The 2022 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Oregon. Incumbent Kate Brown took office when fellow Democrat John Kitzhaber resigned on February 18, 2015. She won the subsequent 2016 special election and a full term in 2018. Due to term limits, she was unable to run again in 2022.
The Oregonian anticipated the election to have "the first competitive Democratic primary in more than a decade and potentially the closest such race since 2002." Willamette Week anticipated a "wide open field of Democrats", citing the lack of an incumbent. Almost 20 Republican Party candidates ran for the office, including two previous nominees for governor in 1998 and 2016, as well as 15 Democrats and some non-affiliates/third-party members. This was the state's first gubernatorial election since 2002 in which there was no current or former governor on the ballot.
In the May 17 primary elections, former Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek was declared the winner of the Democratic primary half an hour after the ballot deadline. The next day, former House Minority Leader Christine Drazan was determined to have won the Republican primary. Notably, the general election featured three prominent female candidates, including former state senator Betsy Johnson, who was a moderate Democrat, running as an independent.
Oregon was considered a possible Republican pickup, as Kate Brown had the lowest approval rating of any governor in the United States at the time and Johnson could have siphoned votes from Kotek. Nonetheless, Kotek narrowly won the election, becoming Oregon's 7th consecutive Democratic governor. Notably, none of Oregon's counties flipped parties from the 2018 or 2016 gubernatorial elections. Kotek became one of the first lesbian governors in the United States, along with Maura Healey, who was elected Governor of Massachusetts the same day.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- David Beem, former member of the Oregon Disabilities Commission
- Julian Bell, critical care and pulmonary medicine specialist and candidate for governor in 2016
- Wilson Bright, retired textile company operator
- George Carrillo, program manager at the Oregon Health Authority and Marine Corps veteran
- Michael Cross, software designer, commercial driver, and Republican nominee for Oregon attorney general in 2020
- Ifeanyichukwu Diru, farmer and candidate for governor in 2014
- Peter Hall, Haines city councilor and member of the Board of Directors of the League of Oregon Cities
- Keisha Merchant, artist and creative designer
- Tobias Read, Oregon state treasurer (endorsed Kotek in general election)
- Patrick Starnes, former Independent Party of Oregon candidate for governor (2018)
- David Stauffer, environmental inventor and perennial candidate
- John Sweeney, owner of Canary Castle Gallery
- Michael Trimble, cyclist and disability advocate
- Genevieve Wilson, independent contractor
Disqualified
Withdrew
Declined
Debates
Endorsements
Polling
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Raymond Baldwin, general contractor
- Bridget Barton, political consultant for Third Century Solutions (endorsed Johnson in general election)
- Court Boice, Curry County chair (endorsed Drazan in general election)
- David Burch
- Jessica Gomez, member of the Business Oregon Commission and Oregon Institute of Technology Board of Trustees
- Nick Hess, CEO and entrepreneur
- Tim McCloud, business development analyst
- Kerry McQuisten, mayor of Baker City
- Brandon Merritt, business development manager
- Bud Pierce, oncologist and nominee for governor in 2016 (endorsed Drazan in general election)
- John Presco, president of Royal Rosamond Press
- Stan Pulliam, mayor of Sandy (endorsed Drazan in general election)
- Amber Richardson, chiropractor
- Bill Sizemore, general contractor, tax-reduction advocate, candidate for governor in 2010, and nominee in 1998
- Stefan Galen Strek, painter and graphic design artist
- Marc Thielman, former Alsea School District superintendent
- Bob Tiernan, former state representative from the 24th district (1993âÂÂ1997) and former chair of the Oregon Republican Party (2009âÂÂ2011)
Withdrew
- Angelique Bouvier, psychologist and business owner
- Reed Christensen, former electrical engineer
- Mark Duncan, fight instructor
- John L. Fosdick III, customer service representative, Army veteran
- Darin Harbick, businessman (running for U.S. Senate)
- Jim Huggins, film producer, businessman and Air Force veteran (endorsed McQuisten)
- Alexander Males, polyurethane manufacturing worker
- Monte Sauer Jr., CEO of AmericaProud
Declined
Debates
Endorsements
Polling
Results
Independents and other parties
Candidates
Candidates for general election
Withdrew
Failed to qualify for general election
In order to be listed as candidates on the general election ballot, non-affiliated candidates for governor needed to collect 23,744 signatures from Oregon voters (1% of votes cast for president in the 2020 election).
- Tim Harrold, security expert (non-affiliated)
- Dustin Watkins, dishwasher (non-affiliated)
Not nominated
General election
Predictions
Debates
Post-primary endorsements
Polling
Aggregate polls<br />
Graphical summary<br />
Tina Kotek vs. Christine Drazan<br />
Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican vs. Betsy Johnson<br />
Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican<br />
Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican vs. generic independent<br />
Results
By county
Note: In Gilliam County, where Kotek placed behind Johnson, the margin of difference is the Drazan vote minus the Johnson vote.
By congressional district
Kotek won three of six congressional districts, with the remaining three going to Drazan, including one that elected a Democrat.
See also
Notes
Partisan clients<br />
References
External links
Official campaign websites