Kotek Wins as Democrats Narrowly Hold Oregon Governor’s Office
- Race appeared tight as voters soured on incumbent governor
- Opponent Drazan received cash infusion from Nike co-founder
Tina Kotek
Photographer: Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Oregon’s Democratic party narrowly won the governor’s race as Tina Kotek outlasted former house minority leader Christine Drazan, the latest sign that the party managed to hold off a “red wave” of Republican victories.
The Associated Press called the race for Kotek late on Thursday after she secured 47.1% of the vote over 43.5% for Drazan. With 85% of the ballots counted, Kotek had a margin of about 65,000 votes. A third candidate, Betsy Johnson, got nearly 9% of the vote. Polls had the race extremely close in the weeks before Election Day.