PORTLAND, OR – East County Rising, the grassroots organizing powerhouse of East Multnomah County, today announced its endorsement of Governor Tina Kotek for a second term as Governor.
“When it comes to protecting the rights and livelihoods of our working families, one thing is clear: Governor Kotek doesn’t mess around,” said East County Rising Founder, Eddy Morales. “Governor Kotek has made a real point of listening to working Oregonians, amplifying our voices, and — most importantly — delivering policy wins that make our lives easier. With President Trump attempting to sow chaos in our communities, now is the time to stand with leaders like Governor Kotek who we know will never back down when our lives and livelihoods are at stake.”
“It is a privilege to have the backing of East County Rising and their powerful team of organizers and supporters,” said Governor Kotek. “I’ve centered working families by fighting for fair wages, safe workplaces, accessible healthcare, and an economy that works for everyone. While Christine Drazan looks toward President Trump for help defining her agenda, I will never lose focus on addressing the needs of Oregonians.”
Throughout her career, Governor Kotek has been a steadfast champion for Oregon’s working families:
- Governor Kotek has fought to lower costs for working families by reigning in utility rate hikes, canceling proposed freeway tolls, banning hidden junk fees, and protecting Oregonians’ credit scores from medical debt.
- Governor Kotek oversaw the implementation of Oregon’s landmark paid family and medical leave law after championing its passage as Speaker. As of March 2025, Paid Leave Oregon had paid out over $1 billion in benefits to more than 150,000 Oregonians.
- Governor Kotek passed landmark legislation making Oregon the first state to expand unemployment benefits to all striking workers, championing the bill early on to ensure it passed the legislature.
- Governor Kotek issued an executive order to create a new Interagency Council on Immigrant and Refugee Coordination to strengthen the state’s ability to protect immigrant and refugee communities and joined 31 Oregon mayors in calling for an immediate halt to unlawful ICE immigration enforcement actions in our communities.
- As Speaker, Governor Kotek created the nation’s first state-run retirement savings program for workers, raised the minimum wage, and passed paid family and medical leave.
East County Rising joins a growing coalition supporting Governor Kotek’s reelection bid alongside Latino Network Action Fund, Oregon Federation of Nurses and Healthcare Professionals, PCUN, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Oregon State Fire Fighter Council, Oregon School Employees Association, Oregon Labor Federation, Oregon Nurses Association, Oregon Building Trades, North Coast Carpenters Union, SEIU Oregon, AFSCME Council 75, UFCW Local 555, Planned Parenthood Action Oregon, Alliance for a Safe Oregon Action, and more.
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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, 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 Donald Trump’s attacks on our communities, our healthcare, and our rights by blocking his illegal attempts to deploy the Oregon National Guard in our communities and working through the night to reverse his decision to strip food assistance from Oregonians by taking away SNAP benefits.
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.
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