Press Releases

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.”

###

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 – 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.

###

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, Governor Tina Kotek joined every Democratic governor across the country in a joint statement responding to President Trump’s national address:

“It’s deeply alarming that President Trump continues to try to undermine free and fair elections. No amount of lies and conspiracy theories can change the fact that our country’s elections have repeatedly been proven to be safe and secure. These attacks are intended to intimidate and silence voters. Democrats are leading the way on actually making life better for American families by lowering costs, creating jobs and protecting our freedoms. Ours is a winning message, which is why he is trying to undermine democracy.

“Democratic governors stand ready to fight back against the Trump administration and stop any and all unlawful attacks on every American’s constitutional right to vote.”

The full statement from the Democratic Governors Association can be found here.

###

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 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.”

###

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 – 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.

###

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.

###

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.

###

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.