PORTLAND, OR – The Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP) Local 5017 today announced its endorsement of Governor Tina Kotek for a second term as Governor.
“Governor Kotek has spent the past decade delivering massive wins for health care workers, and she shows no signs of slowing down now,” said OFNHP President Sarina Roher. “When Donald Trump upped his attacks on health care professionals, Governor Kotek passed fundamental protections to shield our workers from his partisan attacks. Now more than ever, Oregon needs a leader who will work to protect our fundamental rights and those who provide them. Without a doubt, that’s Governor Kotek.”
“I’m honored to have the support of Oregon’s nurses and health professionals,” said Governor Kotek. “Health care workers show up every day to help the communities they serve, and they deserve a governor who has their back. While Christine Drazan votes against protecting Medicaid funding and undermines our health professionals, I stand up for Oregon values, protect essential workers, and build an economy that works for everyone.”
Throughout her career, Governor Kotek has been a steadfast champion for Oregon’s health care professionals and working families:
- In 2026, in the face of President Trump’s attacks on reproductive and gender affirming care, Governor Kotek strengthened Oregon’s “shield law,” protecting providers of that care from civil lawsuits, professional discipline, loss of malpractice insurance, or subpoenas for providing care that is legal under Oregon law.
- In 2026, Governor Kotek invested $37.5 million in funding to protect maternity care, ensuring that both rural and urban hospitals have the staff and resources to keep care local and strengthen community health.
- In 2025, 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.
- In 2026, Governor Kotek signed into law increased workers’ compensation benefits for injured workers to ensure Oregonians have the financial stability they need to recover and return to work.
- As speaker, Governor Kotek created the nation’s first state-run retirement savings program for workers, passed legislation to raise the minimum wage across Oregon, and implemented the state’s paid family and medical leave program, which has paid out over $1 billion in benefits to more than 150,000 Oregonians as of March 2025.
OFNHP joins a growing coalition supporting Governor Kotek’s reelection bid alongside PCUN, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, OSFFC, 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.
###
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.
###