Press Releases

“Food Bank” highlights Governor Kotek’s efforts to protect food assistance and her background working to keep food on the table for Oregonians

PORTLAND, OR – This week, Governor Tina Kotek’s re-election campaign launched its second television ad of the general election. “Food Bank” is the second ad in the campaign’s statewide multi-million dollar paid media program, which highlights Governor Kotek’s experience working to keep food on the table for Oregonians and her fighting to protect access to food assistance during Trump’s federal government shutdown.

“Food Bank”

“I started my career at Oregon Food Bank because I believe no one should go hungry. That’s why I fought hard when President Trump came after food assistance to protect the programs families across Oregon rely on,” said Governor Kotek. “I will always continue fighting for working families and stand up to Trump to defend Oregon’s values and freedoms.”

“FOOD BANK” TRANSCRIPT

GOVERNOR KOTEK: After college, I worked at Oregon Food Bank.

I saw firsthand how hunger hurts Oregon families.

That’s why President Trump’s cuts to food assistance were so cruel, and why I fought back so hard.

NEWS VO: “SNAP benefits now at risk, Oregon governor Tina Kotek is declaring a food emergency.”

NEWS VO: “More food is on the way thanks to the Governor’s emergency declaration.”

GOVERNOR KOTEK: I will always stand up to Trump and anyone else to protect Oregonians.

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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 – 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.

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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 – Latino Network Action Fund hoy anunció su respaldo a la gobernadora Tina Kotek para un segundo mandato como gobernadora.

«La gobernadora Kotek no se vence nunca–y este es el liderazgo que las familias latinas de Oregon necesitan ahora.» dijo Tony DeFalco, director ejecutivo de Latino Network Action Fund. «La gobernadora Kotek siempre ha sido una luchadora incansable contra los ataques constantes de Donald Trump contra las comunidades latinas. Ella fortaleció protecciones para inmigrantes, expandió los beneficios de desempleo y compensación para trabajadores y aumentó el salario mínimo estatal. Cuando más importa, la gobernadora Kotek lucha por nosotros.»

«Me siento honrada de ser respaldada por Latino Network Action Fund.» dijo la Gobernadora Kotek. «Latino Network Action Fund ha estado luchando por comunidades en todas partes de nuestro estado y merecen una líder que lo apoye. Esto es porque luchamos y ganamos cuando el presidente Trump intentó sacarles los programas y las protecciones de que dependen nuestras comunidades. Seguiré defendiendo nuestros derechos fundamentales, bajar los costos y construir una economía que funcione para todos.»

Durante toda su carrera, la gobernadora Kotek ha sido una campeona para las comunidades latinas y sus familias trabajadoras:

• La gobernadora Kotek emitió una orden ejecutiva para crear un Concejo Interinstitucional para Coordinación para Inmigrantes y Refugiados para fortalecer la capacidad del estado para proteger a las comunidades inmigrantes y de refugiados. También se unió con 31 alcaldes de todo el estado para pedir un alto inmediato a las acciones ilegales de la aplicación de las leyes migratorias en nuestras comunidades.
• En 2025, la gobernadora Kotek aprobó legislación histórica que hizo que Oregon fuera el primer estado para expandir los beneficios de desempleo a todos los trabajadores en huelga, luchando por el proyecto de ley muy temprano en el proceso para asegurar que la legislatura lo aprobara.
• La gobernadora Kotek superentendió el estreno de la ley histórica del pago de tiempo suplementario para los campesinos, asegurando que las leyes gobernando a ellos se concordarían con estándares estatales antes de 2027 después de luchar por su aprobación como presidente de la Cámara de Representantes Estatal.
• Como presidente de la Cámara de Representantes, la gobernadora Kotek creó el primer programa de ahorro para la jubilación para trabajadores, aprobó una ley para subir el salario mínimo en todas partes del estado e implementó el programa de licencia familiar y licencia médica estatal, que ha pagado más de $1 mil millones de dólares a más de 150.000 oregonianos en sus primeros dos años.

Latino Network Action Fund se une con una coalición de organizaciones que también apoya a la reelección de la gobernadora, incluso 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, y más.

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ABOUT GOVERNOR KOTEK

La gobernadora Tina Kotek ha pasado toda su carrera marcando la historia y luchando por otros. Durante los últimos tres años, la gobernadora Kotek ha expandido el acceso al cuidado infantil de bajo precio, ha creado miles de nuevas camas en refugios para personas sin hogar, ha protegido el acceso al aborto y a la votación por correo y ha asegurado fondos estatales para los programas de la alfabetización temprana y del aprendizaje de verano. Ella ha sido una líder nacional en luchar contra Donald Trump cuando él intenta atacar a nuestras comunidades, nuestro cuidado de salud y nuestros derechos. Ella bloqueó sus esfuerzos ilegales de desplegar la Guardia Nacional de Oregon (Oregon National Guard) en nuestras propias comunidades y laboró hasta la madrugada para oponer la decisión federal de despojar al pueblo oregoniano de la asistencia alimentaria de los beneficios de SNAP.

