Oregon Governor Primary Elections Guide Released by Election Commission Officials

Oregon Primaries Set to Narrow Field of Candidates Challenging Governor Tina Kotek

On Tuesday, Oregonians will cast their ballots in a series of primary elections that will help determine the nominees for the November midterm elections. The contests feature nearly two dozen candidates vying for the Republican and Democratic nominations.

Governor Tina Kotek is seeking re-election as an incumbent Democrat, facing competition from nine other Democrats. Her challengers include a children’s book author, the leader of an Indigenous nonprofit, and an inventor aiming to address water shortages.

On the Republican side, State Senator Christine Drazan is leading the pack with 35% support in polls, according to recent data. Other notable contenders include former NBA player Chris Dudley and State Representative Ed Diehl.

US Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, is also running for re-election, but his seat is considered relatively safe. He faces eight rivals on the campaign trail, including seven Republicans.

In addition to the gubernatorial contests, voters will also decide their party representatives in races for the state Senate and House. The election will determine a nonpartisan commissioner to lead the state Bureau of Labor and Industries.

Polls open at 7am Pacific US time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, with voting closing at 8pm (4:00 GMT). Oregon’s closed primary system means that voters choose nominees only for the party they are registered under.

Source: Al Jazeera