PORTLAND, OR – As Oregonians cast their ballots in today’s primary election, Governor Tina Kotek is focused on what has defined her leadership from day one: fighting to build a better future for Oregonians.
Over the last year, Governor Kotek has emerged as one of the most successful governors pushing back against President Trump’s agenda, including blocking his unlawful attempt to deploy the Oregon National Guard into communities, challenging tariffs that would raise costs for working families, defending Oregon’s vote-by-mail system, and winning legal fights to protect reproductive healthcare.
“Governor Kotek has spent her time in office doing what Oregonians expect from their leaders: showing up, solving problems, and standing up for this state when it matters most,” said Marissa Sandgren, campaign manager for Tina for Oregon. “While Republicans have spent the final weeks of their primary competing for President Trump’s MAGA supporters, Governor Kotek has been focused on the work of lowering costs, defending Oregon values, standing up for immigrant and refugee communities, and fighting for working families. The general election will present a clear choice between a governor who stands up for Oregon and a Republican nominee who would hand President Trump the keys to our state.”
Governor Kotek’s coalition has united behind a governor who has consistently fought for Oregon families and delivered results. When President Trump attempted to seize control of the Oregon National Guard, Governor Kotek fought back and blocked the deployment. When Trump administration actions threatened food assistance for vulnerable Oregonians, she declared a hunger emergency and was ready in the dead of night to restore SNAP benefits when the court said the President was holding back funds unlawfully. And when national Republicans targeted abortion rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and vote-by-mail, Governor Kotek stood firm in defending Oregon values.
At the same time, Governor Kotek has remained focused on the challenges Oregonians face every day – lowering costs, addressing homelessness, improving schools, expanding mental health and addiction treatment, and growing an economy that works for working families.
Since taking office, Governor Kotek has:
- Added more than 6,200 shelter beds and funded nearly 2,800 affordable homes
- Expanded access to affordable childcare and early literacy programs
- Reined in utility rate hikes and excluded medical debt from credit scores
- Protected abortion access and provider safety
- Defended Oregon’s vote-by-mail system from federal interference
- Expanded mental health and addiction treatment services across the state
That leadership has brought together a broad coalition of supporters and energized grassroots support across Oregon, with nearly 9 out of 10 contributions and 80 percent of donors coming from inside the state. Governor Kotek has earned endorsements from organizations and leaders representing workers, emergency responders, farmworkers, nurses, climate advocates, and more, including:
- U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley
- U.S. Senator Ron Wyden
- AFSCME Council 75
- Alliance for a Safe Oregon
- Basic Rights Oregon
- EMILY’s List
- Eugene Weekly
- Giffords PAC
- Human Rights Campaign
- Humane Voters Oregon
- International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District C
- Ironworkers Local 29
- LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
- The Mother PAC
- North Coast States Carpenters Union
- Oregon Building Trades
- Oregon Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
- Oregon League of Conservation Voters
- Oregon Nurses Association
- Oregon State Fire Fighters Council
- Oregon School Employees Association
- PCUN
- Planned Parenthood Action Oregon
- SEIU
- SMART Local 16
- UA Local 290 Plumbers & Steamfitters
- UFCW Local 555
ABOUT GOVERNOR KOTEK
Governor Tina Kotek has spent her career making history and fighting for others. Over the last three years, Governor Kotek has expanded access to affordable childcare, created thousands of new shelter beds for people experiencing homelessness, protected abortion access and vote-by-mail, and funded early literacy and summer learning programs. She has also been a national leader in pushing back against President Trump’s attacks on our communities, our healthcare, and our rights by blocking his unlawful attempts to deploy the Oregon National Guard in our communities and returning SNAP food assistance to Oregonians when he refused to fund these critical benefits during the government shutdown.
Governor Kotek is running for reelection to continue defending Oregon values and tackling the state’s biggest challenges – lowering costs, reducing homelessness, strengthening schools, expanding mental health and addiction care, and bringing affordable childcare to every corner of the state.