La gobernadora Kotek se está postulando para un segundo mandato para seguir defendiendo los valores oregonianos y resolver los desafíos más grandes del estado: bajar los costos, reducir el sinhogarismo, fortalecer a las escuelas, expandir el cuidado de la salud mental y de la adicción y llevar el cuidado infantil de bajos costos a cada parte del estado.

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PORTLAND, OR – Latino Network Action Fund today announced its endorsement of Governor Tina Kotek for a second term as Governor.

“Governor Kotek doesn’t back down – and that’s exactly the leadership Oregon’s Latine families need right now,” said Tony DeFalco, executive director of Latino Network Action Fund. “Governor Kotek has been a relentless first line of defense against Donald Trump’s attacks on Latine communities. She strengthened protections for immigrants, expanded unemployment and workers compensation benefits, and increased Oregon’s minimum wage. When it matters most, Governor Kotek has always shown up for us.”

“I am honored to be endorsed by Latino Network Action Fund,” said Governor Kotek. “Latino Network Action Fund has been fighting for communities across our state, and they deserve a leader who has their backs. That’s why we fought back and won when President Trump tried to rip away the programs and protections our communities rely on. I will continue to defend our fundamental rights, lower costs, and build an economy that works for everyone.”

Throughout her career, Governor Kotek has been a steadfast champion for Oregon’s Latine 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 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.
• 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.

Latino Network Action Fund joins a growing coalition supporting Governor Kotek’s reelection bid alongside 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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“Always” exposes Christine Drazan’s effort to end vote-by-mail in Oregon – a move stolen straight from Trump’s MAGA playbook

PORTLAND, OR – Today, Governor Tina Kotek’s re-election campaign launched a new digital ad spotlighting Christine Drazan’s efforts to end vote-by-mail in Oregon. “Always” shows Oregonians that no matter how hard Drazan tries to rebrand herself, she is still the same Trump-aligned candidate that voters rejected in 2022.

“Always”

“Christine Drazan’s recent legislative effort to upend our fair and secure vote-by-mail elections confirms what many Oregonians know: Drazan will take Trump’s orders from day one,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “As Governor, I will always choose the needs of Oregonians over Trump’s agenda.”

The ad highlights Christine Drazan’s record on vote-by-mail, including her efforts to introduce a bill that would shift Oregon to in-person voting. Meanwhile, Governor Kotek has fought back against Trump’s attempts to end vote-by-mail and continues to defend Oregon against his efforts to silence voters. She took Trump to court and won, stalling the President’s executive order aimed at undermining vote-by-mail elections.

“ALWAYS” TRANSCRIPT

NEWS VO: “President Trump is promising to lead a movement doing away with mail-in-voting”

NARRATOR: “Christine Drazan: She sponsored the bill to end vote-by-mail in Oregon, because wherever Trump leads, Drazan follows—”

DRAZAN: “Always have, always will”

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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 – As reported on July 24 by The New York Times, new court filings reveal that the Trump administration canceled billions in clean energy funding – including electrical grid upgrade projects in Oregon – based solely on how states voted in the 2024 election.

Trump officials said that of the energy grants terminated last year, all but one hit states that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris and are represented by two Democratic senators. The cuts were part of a $7.6 billion nationwide rollback that hit 223 clean energy projects across 16 states that voted for Harris in 2024. 

“President Trump punished Oregon families for how our state voted. It’s outrageous and unacceptable,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “We are building a clean energy economy that’s creating jobs and lowering costs, and I’ll keep fighting to protect that no matter what the Trump administration throws at us.”

In Oregon, canceled clean energy grants meant pulling support for electrical system upgrades and a regional hydrogen hub in the Pacific Northwest, projects designed to strengthen grid reliability and build clean energy. Instead of investing in job-creating infrastructure, the Trump administration chose to defund transformative projects for crass political reasons.

“Governor Kotek is fighting to protect the clean energy jobs and investments Trump is trying to take away out of political spite,” said OLCV Executive Director Lindsey Scholten. “Christine Drazan wants to finish what Trump started. Oregonians deserve a governor who fights for their future, not one who is promising to tear it down.”

