PORTLAND DRIZZLE

🦅 Monday in Portland. Mild and partly cloudy with a high of 62°F and a 35% chance of showers — so, a normal March Monday. St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow, the PCC strike enters day six, and today we focus on the candidates for governor.

Oregon’s incumbent governor enters the 2026 cycle in a strong position. Kotek, who served nearly a decade as Speaker of the Oregon House before winning the governorship in 2022, defeated Republican Christine Drazan by about three percentage points.

In office, Kotek has centered her administration on three priorities: housing production, homelessness, and behavioral health. Her campaign message is likely to lean heavily on stability — arguing that the state is making progress and shouldn’t reverse course.

Oregon remains a Democratic-leaning state in federal and statewide elections, and early political ratings currently place the general election in the Solid or Likely Democratic column.

Kotek faces only nominal opposition in the Democratic primary, including lesser-known challengers such as Brittany Jones and Cal Kishawi, none of whom currently show signs of mounting a serious campaign.

Unlike the Democratic side, the GOP primary is shaping up to be a competitive three-lane contest between a recent nominee, a political newcomer with name recognition, and a conservative insurgent.

Drazan, the former Oregon House Republican leader, is seeking a rematch after narrowly losing the 2022 general election.

Her campaign is expected to focus on crime, homelessness, taxes, and the cost of living — themes Republicans believe resonate with suburban voters frustrated with conditions in Portland and other urban areas.

Drazan begins the race with strong name recognition among Republican voters and an existing fundraising network from her 2022 campaign.

Former Portland Trail Blazers center Chris Dudley is attempting a political comeback more than a decade after his first gubernatorial run.

In 2010, Dudley came within about a point of defeating Democratic incumbent John Kitzhaber, one of the closest governor’s races in modern Oregon history.

Dudley is campaigning heavily on education reform, economic growth, and concerns about Portland’s decline. His statewide name recognition — both from basketball and his earlier campaign — could make him a formidable contender especially having just received $1 million from Phil Knight

State representative Ed Diehl represents the conservative grassroots wing of the party. His campaign message centers on fiscal conservatism, parental rights in education, and opposition to tax increases.

Diehl’s path relies on mobilizing the Republican base and portraying himself as the outsider willing to challenge the political establishment in Salem.

A handful of additional Republicans are also in the race, though they currently operate with far less funding or name recognition.

Danielle Bethell — a Marion County commissioner — is running on her experience in local government and crisis management.

David Medina, a Portland-area social media personality and pardoned Jan 6er, has also entered the race but has raised comparatively little money.

At this stage, the race breaks down into two phases:

Primary:
A three-way fight between Drazan, Dudley, and Diehl for the Republican nomination.

General Election:
If Kotek wins renomination, she begins the fall campaign as the favorite, thanks to Oregon’s Democratic tilt and the advantages of incumbency.

But the narrow margin in 2022 showed something important: under the right conditions — especially if the Republican nominee consolidates the right and wins back suburban voters — Oregon governor’s races can still be competitive.

Sources: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2026/02/who-will-be-oregons-next-governor-first-poll-of-2026-names-this-candidate.html https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/01/who-is-running-for-oregon-governor-2026/87846492007/ https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2026/03/12/heres-how-much-money-oregon-candidates-for-governor-have-raised/88964098007/

On March 13, Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson convened a grand jury to inquire into the conditions and management of the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. The hospital is Oregon's primary psychiatric facility and the main institutional response to the state's behavioral health crisis — the same crisis that Governor Kotek has cited as a top priority. The DA's office conducted a similar inquiry into the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility last year. The grand jury is required under Oregon law and is not necessarily a sign of criminal wrongdoing, but it does put a spotlight on a facility that advocates have long said is underfunded, understaffed, and struggling to meet basic standards of care. Portland sends a significant share of its most vulnerable residents to Oregon State Hospital. How it's run matters — and apparently, a grand jury now agrees it's worth a look.

On March 16, 1994, Portland native Tonya Harding pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution for the attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan — dodging jail time but taking a $100,000 fine and probation. Portland's most spectacular sports scandal, forever.

That's your Monday, Portland. High of 62 and a coin-flip chance of showers. PCC talks resume today, a grand jury is sniffing around Oregon State Hospital, and the governor's race now has a Phil Knight million-dollar check with Chris Dudley's name on it. Green outfit ready for tomorrow. See you then. by Michael Simpson Contact: [email protected]