Governor of Oregon · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Oregon governor's race?
Christine Drazan has the strongest record in the Oregon governor's race. Christine Drazan scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Tina Kotek at 58, as of October 6, 2026. Christine Drazan's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Tina Kotek's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Brett Smith (3 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Strongest record
Christine Drazan
64 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Tina Kotek
58 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 42
Pacific Green
Brett Smith
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Christine Drazan
- On the record2026-10-01
Debated Gov. Tina Kotek on Oct. 1, 2026 in Eugene.
Source: OPB, Oct. 2, 2026
- On the record2025-10
Was appointed to the Oregon Senate in October 2025 to replace Sen. Daniel Bonham, after serving again as House Republican leader from 2024.
- On the record2023 to 2024
A New Direction, a nonprofit she founded, paid $96,000 to a consulting firm she owns with her husband without a conflict-of-interest policy; the Capital Chronicle found no evidence of a legal violation.
Source: Bend Bulletin (Oregon Capital Chronicle), Aug. 4, 2026
- On the record2020-02 to 2020-03
As House Republican leader she led a 2020 walkout that denied the House a quorum over a cap-and-trade bill.
Sources: Statesman Journal via Yahoo News, April 25, 2026, Wikipedia, Christine Drazan
Tina Kotek
- Mark against2025-01-03
The Secretary of State's Audits Division found governor's office expenses that appeared to violate state policy, including staff parking, event tickets and a $9,330 catered dinner, and referred them to the ethics commission as minor.
Sources: Willamette Week, Jan. 3, 2025, Oregon Capital Chronicle via Central Oregon Daily, Jan. 8, 2025
- Mark against2023-09 to 2025-04
The Oregon Elections Division assessed four late-filing penalties on her campaign committee totaling about $3,995, all paid.
Source: Oregon Secretary of State, Campaign Finance Penalty Notices (data.oregon.gov)
- On the record2026-10-01
Debated Republican Christine Drazan on Oct. 1, 2026 in Eugene.
Source: OPB, Oct. 2, 2026
- On the record2024
Three top aides, including her chief of staff, resigned in 2024 after raising concerns about the first lady's role in the governor's office; the ethics commission dismissed complaints about the office.
Sources: Willamette Week, Jan. 3, 2025, Wikipedia, Tina Kotek
Brett Smith
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Christine Drazan. No Oregon Elections Division penalty or ethics finding found for her committees. A nonprofit she founded paid her consulting firm $96,000 in 2023 and 2024 without a conflict-of-interest policy; no violation was found (Record).
Source: Bend Bulletin (Oregon Capital Chronicle), Aug. 4, 2026
Tina Kotek. Required state campaign reports are on file; the Government Ethics Commission dismissed 2024 complaints about her office, and no ethics finding against her personally was found. Her committee's late-filing penalties are scored under criterion 10.
Source: Willamette Week, Jan. 3, 2025
Brett Smith. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Christine Drazan. No public record found.
Tina Kotek. No public record found.
Brett Smith. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Christine Drazan. Debated Gov. Tina Kotek on Oct. 1, 2026 in Eugene and confirmed KTVZ's Oct. 13 debate.
Sources: OPB, Oct. 2, 2026, KTVZ, debate schedule and candidate responses
Tina Kotek. Debated Christine Drazan on Oct. 1, 2026 in Eugene and confirmed KTVZ's Oct. 13 debate.
Sources: OPB, Oct. 2, 2026, KTVZ, debate schedule and candidate responses
Brett Smith. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Christine Drazan. Legislative staff member and lobbyist, House Republican leader and now state senator, with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Tina Kotek. Speaker for nine years and governor since 2023 with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding. In 2024 three top aides, including her chief of staff, resigned after raising concerns about the first lady's role in the office.
Sources: Wikipedia, Tina Kotek, Willamette Week, Jan. 3, 2025
Brett Smith. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Christine Drazan. Has held sworn legislative office since 2019. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Christine Drazan
Tina Kotek. Has held sworn office since 2007, as legislator, speaker and governor. No official finding of misuse of office; the 2025 audit referral concerned office expenses (criterion 15).
Source: Ballotpedia, Tina Kotek
Brett Smith. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Christine Drazan. Elected to the Oregon House in 2018, 2020 and 2024, House Republican leader in 2019 to 2021 and 2024 to 2025, and appointed state senator in October 2025.
Tina Kotek. Governor since January 2023, seeking a second term; state representative from 2007 to 2022 and House speaker from 2013 to 2022, the longest-serving speaker in Oregon history.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Tina Kotek, Wikipedia, Tina Kotek
Brett Smith. Inventor, welder and fabricator who owns a small business and reports more than a decade of FDA and patent regulatory compliance work. Has not held public office.