As Trump has made clean energy work more difficult throughout the nation, Governor Kotek, with support from climate organizations like OLCV, has continued pushing Oregon’s work forward by signing executive orders to speed up permitting for solar and wind, strengthen the grid, and scale up climate resilience.

While Trump targets Oregon’s clean energy investments, Christine Drazan wants to finish the job herself. She has promised to repeal Governor Kotek’s executive orders, cutting pollution-cutting regulations Oregonians rely on.

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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.

ABOUT OLCV

The Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV) is a non-partisan organization that works to pass laws to protect our natural legacy, elect pro-environment candidates, and hold all of our elected officials accountable. OLCV is made up of a statewide team of members, volunteers, full-time staff, and board of directors. 

The debates have not yet all been formally accepted by Christine Drazan

Portland, OR – Today, after weeks of coordinating with organizers, the Tina for Oregon campaign announced commitments to three debates in Eugene/Springfield, Medford, and the Portland area. The debates will be hosted by the Oregon Journalism Project, KOBI, and KOIN, respectively. Governor Kotek challenged Christine Drazan in June to three 60-minute televised debates starting in the fall. So far, Drazan has only accepted the debates with KOBI and the Oregon Journalism Project.

Through media partnerships organized by each of the hosts, the debates will be accessible to viewers throughout Oregon and will provide an opportunity for Oregonians to hear directly from Governor Kotek about her vision for her second term, how she has delivered results throughout Oregon, and how she plans to continue defending the state’s values. 

“Governor Kotek is excited to engage in the debates with the Oregon Journalism Project, KOBI, and KOIN,” said Federico Araujo, communications director for Tina for Oregon. “We look forward to the opportunity to communicate the clear choice between Governor Kotek and Christine Drazan, and to focus on the issues that matter most to Oregonians: affordability, healthcare, housing, education, and defending Oregon from Trump’s agenda.”

More details regarding dates, timing, and location for each of the three debates to be announced. 

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PORTLAND, OR – Today, Governor Tina Kotek released a statement in response to President Trump’s emergency appeal to the Supreme Court regarding his executive order to restrict mail-in voting:

“President Trump has continuously attempted to subvert democracy by pushing attacks on mail-in voting that silence working people and undermine states’ rights, which are clearly outlined in the Constitution.

“Today’s efforts by Trump make it clear that he and his allies know they’re in trouble. In Oregon, our mail-in voting system has successfully delivered fair, free, and secure elections for over 25 years and has the overwhelming support of Oregonians across the state. I look forward to making sure that Oregonians have their voices heard this November.”

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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 – Today, Governor Tina Kotek released a statement in response to the Secretary of State’s announcement regarding the failed signature certification of IP-28:

“I’m relieved IP-28 failed to qualify for the November ballot.

Efforts to criminalize activities like hunting and fishing are wrong for Oregon. I know from conversations with Oregonians across the state that this measure would have done nothing to help them. This is a win for tribal leaders, family farmers, ranchers, and every Oregonian who cares about protecting our lands and wildlife.”

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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 – As Oregonians celebrate at this weekend’s Portland Pride events, Governor Tina Kotek reaffirms her commitment to defending LGBTQ+ rights in Oregon, even as the Trump administration continues to target LGBTQ+ communities across the country.

“Pride is a reminder that this fight isn’t over,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “While President Trump and his allies try to legislate LGBTQ+ people out of public life, Oregon is protecting healthcare, defending all families, and making sure every Oregonian can live openly and be exactly who they are.”

Oregon has long been a leader in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality, from passing some of the nation’s first nondiscrimination protections to becoming one of the first of two states led by an openly lesbian governor. That history of progress continues under Governor Kotek, who has spent her career fighting to ensure every Oregonian can live openly, safely, and with dignity.

Since taking office, Governor Kotek has:

• Signed legislation prohibiting insurers from denying claims for medically necessary gender-affirming care.
• Signed legislation to strengthen shield laws, creating more protections for every Oregonian who seeks care and every practitioner who provides it.
• Refused to bend to Trump administration threats to withhold funding over Oregon’s policy requiring foster and adoptive parents to affirm a child’s LGBTQ+ identity.
• Signed legislation to support gender-affirming care and keep Planned Parenthood clinics open across Oregon as the Trump administration works to defund reproductive and gender-affirming health services.
• Signed a law banning book bans that target materials based on an author or subject’s protected class, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Built a career-long record supporting protections against hate crimes, a ban on conversion therapy, and the nation’s first LGBTQ+ veterans coordinator.

As Republicans in D.C. escalate attacks on transgender Oregonians, marriage equality, and basic nondiscrimination protections, Governor Kotek reiterates that Oregon will not back down.

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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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