Press Releases

PORTLAND, OR – Today, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved new rates for PGE for data center energy use through the POWER Act, creating protections for working Oregonians by ensuring data centers and cryptocurrency facilities pay their fair share of energy costs.

The new law, which was championed by Governor Tina Kotek during the 2025 legislative session, is just one example of policies aimed at reducing energy costs for Oregonians that Republican candidate for governor Christine Drazan has opposed or declined to vote on. Since coming back to the legislature after her failed gubernatorial campaign, Drazan did not support efforts that lower the burden of utility costs for Oregonians, including:

• Drazan voted against HB 3546, the POWER Act, which holds large energy users accountable for paying their fair share of energy costs.
• Drazan failed to cast a vote on HB 2066, which directed the PUC to establish a regulatory framework for the creation of community microgrids that help to improve energy reliability, resilience, and cost. The bill passed with bipartisan support.
• Drazan failed to cast a vote on HB 3179, the FAIR Energy Act, which overhauled the state’s utility rate-setting process to protect residential customers from volatile utility costs. The legislation prohibited utilities from new rate hikes between November 1 and March 31 to prevent high-demand winter spikes and doubled annual funding for energy bill assistance programs.

“Christine Drazan has consistently either not voted, or voted against, relief for Oregon ratepayers,” said Federico Araujo, communications director for Tina for Oregon. “Her record of siding with corporate profits over working families is clear. Thankfully, Governor Kotek has consistently shown up and fought to make Oregon utilities more affordable, and she will continue to deliver real relief for families across the state.”

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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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PORTLAND, OR – Governor Tina Kotek today released a statement following the anniversary of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” H.R. 1, which will devastate Oregonians’ healthcare, slashed food assistance, and is projected to strip $15 billion in federal funding from Oregon over the next six years:

“One year ago, President Trump and Republicans in Congress chose to rip healthcare away from 200,000 Oregonians and food assistance from thousands more – all to give tax breaks to big corporations and billionaires.

“Here in Oregon, I will never stop fighting to push back against President Trump’s dangerous agenda.

“When President Trump cut off SNAP benefits for 750,000 Oregonians, we declared a hunger emergency and fought back in the courts. When the courts declared President Trump’s actions unlawful, we made sure benefits were back in Oregonians’ accounts that night. And as he and his extreme allies prepare to push hundreds of thousands of Oregonians off their health coverage, I led a multistate coalition to challenge the new Medicaid requirements and signed legislation to protect our budget from the worst of the damage.

“As long as I am governor, I will continue to make sure every Oregonian has access to the health care and food assistance they need.”

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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PORTLAND, OR – Today, on the four year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and open the door to extreme abortion bans across the country, Governor Tina Kotek vowed in a video message to continue fighting for abortion access and reproductive rights in Oregon.

With protections being stripped away across the country, Governor Kotek remains committed to making sure every Oregonian has the right to make their own healthcare decisions. In sharp contrast, Christine Drazan supported the Supreme Court decision that could lead to states banning abortion in all cases. Her campaign is also supported by Oregon Right to Life – an extreme group that opposes abortion without exceptions.

TRANSCRIPT

Four years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion care and leaving it up to states to figure it out.

Since then, we’ve seen abortion banned in many states across the country. We’ve seen politicians insert themselves into deeply personal medical decisions. We’ve seen people forced to travel hundreds of miles just to get the care they need. And, in the worst cases, we’ve seen women lose their lives – women who would likely still be alive today absent politicians dictating medical care.

Which is why, in Oregon, we’ve stood our ground and taken action.

We’ve strengthened protections for providers, backfilled funding for Planned Parenthood, and made sure that no matter what happens in D.C., reproductive rights remain protected here.

But this fight is far from over. And if Christine Drazan wins in November, Oregon is next.

My opponent’s record is clear: she celebrated the Supreme Court decision that let states ban abortion outright, and she said she would oppose codifying the right to abortion in Oregon.

She’s funded by Oregon Right to Life, an extreme organization that opposes abortion even in cases of rape or incest. At a time when women’s rights and lives are on the line, Christine Drazan cannot be trusted to protect them.

