Drazan Leads Kotek in Fundraising as Oregon Governor’s Race Tops $40 Million

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Republican hopeful Christine Drazan have raised more than $40 million in a campaign that could end nearly four decades of Democratic control of the Beaver State’s Governor’s Office.

Millions Flow Into Oregon’s Last Governor Race Before Donation Limits

The long-time political rivals raised a combined $40,490,871.20, according to their 2026 ORESTAR account summaries available on October 31.

However, new statewide campaign contribution limits take effect on January 1, 2027, as the state transitions to a regulated framework first established by House Bill 4024 in 2024 and adjusted by House Bill 4018 in 2026.

Under the new contribution rules, individual contributors will be limited to $3,300 per candidate per election. Qualifying membership organizations, including some unions, trade groups and nonprofits, and their political committees will be limited to $26,400 per statewide candidate per election.

A breakdown of the two governor-hopefuls’ campaign funds comes from Oregon Secretary of State ORESTAR account summaries.

Christine Drazan

The Republican candidate has raised $21,536,886.94. Drazan received a $5.25 million boost in October 2026 from the Republican Governors Association.

Her top contributors include Don H. Jones Jr., the automotive executive who operates a network of vehicle dealerships in the western U.S., and the industry group AGC Committee for Action, which advocates for the commercial construction industry.

Tina Kotek

Incumbent Governor Kotek has raised $18,953,984.26. Her campaign supporters include public employee unions, a $5 million boost from the Democratic Governors Association, and a political action committee representing Oregon’s nurses.

ACLU PAC Reports Spending Supporting Kotek and Opposing Drazan

The ACLU of Oregon announced in mid-October that it had formed a sister political organization, the ACLU of Oregon Democracy PAC. The PAC funds were intended for voter education.

On October 21, the PAC reported $574,000 in independent expenditures, half in support of Tina Kotek and half in opposition to Christine Drazan.

The ACLU PAC money was used to produce two mailers contrasting the campaign positions of Kotek and Drazan, highlighting voting rights, abortion, and immigration.

The tagline states that “the election for Governor will decide the future of Oregon on these important issues and more.”

The ACLU of Oregon says the mailers are voter education, not candidate endorsements.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has also contributed $1.6 million to Kotek’s campaign through its various PACs.

Drazan’s Pro-Business Approach Reaps Financial Gains

Meanwhile, Drazan’s pro-business approach has received financial boosts from leading individual contributors and businesses. These include:

• Don H. Jones Jr., an Ashland-based automotive executive
• Eugene-based wood manufacturer Murphy Plywood
• Salem-based construction company K & E Excavating
• Portland-based timber company Hampton Lumber
• Bring Balance to Salem PAC, whose largest contributors include Phil Knight and Sierra Pacific Industries, one of the largest timber companies in the U.S.