Tina Kotek's uphill climb to reelection
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Gov. Tina Kotek, left, and her gubernatorial opponent, state Sen. Christine Drazan. Photos: Courtesy of candidates' campaigns
Four years ago, Gov. Tina Kotek narrowly won the state's top seat. Now she faces a tough rematch against Republican challenger state Sen. Christine Drazan, with polls showing a neck-and-neck race just two weeks before Election Day.
Why it matters: Recent polling suggests the two are in a dead heat. A poll from OPB showed Drazan leading 47% to 46%, while the Oregonian put Kotek ahead 46% to 44% — both within the margin of error.
State of play: Kotek, whose approval ratings were among the lowest for governors in the country earlier this year, still has broad support from major labor unions and progressive advocacy groups. But there are signs of cracks in her coalition.
- In May, more than 30 unions and progressive groups pushed back on Kotek's economic proposals, saying they favored big businesses over everyday Oregonians.
- The Oregon Education Association, which endorsed Kotek in 2022 and contributed roughly $389,000 to her campaign, declined to endorse either candidate this year.
- Plus: The O's editorial board offered a "dispirited" endorsement, criticizing Kotek's record while arguing Drazan wasn't a better alternative.
What they're saying: "I'm frustrated, too," Kotek told Axios in a statement. "We're making progress, but there's still more to do," she said, pledging to tackle the state's challenges with the "experience and focus they deserve."
Meanwhile, Drazan told Axios in a statement that Kotek's leadership "hasn't delivered enough new homes, meaningful solutions to the homelessness crisis or an economy where businesses and workers can thrive."
The big picture: Both candidates promise to make Oregon more affordable and prosperous in their prospective plans.
- Here's how their approaches differ:
🏡 Housing
- Kotek: Wants to expedite new construction, build more starter homes and expand down payment assistance for first-time buyers.
- Drazan: Proposes a 120-day permitting deadline, fewer construction regulations, urban growth boundary management, incentives for infills and tax credits for first-time buyers.
🛏️ Homelessness
- Kotek: Points to investments in adding thousands of new shelter beds, addiction treatment options and affordable housing units during her term.
- Drazan: Would audit homeless services and addiction spending "to ensure accountability," increase penalties for drug traffickers and declare a state of emergency over the state's mental health crises for better agency coordination.
💼 Economic development
- Kotek: Aims to establish a state Department of Commerce, attract investment in emerging industries such as renewable energy, increase development-ready land and reduce barriers to expansion for small businesses.
- Drazan: Promises to freeze new regulations, review existing ones, prioritize traded sectors like manufacturing and expand workforce development programs to meet employers' needs.
💸 Affordability
- Kotek: Wants to expand child care and preschool access, reduce health care and prescription costs, as well as crack down on "pricing schemes" that allow corporations to charge consumers differently.
- Drazan: Intends to repeal the Climate Protection Program, reform the estate tax, protect the kicker tax rebate and veto any new tax or fee increases.
The bottom line: Ballots are due back no later than 8pm on Nov. 3.