FILE: Governor Tina Kotek poses for a portrait in the State Library of Oregon, Salem, Ore., Jan. 29, 2025.
Anna Lueck for OPB
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek updated the registration of her political action committee to reflect a 2026 run for governor. It’s the clearest signal yet of what everyone expects: Kotek is preparing to run for a second term.
Kotek, who has raised $1.7 million this year, is expected to announce she’s seeking reelection in the coming weeks.
While the Republican gubernatorial field starts to heat up, it’s been rather quiet on the Democratic side.
The U.S. President’s focus on Portland, calling it “war-ravaged” and attempting to deploy National Guard troops, has dominated the news cycle recently, which perhaps partly explains why.
“While Donald Trump tries to deploy the National Guard to Portland and rips food assistance away from Oregonians, Governor Kotek is focused on protecting our state and doing her job,” Marissa Sandgren, Kotek’s campaign manager, said on Friday. “Plans about continuing to do that job are coming soon.”
State Sen. Christine Drazan and Marion County Chair Danielle Bethell have announced they are running on the Republican side. Former NBA player Chris Dudley is also considering another gubernatorial run 16 years after he narrowly lost.
Kotek has spent her first term focused on three primary issues: housing, education and behavioral health. She will likely have to spend much of her reelection bid defending herself from critics who say there has been little improvement on any of those fronts.
Since taking office in January 2023, Kotek has battled a housing shortage in the state. But Oregon is building fewer new units than it was when she was sworn in.
When it comes to K-12 education, the state’s standardized test scores and chronic absenteeism remain some of the worst in the nation.
The state has added treatment beds for those struggling with mental health issues, but one walk through downtown Portland reveals there is a long way to go.
