Gov. Tina Kotek won a second term Tuesday, defeating Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan and extending a 40-year Democratic hold on Oregon's governor's office.

The Associated Press called the race for Kotek shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday, several hours after she declared victory at the Democratic Party of Oregon's election night watch party at the Hilton Portland Downtown, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported.

As we reported Tuesday night, Kotek held an early lead. That margin held. With an estimated 48% of ballots counted as of early Wednesday, Kotek had 532,608 votes (55%) to Drazan's 411,875 (42.5%), according to KGW. Pacific Green Party candidate Brett Smith trailed with 2.4%.

The Oregon Capital Chronicle reported that Kotek led by 6 percentage points at the time of the AP call, a lead that narrowed throughout the night and may continue to shrink as election officials process remaining ballots.

Drazan did not concede on election night.

"This race isn't over," Drazan told supporters at her Hillsboro watch party, according to OPB.

What Kotek has pledged for a second term

Kotek enters her next four years facing a long list of priorities with direct consequences for Salem and the rest of the state. She has pledged to create a separate state agency to oversee the Oregon State Hospital, impose a moratorium on new data centers until they meet standardized environmental and labor standards, and establish a universal state-funded preschool program, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported.

She also faces major cuts to the Oregon Health Plan, the state's Medicaid program. She has not identified specific benefits she would cut or reduce.

Housing remains a central focus. Oregon bucked a national decline in housing starts in 2026, but the nearly 9,700 home permits pulled so far still fall far below Kotek's initial goal of 36,000 new homes per year. She has since lowered that target in response to economic forecasts and market trends, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported.

Lawmakers in the 2027 legislative session will set a two-year state budget, consider a transportation funding plan and address federal changes to the Oregon Health Plan that insures one in three Oregonians, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Democrats are on track to start that session with slightly larger supermajorities in both the Oregon House and Senate, according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

Salem-area races

Closer to home, former Salem City Councilor Virginia Stapleton held a 10-point lead in the race for the 11th Senate District, which covers parts of Salem. Michael Welsh, an occupational safety professional from Keizer, held a nearly 10-point lead in the 21st House District over Rep. Kevin Mannix, a Salem Republican, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported.

Salem-area Democrats gathered at the Willamette Heritage Center on Tuesday night. Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, spoke to the crowd after winning her race, according to photo coverage from the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

A race defined by discontent

Kotek's win came despite broad voter dissatisfaction. A poll commissioned by The Oregonian/OregonLive found 59% of respondents said Oregon was headed in the wrong direction.

John Horvick, senior vice president at polling firm DHM Research, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that a Kotek win should not be read as an affirmation of the governor or the state's direction. "I would read it as a rejection of the Republicans," Horvick said.

The two campaigns collectively raised more than $44 million this cycle, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported. Kotek received significant support from public employee unions and the national Democratic Governors Association. Drazan's top supporters included the Republican Governors Association and various industry groups, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

Ballot counting continues statewide.