Sen. Christine Drazan and Gov. Tina Kotek faced off in the first of three debates (Will Yurman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield)

Four Highlights From Last Night's Governor Debate

Gov. Kotek and state Sen. Drazan clashed on voting by mail, education funding, campaign donors, and the National Guard.

By OJP Staff
October 2, 2026

Last night, the two leading candidates to be Oregon's next governor held their first debate, at the University of Oregon campus in Eugene. Sen. Christine Drazan and Gov. Tina Kotek disagreed sharply on many of the key issues Oregon faces.

Here are four highlights from the debate: