Could the Oregon Governorβs Race Be a Republican Hope? NYT - Home Page By: Anna Griffin and Betsy Hammond 10 October 2026 at 09:00 Republicans are playing defense in some of the most conservative parts of the country, but an unpopular Democratic governor has them hopeful in a progressive West Coast state. Β© Jordan Gale for The New York TimesState Senator Christine Drazan, left, is running against Gov. Tina Kotek, an incumbent Democrat, in a surprisingly tight governorβs race.