Gov. Tina Kotek won reelection over Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, the Associated Press projected early Wednesday, Nov. 4, KVAL reported. The AP called the race at 12:49 a.m.

Drazan held her election night watch party at the Hillsboro Airport, where staff estimated about 400 supporters gathered, according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle's live updates. The room went silent when initial results showed Kotek leading by double digits, the Capital Chronicle reported.

Returns showed Kotek leading 51.8% to 45.5%, with more than 1.5 million ballots counted, according to OPB. Pacific Green Party candidate Brett Smith had 2.7% of the vote.

Kotek declared victory at about 9:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at an election party in downtown Portland, according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

Drazan declined to concede on election night. In a speech shortly after 10 p.m. at her Hillsboro watch party, she told supporters she was "continuing to pray for the victory for us," the Capital Chronicle reported. Drazan supporters were starting to leave the party by 9:30 p.m., the Salem Reporter reported.

The governor's race played out alongside local contests across Washington County. As we reported Nov. 4, Bethany-area Commissioner Pam Treece held an early lead over Commissioner Nafisa Fai in the race for county chair. Ballot drop sites at the Bethany and Cedar Mill Community Libraries were open through 8 p.m. on election night.

A 2022 rematch

The race was a rematch. Kotek, 60, defeated Drazan, 54, four years ago 47% to 43.5%, with unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson claiming nearly 9% of the vote, according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

Oregon has not elected a Republican governor since Vic Atiyeh in 1982, the Salem Statesman Journal reported. Democrats hold all statewide offices and supermajorities in the Legislature.

All three candidates said lowering the cost of living was their top priority, the Statesman Journal reported. Kotek said she would continue to protect Oregon from federal interference. Her second-term agenda centers on affordability, economic growth, education and expanding social services, the Statesman Journal reported.

Drazan promised to cut taxes and veto new ones, order agencies to review spending and repeal the state's Climate Protection Plan (CPP). She grew up in Klamath Falls and was appointed to the Senate in October 2025, according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

Data centers emerged as a flashpoint. Both Kotek and Drazan came out in favor of a moratorium on new data center construction, according to OPB.

Big spending, last time without limits

The two major-party candidates collectively raised more than $40 million as of late October, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported. A 2024 state law caps individual contributions at $3,300 per candidate per cycle starting next cycle, making this the last Oregon election without donation limits.

As of Nov. 2, Drazan had received $21.5 million and spent about $22.2 million, with the Republican Governors Association giving $5.75 million in the final month, the Statesman Journal reported. Kotek had received about $19 million and spent $20.2 million, with the Democratic Governors Association contributing more than $5 million.

Smith had not reported any campaign contributions or spending.

Election officials will continue processing ballots received by 8 p.m. Nov. 3 or postmarked by Election Day. Washington County will update vote totals through Nov. 27, with certified final results scheduled for Nov. 30.