We need a governor who will fight back.

I’m running for re-election because the stakes are just too high. And I will never stop fighting for the right of every Oregonian to make their own healthcare decisions.

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.

PORTLAND, OR – Today, the Tina for Oregon campaign challenged Christine Drazan to three 60-minute televised debates in Portland, Eugene, and Medford starting in September. These debates will give Oregonians across the state the opportunity to hear from Governor Kotek directly about her vision for her second term and how she plans to defend Oregon’s values in the wake of the Trump-Drazan threats to our state.

“Governor Kotek is ready to make her case and is calling on Senator Drazan to commit to three debates on the issues that matter most to Oregonians,” said Marissa Sandgren, Campaign Manager for Tina for Oregon. “The stakes of this race couldn’t be higher. Governor Kotek is fighting to lower costs, address homelessness, improve schools, and stand up to President Trump’s attacks on Oregon. Christine Drazan has embraced Trump’s agenda despite the devastating impact it has caused Oregon families. These debates will make the choice clear.”

More details regarding debate hosts, logistics, and Governor Kotek’s ongoing commitment to engage directly with Oregonians across the state to be announced.

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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PORTLAND, OR – Today, Governor Tina Kotek’s re-election campaign launched its first ad of the general election. “The Choice” draws a clear contrast between Governor Tina Kotek – who has stood up to President Trump’s extreme agenda and delivered for Oregon families – and Christine Drazan, who has backed him on issue after issue. The ad will run on digital platforms statewide.

“The Choice”

“Oregonians know what’s at stake in this election and deserve a governor who will stand up to the Trump Administration,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “Christine Drazan has shown time and again that she’ll side with President Trump – whether it’s attacks on reproductive healthcare, vote-by-mail, or his attempt to seize control of the Oregon National Guard. Under my leadership, we’ve proven Oregon can stand up to him and win, and I’ll keep fighting to protect Oregon values.”

The ad kicks off the general election campaign by laying out the stakes Oregonians face this election. Governor Kotek has stood up to President Trump at every turn – taking him on in court to keep federal troops off Oregon streets and declaring a hunger emergency when he tried to strip SNAP benefits from Oregon families. Christine Drazan has stood by Trump – defending his unlawful attempts to deploy the Oregon National Guard in our communities, siding with him on restricting reproductive healthcare and vote-by-mail, and agreeing with a war in Iran that is driving up Oregon gas prices.

“THE CHOICE” TRANSCRIPT

VO: ICE killing Americans. Healthcare and food assistance cut. Rights taken away.

In state after state, Donald Trump grabs power and punishes enemies… and no Republican dares to get in his way.

But here in Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek proved we can stop Trump. 

Protecting Oregonians from SNAP cuts. Taking him on in court to keep troops off our streets. Saying out loud…Trump’s agenda is wrong.

GOVERNOR KOTEK: “Any federal takeover with military troops in our state is a threat to communities across Oregon… I communicated that to the president directly.”

VO: But while Tina Kotek stands up to Trump, Christine Drazan stood by him.

Defending his illegal troop deployment, siding with him on abortion rights, vote by mail, and his war in Iran jacking up our gas prices.

That’s the choice: a governor who says hell no, or Christine Drazan, who will let Donald Trump do whatever the hell he wants. 

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.

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SALEM, OR – Tonight, Governor Tina Kotek accepted the Democratic nomination for Governor of Oregon in a video message to supporters, pledging to keep lowering costs, defending reproductive healthcare, and standing up to President Trump’s extreme agenda.

TRANSCRIPT

Hi Oregon. Thank you for making your voices heard and for electing me as your Democratic nominee for governor. I’m really grateful for your support.

Together, we’ve shown what Oregon looks like when we lead with our values and deliver real results for Oregon families – and this November, every bit of that is on the ballot.

And the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Republican politicians, led by President Trump, are attacking healthcare, cutting food programs for our neighbors, terrorizing entire communities, and driving up costs for everyone.

And every step of the way, we’ve fought back.

I’m running to make life more affordable – like lowering the cost of housing and healthcare.

