Republican Christine Drazan Leads Gov. Tina Kotek in New Oregon Poll
Republican Oregon gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan is leading Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek by four percentage points in a recent statewide poll, offering an early indication that the 2026 governor’s race could be competitive.
The Public Opinion Strategies survey, conducted June 22–24 among 600 registered voters, found Drazan with 48% support and Kotek with 44%. The poll was commissioned by Drazan’s campaign, and its margin of error was approximately four percentage points, meaning the reported difference falls within the survey’s margin of error.
Drazan has focused her campaign on education, economic conditions and population trends. During a recent visit to manufacturing facilities in Eugene and Springfield, she argued that Oregon should restore graduation requirements and better prepare students for college, trade programs and the workforce.
“This isn’t about what color jersey you wear,” Drazan said while discussing the race, calling for a different approach to the state’s challenges.
The poll comes as Oregon Democrats face a potentially competitive reelection contest. Kotek defeated Drazan in the 2022 gubernatorial election, while Republicans have not won the governor’s office since Vic Atiyeh left office in 1987.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued an emergency stay allowing political parties to continue accessing favorable broadcast advertising rates under the FCC’s “lowest unit charge” rules while litigation continues. The dispute centers on whether party committees engaged in coordinated advertising with candidates qualify for the discounted rates.
The Court’s September 4 order did not finally resolve the underlying legal question. Instead, the justices concluded that the Fourth Circuit likely acted before the challengers had completed the required administrative review process at the FCC. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson publicly dissented.
