Oregon voters are deciding whether to give Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek a second term or hand the governor's office to Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan, who came within striking distance in their last matchup.
Polls close at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST across the state, and Decision Desk HQ is tracking the returns as they come in. The race is widely seen as one of the most competitive gubernatorial contests in the country this cycle, with both candidates having run nearly identical campaigns to their 2022 battle.
Kotek, who previously served as speaker of the Oregon House, won the 2022 election by fewer than 4 percentage points. That narrow margin has fueled Drazan's argument that Oregonians are ready for a change in leadership after years of Democratic control in Salem.
Drazan, a former House minority leader who now serves in the state Senate, has focused her campaign on public safety, homelessness, and the cost of living. She has repeatedly criticized Kotek's handling of Portland's open-air drug market and the state's housing crisis, promising to declare a state of emergency on homelessness if elected.
Kotek, meanwhile, has pointed to her administration's efforts to expand affordable housing, fund mental health services, and address the fentanyl epidemic. She has also warned that a Drazan victory would roll back abortion protections and other progressive policies that Oregonians have come to expect.
Both candidates have drawn national attention, with outside groups pouring millions into advertising. The race is being watched as a bellwether for suburban voters in the Pacific Northwest, particularly in the Portland metro area, where Kotek needs strong turnout to offset Drazan's rural support.
Oregon's election system, which relies heavily on mail-in ballots, means that a significant share of votes may be counted after Election Day. That could delay a clear call in the race, especially if the margin is as tight as it was in 2022.
In addition to the governor's race, Oregon voters are also casting ballots in a U.S. Senate contest between incumbent Democrat Jeff Merkley and Republican Brock Smith, as well as several competitive House races. The results could shape the balance of power in Washington and provide clues about the national political climate heading into the midterm elections.
For now, all eyes are on the governor's race, where a Kotek win would cement Democratic control of the statehouse for another four years, while a Drazan upset would mark a major Republican breakthrough in a state that hasn't elected a GOP governor since 1982.
As the night unfolds, Decision Desk HQ will provide live updates and analysis. For more on the broader electoral landscape, see our coverage of Maryland's gubernatorial rematch and South Carolina's governor race. Also, check out the latest on Oregon's Senate race and gas prices on Election Day.
