3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Tina Kotek currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Housing and homelessness: her campaign cites 6,200 new shelter beds and 2,800 affordable homes, a statewide shelter programme, and $94 million directed at housing older Oregonians.
Childcare: about $50 million to expand access to affordable childcare.
Protecting abortion rights and Oregon's shield law for abortion and gender-affirming care.
Defending Oregon's vote-by-mail system.
Opposing federal cuts to food benefits and health care.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Governor of Oregon since January 2023; speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives 2013-2022.
Declared a homelessness state of emergency at the start of her term and has extended it three times, most recently in January 2026.
Her administration reports adding 6,200 shelter beds and 2,800 affordable homes, and roughly $50 million for childcare access.
Announced $94 million in May 2026 aimed at housing shortages for older Oregonians.
Homelessness has continued to rise in much of Oregon: a January 2025 point-in-time count put 12,034 people homeless across Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties, up 61% from two years earlier.
Won the May 19 2026 Democratic primary with about 83.6%.
Arguments in favor
Her first term produced measurable output on the state's hardest problem: 6,200 shelter beds, 2,800 affordable homes, a statewide shelter programme and $94 million for senior housing.
— Tina Kotek for Oregon campaign
She has protected abortion access and Oregon's shield law for providers, where her opponent 'remains a Trump-aligned candidate who wants to roll back abortion rights.'
— Tina for Oregon campaign, in its 'Abortion – Always' ad
She has defended Oregon's vote-by-mail system against a bill her opponent introduced that would effectively end it.
— Tina for Oregon campaign
Arguments against
'Our governor may be in charge, but her state is out of control.'
— Christine Drazan, Republican nominee
'This is our chance to choose a brighter future for our families — not the broken promises and stalled progress of her time in office. We can't keep doing the same thing and expect different results.'
— Christine Drazan, Republican nominee
Homelessness has risen through her term despite the emergency declaration and the spending: the Portland-area count was up 61% over two years. 'We have to stop measuring success by how much the government spends' but by 'how many people are actually moving off of our streets.'
— Christine Drazan, Republican nominee
What we couldn’t verify
Her plan for a second term on homelessness beyond continuing the emergency declaration.
Her position on Oregon's business tax structure and the corporate activity tax.
Her campaign finance totals were not located.
Whether the homelessness emergency will be extended again.
Ordering a review of state rules, fees and mandates she says drive up the cost of housing, energy, food, transportation, childcare, health care and business.
Vetoing new tax increases and fees.
Streamlining housing permitting and making land available for building.
Tracking homelessness spending and demanding measurable results — 'we have to stop measuring success by how much the government spends' but by 'how many people are actually moving off of our streets.'
Strengthening education for trades, technology and advanced manufacturing.
'I won't stand here and promise you that all Oregon's problems will go away immediately, but I will stand here and promise you this: We will stop accepting failure.'
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Oregon state senator representing Canby since 2025; previously Oregon House Republican leader.
Republican nominee for governor in 2022, losing narrowly to Kotek in a three-way race.
Has a record of opposing abortion rights, including sponsoring legislation her opponent says would have threatened abortion providers with jail time, and supporting the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
In 2026 voted against protecting Planned Parenthood from federal funding cuts and against Oregon's shield law for abortion and gender-affirming care providers and patients.
Introduced a bill that would effectively end Oregon's vote-by-mail system.
Won the May 19 2026 Republican primary with about 40.5%.
Arguments in favor
Her plan attacks costs at the source: a review of the state rules, fees and mandates that raise the price of housing, energy, food, childcare and health care, plus a veto pledge on new taxes.
— Christine Drazan for Governor campaign
She would judge homelessness policy on how many people leave the streets rather than on how much is spent, and streamline housing permitting to get building moving.
— Christine Drazan for Governor campaign
She came within a few points of winning in 2022 and is the first Republican in decades with a realistic path in Oregon.
— Oregon Republican Party, as reported by Oregon Capital Chronicle
Arguments against
Her plan is 'her latest effort to distract Oregonians from her history of being Donald Trump's stand-in.'
— Federico Araujo, Kotek campaign communications director
'Oregonians know that Drazan's record of pushing to roll back abortion rights, eliminate vote by mail, and gut health care is too extreme for our state.'
— Federico Araujo, Kotek campaign communications director
In 2026 she voted against protecting Planned Parenthood from federal funding cuts and against Oregon's shield law for abortion and gender-affirming care.
— Tina for Oregon campaign, in its 'Abortion – Always' ad
What we couldn’t verify
Her official campaign website could not be verified, so no URL is listed.
Her current position on abortion policy in Oregon, given the constitutional and statutory protections already in place.
Which specific rules, fees and mandates her cost review would target.
Pacific Green Party nominee for governor of Oregon in 2026.
Described in candidate listings as a welder, pipefitter and inventor.
Has not held statewide office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
His stated policy positions could not be established; no campaign website or platform document was located, so standsFor is left empty rather than filled in from the Pacific Green Party platform.
No organised advocacy for his candidacy and no criticism of him by name from an opposing campaign or outlet could be found, so no arguments are listed on either side.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Democratic incumbent Tina Kotek is seeking a second term. Roster established from Wikipedia's race page, Ballotpedia, Oregon Capital Chronicle, OPB, KGW and the Washington Post, cross-checked. In the May 19 2026 primaries, Kotek won the Democratic nomination with about 83.6% and state Senator Christine Drazan won the Republican nomination with about 40.5%. This is a rematch of 2022, which Kotek won narrowly in a three-way race, and Oregon's first gubernatorial rematch since 1978. Brett Smith, a welder, pipefitter and inventor, is the Pacific Green Party nominee and also appears on the ballot; he is listed with empty argument sections, as no organised advocacy for him and no criticism of him by name could be found. Two general election debates have been scheduled.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Oregon ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.