Gov. Tina Kotek rallied thousands of union workers in Portland on labor day, marking the unofficial start of the 2026 election season. The race will determine who occupies the governor's office in Salem for the next four years.

"We have 57 more days till the election, an election that is consequential not only for your local government, our state government, but this country," Kotek told the crowd at Oaks Park, The Oregonian reported.

The annual Labor Day picnic was organized by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, a coalition of about 106 unions.

Laurie Wimmer, the council's executive secretary-treasurer and lead organizer, said she expected about 5,000 people to attend. Seven Democratic incumbents seeking reelection spoke, including U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, Secretary of State Tobias Read and U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Maxine Dexter and Andrea Salinas.

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson also attended.

Kotek took the stage as Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" played over the PA system. Attendees ate chicken, hot dogs, baked beans and salad while candidates spoke.

The rally gathered seven Democratic incumbents on one stage 57 days before the Nov. 3 election. Kotek faces state Sen. Christine Drazan, the Republican she defeated in 2022 by about 3.5 percentage points, according to certified results compiled by Ballotpedia.

Oregon has not elected a Republican governor since 1982.

Drazan did not attend the rally. The Oregonian reported that her campaign did not respond to a request for comment. On Facebook, Drazan wrote Sept. 7 that she was thinking about Oregonians who work hard and wonder whether opportunity will remain for their children.

Drazan unveiled a six-part policy platform on Aug. 25 in downtown Portland, calling for boosting education outcomes, lowering the cost of living, strengthening the economy, improving homelessness and mental health support, increasing housing development and scrutinizing government spending, The Oregonian reported.

Kotek's campaign reported more than $9 million in cash on hand as of Aug. 25, compared with Drazan's nearly $3 million, according to the Salem Statesman Journal.

Oregon Rep. Dacia Grayber noted at the rally that Oregon was the first state to recognize Labor Day as a holiday and the first to enact a minimum wage law. In January, Oregon became the first state to extend unemployment benefits to striking workers in both the private and public sectors, Grayber said.

The state's economy provides a backdrop for the campaign. Oregon's unemployment rate stood at 5.2%, and the workforce shrank by more than 10,000 people over the past year to about 1.97 million, according to state data OPB reported on Sept. 5.

Kotek and Drazan are scheduled to debate Oct. 1 in Eugene and Oct. 7 in Medford.