Ziwahatan, entrepreneur[32]

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Inside Elections[33] Lean D June 25, 2026
Race to the WH[34] Likely D June 19, 2026
RealClearPolitics[35] Solid D June 5, 2026
Sabato's Crystal Ball[36] Likely D September 4, 2025
The Cook Political Report[37] Solid D September 11, 2025

Post-primary endorsements

Tina Kotek (D)

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Tina
Kotek (D)
Christine
Drazan (R)
Undecided
Hoffman Research Group (R)[39][B] May 11–12, 2026 603 (LV) ± 4.0% 45% 45% 10%
FM3 Research (D)[40][C] January 28 – February 4, 2026 1,065 (LV) ± 3.1% 45% 40% 15%
Hypothetical polling

Tina Kotek vs. Ed Diehl

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Tina
Kotek (D)
Ed
Diehl (R)
Undecided
FM3 Research (D)[40][C] January 28 – February 4, 2026 1,065 (A) ± 3.1% 43% 37% 20%

Tina Kotek vs. Chris Dudley

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Tina
Kotek (D)
Chris
Dudley (R)
Undecided
Hoffman Research Group (R)[39][B] May 11–12, 2026 603 (LV) ± 4.0% 44% 48% 9%
FM3 Research (D)[40][C] January 28 – February 4, 2026 1,065 (LV) ± 3.1% 45% 35% 20%

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. "Some other candidate" with 8%
  3. With voters who lean towards a given candidate

Partisan clients

  1. Poll commissioned by Crosstabs, a podcast that supports Republicans
  2. 1 2 Poll sponsored by Dudley's campaign
  3. 1 2 3 Poll commissioned by Charlie Health, an online behavioral health provider

References

  1. "2026 State Primary Election Dates". National Conference of State Legislatures. May 9, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  2. Dake, Lauren (November 21, 2025). "Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek inches closer to reelection announcement". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  3. "Gov. Kotek announces campaign for reelection". KPTV. December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Governor (Democratic primary) | Voter Guide: 2026 Primary Election • Oregon". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved May 7, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "Atkinson, James". Secretary of State, Oregon. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  6. "Brittany Jones discusses plan to unseat Gov. Tina Kotek in May's Democratic primary". KOIN. KOIN 6 News. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  7. Oliver, John (January 6, 2026). "Oregon Governor Hopeful Cal Kishawi Says His Mission Is to "Stand United," Centering Schools, Infrastructure, and Practical Problem-Solving". Grants Pass Tribune. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  8. "Sheppard, Tristan". Secretary of State, Oregon. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek announces that she's running for reelection in 2026". KGW. December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Governor Tina Kotek announces she will run for re-election, could again face Republican Christine Drazan". KTVZ. December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  11. Fuentes, Carlos (December 4, 2025). "Oregon Gov. Kotek announces 2026 reelection bid, setting up Drazan rematch". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  12. Villanueva, Mia (March 4, 2026). "Gov. Kotek loses out on two previous endorsements as 2026 election looms". KOIN.
  13. "SEIU Members Endorse Governor Tina Kotek!". SEIU503 Local. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  14. "Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek announces reelection bid". OPB. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  15. "Endorsements". GIFFORDS. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  16. "LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Endorses 53 Candidates in 2025 Races, Mike Simmons (IL-09), James Osyf (VA-02), and Everton Blair for U.S. House". victoryfund.org. September 25, 2025. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Oregon Working Families Party, state's largest teachers union decline to endorse in governor's race". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  18. "Our Voter Guide for the May 2026 Primary". Portland DSA. May 7, 2026. Archived from the original on May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  19. "The Mercury's May 2026 Election Endorsements". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on May 1, 2026. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  20. 1 2 "Unofficial Results: 2026 Primary - Governor". Oregon Secretary of State. May 19, 2026. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  21. Fuentes, Carlos (October 27, 2025). "Republican Christine Drazan will run for governor in 2026". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  22. 1 2 3 Moore, Madeleine (April 27, 2025). "Danielle Bethell, former Keizer chamber official, announces run for governor". Keizertimes. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  23. Fuentes, Carlos (January 20, 2025). "Oregon Republican who led anti-tax referendum effort will run for governor". The Oregonian. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  24. Fuentes, Carlos (January 26, 2026). "Former Blazer Chris Dudley will run for Oregon governor, setting up heated Republican primary". oregonlive. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  25. "Man charged as Jan. 6 rioter running for Oregon governor". Portland, Oregon: KPTV. January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  26. 1 2 3 "These Republicans running for Oregon governor are raising the most money, readying TV ad blitz". Oregon Live. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  27. "Farm Bureau endorses Drazan". Oregon Catalyst. February 17, 2026. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  28. "Editorial endorsement May 2026: Republicans should choose Christine Drazan for a gubernatorial rematch". The Oregonian. April 26, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  29. "WW's May 2026 Endorsements: Statewide". Willamette Week. April 29, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  30. Knopp, Reagan; Iverson, Bryan (April 28, 2026). "EXCLUSIVE: Crosstabs Releases Governor Poll". Crosstabs. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  31. "Nelson Research Republican primary poll" (PDF). Nelson Research. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  32. "Gov candidate rumors: Sen. Drazan, Blazer Dudley". Oregon Catalyst. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  33. "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  34. "Governor Forecast – 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  35. "2026 Governor Races | RealClearPolitics". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  36. "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  37. "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  38. "Endorsements—End Citizens United". End Citizens United. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  39. 1 2 Mason, Anastasia. "Poll shows candidate leading Kotek in hypothetical general election". Yahoo. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  40. 1 2 3 Fuentes, Carlos (February 13, 2026). "Who will be Oregon's next governor? First poll of 2026 names this candidate". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
Official campaign websites