I’m running to protect reproductive care and defend access to abortion.

And I’m running to keep Oregon a place that stands up to President Trump’s chaos and unlawful attacks on our values.

Oregon, you are worth fighting for – and as your Governor, I’ll always keep fighting for you.

Thank you.

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.

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.

PORTLAND, OR – Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), Oregon’s farmworker union and the largest Latino organization in the state, today announced its endorsement of Governor Tina Kotek for a second term as Governor.

“Latino, immigrant, and farmworker communities know Governor Kotek doesn’t just talk – she delivers,” said Reyna Lopez, Executive Director of PCUN. “She led the fight to finally end the exclusion of farmworkers from overtime protections, has stood up for Oregon’s essential workers, and has never wavered in defending Oregon’s immigrant and refugee families from Donald Trump’s chaos and violence. At a time when Trump is driving up costs, attacking our fundamental rights, and targeting our communities, we need a governor who will stand her ground. Governor Kotek has proven she will – and PCUN is proud to endorse her.”

“I’m proud to stand with PCUN and the communities they fight for every day,” said Governor Kotek. “Over the past year, we have lived through moments unlike anything our state or country has seen before. When President Trump threatened our communities and tried to rip away the programs and protections our families rely on, we fought back and won. I will never back down or stop working to lower costs, defend our fundamental rights, and build an economy that works for everyone – because that is the kind of leader that Oregon families deserve.”

“As PCUNistas, we know Governor Tina Kotek has stood with farmworkers and immigrant families in important moments,” said PCUN member Don Enrique. “Across Oregon, farmworkers continue to face fear, instability, and pressure. This endorsement is about defending the progress that working people have made and building the power we need to continue fighting for our future.”

Throughout her career, Governor Kotek has been a steadfast champion for farmworkers, working families, and Oregon’s immigrant communities:

• Governor Kotek issued an executive order to create a new Interagency Council for 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.
• 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.
• In 2025, Governor Kotek passed landmark legislation making Oregon the first state to expand unemployment benefits to striking workers, championing the bill early on to ensure it passed the legislature.
• Governor Kotek oversaw the rollout of Oregon’s landmark Farmworker Overtime law, ensuring farmworkers receive overtime pay and are brought in line with statewide standards by 2027, after championing its passage as Speaker.
• 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.

PCUN joins a growing coalition supporting Governor Kotek’s reelection bid alongside the 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, The Mother PAC, Planned Parenthood Action Oregon, Basic Rights 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.

PORTLAND, OR – The Oregon State Fire Fighters Council (OSFFC), representing professional firefighters and emergency medical personnel across the state, today announced its endorsement of Governor Tina Kotek for a second term as Governor.

“From expanding paid family leave to lowering our retirement age to investing in wildfire preparedness, Governor Kotek has delivered for firefighters and working families across Oregon,” said Kevin Larson, OSFFC President. “She’s fought for us at every turn: increasing our cancer protections, expanding recruitment through apprenticeships, and making sure firefighters have a seat at the table.”

“I’m honored to have the endorsement of the Oregon State Fire Fighters Council and the brave firefighters who risk their lives to protect our communities every day,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “Oregon’s firefighters run toward danger so the rest of us don’t have to – and they deserve a governor who will always fight for their safety, their benefits, and the resources they need to do their jobs.”

Throughout her career, Governor Kotek has been a steadfast champion for Oregon’s firefighters, investing in the resources, benefits, and protections they need to keep Oregon safe:

• In 2026, Governor Kotek signed into law increased workers’ compensation benefits for injured workers to ensure Oregonians, including our firefighters, have the financial stability they need to recover and return to work.
• Governor Kotek has consistently backed policies that move Oregon away from a purely seasonal, crisis-driven wildfire response model, establishing the state’s first dedicated long-term resources for wildfire response and resilience to ensure local fire departments can recoup funds after keeping their communities safe.
• After the 2024 wildfire season devastated Eastern Oregon communities, Governor Kotek secured a federal Major Disaster Declaration and called a Special Legislative Session to appropriate $218 million for wildfire response and recovery.
• In 2024, she signed legislation lowering the PERS retirement age to 55 for firefighters, honoring long-term service and recognizing the physically demanding work they do to protect Oregon communities.
• Governor Kotek also expanded the circumstances under which firefighters can qualify for disability benefits under PERS and broadened the presumptive conditions allowed under workers’ compensation claims, recognizing the long-term toll that job-related injuries and exposure can take on firefighters’ health.
• Governor Kotek has championed the Oregon State Fire Fighters Apprenticeship program to ensure Oregon firefighters have proper training and that fire service reflects the communities it serves.
• She also ensured firefighters are represented on the Management-Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC), which reviews and addresses policy surrounding Oregon’s workers’ compensation laws and systems.
• After championing its passage as speaker, Governor Kotek oversaw the implementation of Oregon’s landmark paid family and medical leave law. As of March 2025, Paid Leave Oregon had paid out over $1 billion in benefits to more than 150,000 Oregonians.

The OSFFC joins a growing coalition supporting Governor Kotek’s reelection bid alongside the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Oregon School Employees Association, Oregon Labor Federation, Oregon Nurses Association, Oregon Building Trades, North Coast Carpenters Union, PCUN, SEIU Oregon, AFSCME Council 75, UFCW Local 555, The Mother PAC, Planned Parenthood Action Oregon, Basic Rights 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.

SALEM, OR – Governor Tina Kotek today signed a package of legislation focused on protecting Oregonians’ reproductive health care, keeping Planned Parenthood clinic doors open in every part of the state, and ensuring access to lifesaving vaccines as President Trump and Republicans in Congress escalate their attacks on patients, providers, and public health. The signing builds on Governor Kotek’s broader record of standing up for Oregonian’s reproductive freedom and expanding public health access across every corner of the state.

“Reproductive freedom shouldn’t depend on who’s in the White House,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “While President Trump and extreme Republicans in Washington, D.C. defund Planned Parenthood and turn back the clock on decades of progress, Oregon is doing the opposite – protecting patients, protecting providers, and expanding access. As long as I am Governor, our state will not back down.”

“While Donald Trump and extreme Republicans in Congress work to defund Planned Parenthood, undermine vaccine access, and rip away reproductive freedom, Governor Kotek is doing the opposite – keeping clinic doors open in every part of Oregon, strengthening shield protections for patients and providers, and defending access to lifesaving vaccines,” said Christopher Coburn, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Action Oregon. “Planned Parenthood Action Oregon is proud to stand with the Governor, and we’ll keep fighting alongside her to protect Oregonians’ access to care.”

Governor Kotek has made protecting reproductive freedom, defending health care access, and standing up to federal attacks on Oregonians a central priority throughout her time in office:

• In November 2025, after the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress defunded Planned Parenthood, Governor Kotek directed millions in emergency state funding to keep Planned Parenthood health centers open across Oregon. The legislation she signed today makes that protection ongoing, guaranteeing uninterrupted coverage for more than 42,000 Oregonians who rely on Planned Parenthood for cancer screenings, contraception, STI testing, and other essential preventive care.
• In September 2025, Governor Kotek joined the governors of California and Washington to launch the West Coast Health Alliance, later joined by Hawaii, to defend evidence-based public health standards as the federal government plays politics with vaccines. The vaccine access law she signed today builds directly on that work.
• Immediately following Donald Trump’s election in 2024, Governor Kotek announced that Oregon had secured a long-term supply of abortion medication. She also expanded protections for medical providers and patient privacy to ensure that Oregon continues to have the strongest reproductive health care protections in the nation.
• In 2023, Governor Kotek signed Oregon’s original Shield Law – one of the strongest in the nation – protecting providers and patients seeking reproductive and gender-affirming care. Today’s expanded Shield Law further protects providers and patients from out-of-state extraditions, subpoenas, and disclosure of personally identifiable health information for care that is fully legal in Oregon.
• As Speaker of the Oregon House, Governor Kotek led the passage of the Reproductive Health Equity Act in 2017, codifying Oregonians’ right to access abortion, contraception, and reproductive health care without cost barriers – and as Governor, she directed regulators to enforce full insurer compliance with the law.

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.