Source: Oregon Voters' Pamphlet, Nov. 3, 2026, candidate statement
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Christine Drazan. Twice led the House Republican caucus, an elected chamber leadership post (E5). Her published plan lists goals such as ordering agencies to repeal cost-raising rules, mostly in general terms.
Sources: Statesman Journal via Yahoo News, April 25, 2026, Oregon Voters' Pamphlet, Nov. 3, 2026, candidate statement
Tina Kotek. Sitting governor; her published agenda names specific steps, including a data center moratorium, housing permitting changes and a path to universal preschool.
Sources: Oregon Voters' Pamphlet, Nov. 3, 2026, candidate statement, Ballotpedia, Tina Kotek
Brett Smith. Publishes positions including an independent audit of state systems, a permanent moratorium on data centers and health care for all, mostly in general terms.
Source: Oregon Voters' Pamphlet, Nov. 3, 2026, candidate statement
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Christine Drazan. Took part in a televised debate, published a voters' pamphlet statement and a detailed campaign plan site, and gives press interviews. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: OPB, Oct. 2, 2026, Oregon Voters' Pamphlet, Nov. 3, 2026, candidate statement, Ballotpedia, Christine Drazan
Tina Kotek. Took part in a televised debate, published a voters' pamphlet statement and gives regular press interviews. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: OPB, Oct. 2, 2026, Oregon Voters' Pamphlet, Nov. 3, 2026, candidate statement, Ballotpedia, Tina Kotek
Brett Smith. Published a voters' pamphlet statement and a campaign site with issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Brett for Oregon, home page, Ballotpedia, Brett Smith
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Christine Drazan. Born in Klamath Falls and a Canby resident who has represented Clackamas County in the Legislature since 2019. State contribution shares were not computed.
Sources: Wikipedia, Christine Drazan, Statesman Journal via Yahoo News, April 25, 2026
Tina Kotek. Has lived in Oregon since 1987, graduating from the University of Oregon in 1990, and represented North Portland for 15 years. State contribution shares were not computed.
Source: Wikipedia, Tina Kotek
Brett Smith. No public record found.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Christine Drazan. No Oregon Elections Division late-filing penalty for her committees appears in the 2023 to 2026 penalty data. No other finding about her campaigns found.
Source: Oregon Secretary of State, Campaign Finance Penalty Notices (data.oregon.gov)
Tina Kotek. The Oregon Elections Division assessed four late-filing penalties on Friends of Tina Kotek from 2023 to 2025, including $3,250.73 in October 2023, all paid.
Source: Oregon Secretary of State, Campaign Finance Penalty Notices (data.oregon.gov)
Brett Smith. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Christine Drazan. No public record found.
Tina Kotek. Signed a $376 million bipartisan housing production package in 2024 and middle-housing legislation in 2025; AP reports homelessness kept rising and test scores have not recovered despite new funding.
Sources: Wikipedia, Tina Kotek, AP via Yahoo News, May 22, 2026
Brett Smith. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Christine Drazan. No public record found.
Tina Kotek. No public record found.
Brett Smith. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Christine Drazan. No public record found.
Tina Kotek. No public record found.
Brett Smith. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Christine Drazan. No public record found.
Tina Kotek. Signed bipartisan housing legislation in 2024 and 2025. No cross-party endorsement found.
Source: Wikipedia, Tina Kotek
Brett Smith. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Christine Drazan. No public record found.
Tina Kotek. In January 2025 state auditors found governor's office expenses that appeared to violate state policy, including staff parking, $615 in event tickets and a $9,330 catered staff dinner, and called them minor.
Sources: Oregon Capital Chronicle via Central Oregon Daily, Jan. 8, 2025, Willamette Week, Jan. 3, 2025
Brett Smith. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Oregon governor's race?
Christine Drazan has the strongest record in the Oregon governor's race. Christine Drazan scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Tina Kotek at 58, as of October 6, 2026. Christine Drazan's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Tina Kotek's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Brett Smith (3 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Oregon governor's race in 2026?
Christine Drazan (Republican), Tina Kotek (Democratic, incumbent), Brett Smith (Pacific Green). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Christine Drazan a good candidate for Governor?
Christine Drazan scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Tina Kotek a good candidate for Governor?
Tina Kotek scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 42 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Brett Smith a good candidate for Governor?
Brett Smith has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Oregon race scored, and the Oregon 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.