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Kotek: 'All Oregonians mourn the loss of life today. This is a horrible day'
Governor Tina Kotek released the following statement in response to the shooting Thursday afternoon at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend.
Updated Oct 16, 2026, 3:12 PM ET
Democratic governor of Oregon since 2023 and former speaker of the Oregon House, seeking a second term in 2026 in a rematch with Republican Christine Drazan.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
Live TruthIndex™ and prediction market consensus for races contested by Tina Kotek.
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Recent media coverage for Tina Kotek.
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Beavers and Evergreens: Key Oregon and Washington Races
Gov. Tina Kotek speaks at a gathering of business leaders and public officials at the Moda Center, on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023.
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Carrie Brownstein endorses Tina Kotek in the Oregon governor's race
Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney performs at Revolution Hall.Allison Barr/The Oregonian
Oregonian
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Oregon Midterm Elections: Prediction Market Leaders Today
The table below shows the leading candidate in each race, the current odds on Kalshi and whether they are an incumbent.
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Election 2026: Kotek, Drazan focus on development at final debate in Bend for Oregon governor’s race | News
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and now-state Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, participated in a debate in Bend on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
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Kotek, Drazan square off in final debate of governor’s race
FILE -- Gov. Tina Kotek and state Sen. Christine Drazan debate in Eugene, Ore., on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. Kotek and Drazan held their third and final debate in Bend on Oct. 13.
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Tina Kotek and Christine Drazan enter final stretch of close Oregon governor's race
Christine Drazan is in a tight Oregon governor race against incumbent Tina Kotek. Polls have swung since the campaign began, with Drazan leading early but Kotek gaining ground to a near-toss-up in recent surveys.
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Oregon governor issues executive order intended to protect access to healthcare
SALEM, Ore. – In response to federal changes to the U.S. healthcare system, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has issued an executive order that is intended to protect access to healthcare in Oregon.
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Kotek, Drazan focus on development at final debate in Bend for Oregon governor’s race
(Oregon Capital Chronicle): Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and state Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, spent their final televised debate for the 2026 Oregon
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What Kotek, Drazan said in final 2026 Oregon governor debate
Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, clashed at their Oct. 13 debate in Bend, the last candidate matchup scheduled ahead of the Nov. 3 gubernatorial election.
No story this week names this candidate.
- Born
- September 30, 1966
- Birthplace
- York, Pennsylvania
- Education
- Dallastown Area High School
Georgetown University (attended)
University of Oregon (Bachelor of Science in religious studies, 1990)
University of Washington (master's degree in international studies and comparative religion)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Kotek was born in York, Pennsylvania, on September 30, 1966. She graduated second in her class at Dallastown Area High School and attended Georgetown University.
After moving to Oregon in 1987, she completed a Bachelor of Science in religious studies at the University of Oregon in 1990 and a master's degree in international studies and comparative religion at the University of Washington.
She then advocated on policy for the Oregon Food Bank and as policy director of Children First for Oregon.
Career
Kotek lost a 2004 Democratic primary for Oregon House District 43, then in 2006 won a three-way primary and the general election, with nearly 80%, for District 44 in North and Northeast Portland, which she represented from 2007 to 2022. She became leader of the House Democratic Caucus in June 2011.
In 2013 the House elected her speaker, making her the first openly lesbian woman in the country to lead a state house as speaker, and she held the post for nine years, longer than any other speaker in Oregon history.
Her House Bill 2001, passed in 2019, required larger cities and counties to permit fourplexes in areas zoned only for single-family homes, ending single-family exclusive zoning statewide. She resigned from the House in January 2022 to run for governor.
Kotek declared her candidacy on September 1, 2021, took the Democratic primary on May 17, 2022, against State Treasurer Tobias Read, and defeated Republican Christine Drazan in the November 8 general election, 47% to 43.5%. Taking office on January 9, 2023, as the 39th governor, she declared a homelessness state of emergency on her first day. Her election made her one of the first two governors in the United States who are openly lesbian women.
2026 race
Kotek is running for a second term in the election of November 3, 2026. In the primary of May 19, 2026, she took the Democratic nomination with 84%. Her Republican opponent is Christine Drazan, the party's 2022 nominee, who won her party's nomination with 41%, in the first rematch for Oregon governor since 1978.