Oregon, in the northwestern United States, has developed a reputation as a left-wing bastion. Since the 1980s, Beaver State has consistently elected Democrats in most statewide elections.
But even in a comfortably blue state like Oregon, the battle to maintain political power can be fierce.
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The state held its latest round of primaries on Tuesday, with each major political party choosing its candidates for November’s midterm elections.
However, the field is crowded with about 25 Democratic and Republican candidates to replace Tina Kotek, who is seeking re-election for a second term as governor.
Tuesday’s vote could also serve as a bellwether for the economy. Voters will consider a referendum that could eliminate the state fuel tax as the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran increases the burden on consumers of gasoline supplies.
Who is running? And which races are attracting the most attention? This brief will address these questions and more.
What time does voting start?
Voting begins Tuesday at 7:00 AM Pacific Time (15:00 GMT) and ends at 8:00 PM (4:00 GMT).
Who is running for governor?
The current governor, Kotek, is running for a second four-year term. But she is up against competition from dozens of other candidates, including nine Democrats.
Kotek is the front-runner in the Democratic primary. Her challengers include children’s book authors, indigenous nonprofit leaders, and inventors looking to solve water scarcity.
More candidates are vying for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Among them is state Sen. Christine Drazan, who ran against Mr. Kotek in 2022. Drazan is critical of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, but supports the president’s tough stance on immigration.
The Republican ballot also includes former NBA player Chris Dudley, who was a Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2010. His failure rate was the smallest of any Republican candidate in decades.
Meanwhile, state Rep. Ed Diehl is hoping to capitalize on the momentum he gained by spearheading the effort to stop Kotek’s plan to increase gas taxes and rates.
What do public opinion polls say about the gubernatorial election?
Opinion polls show Drazan leading the race for the Republican nomination with 35% support.
Kotek is likely to easily win the Democratic primary, with none of her opponents gaining even close support.
What will happen to the Senate race?
Another Democratic incumbent trying to hold on to his seat is Sen. Jeff Merkley.
The 69-year-old, who started his career in affordable housing, is running for a sixth consecutive term. He first took office in 2009.
But while the senator faces eight rivals (one Democrat, seven Republicans) in the campaign, his seat is considered relatively safe.
He won Tuesday’s Democratic primary and is expected to be the front-runner in the November general election.
What other positions are available?
All six of Oregon’s U.S. House members are running for re-election and will face primary elections on Tuesday.
Five are Democrats. One of them, Cliff Bentz, is a Republican who represents Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District, a vast area that includes the entire eastern half of the state.
Also on Tuesday, voters will choose their party’s representatives in the state Senate and House races.
The election will also determine the bipartisan commissioner who will lead the state Department of Labor and Industries.
Why is this race important?
Oregon is a closed primary state, so voters only choose candidates from registered political parties.
Given the state’s left-wing leanings, the winner of the statewide Democratic primary is likely to be the front-runner in November’s midterm elections.
Still, there’s room for surprise. Less than 25 percent of Oregonians are registered as Republicans, according to the state’s voter rolls. However, only 32 percent are registered as Democrats, and the largest percentage of voters identify as “independent” of any political party.
Primaries in right-leaning areas like Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District could show how closely the state’s Republican politicians want to work with President Trump.
Voters will also have the opportunity to vote on a referendum that could repeal the gas tax increase on Tuesday’s ballot.
Democrats in the state Legislature raised Oregon’s gas tax to pay for road construction and supplement the state’s transportation budget.
But as gas prices soar due to the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, Republicans are using the referendum to appeal to voters about the cost of living. Gas prices are currently about 80 cents more expensive in Oregon.
In addition, the statewide ballot is littered with nearly 100 local measures for different counties. Many will focus on funding local fire departments, schools and libraries.
When can I expect results?
Preliminary results are expected to be announced on Tuesday night, shortly after voting closes at 8pm local time.
But as mail-in and provisional ballots are counted, ballots will continue to arrive after Election Day, and some races may not be officially declared until days later.
