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. This was also the first gubernatorial election in the United States to be between two women with the same first name (and the only one other than the rematch between the same two candidates in 2026), as Tina Kotek's first name is short for Christine.
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.
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. This was also the first gubernatorial election in the United States to be between two women with the same first name (and the only one other than the rematch between the same two candidates in 2026), as Tina Kotek's first name is short for Christine.
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
Tina Kotek, former speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives (2013–2022)
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
Nicholas Kristof, author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist at The New York Times(found to not meet residency requirements by the Secretary of State's office and Oregon Supreme Court; endorsed Kotek in general election)
Withdrew
Casey Kulla, Yamhill County commissioner (running for labor commissioner)
David Lavinsky, businessman
Nico Pucci, Oregon Health Authority operations and policy analyst
Peter Winter, non-profit project manager
Declined
Rukaiyah Adams, chief investment officer of the Meyer Memorial Trust
Julia Brim-Edwards, member of the Portland Public School Board
Shemia Fagan, Oregon secretary of state
Val Hoyle, Oregon labor commissioner (running for the U.S. House)
Deborah Kafoury, chair of the Multnomah County Commission and former state representative from the 18th and 43rd districts (endorsed Kotek)
Lynn Peterson, president of the Portland Metro Council (endorsed Kotek)
Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon attorney general (endorsed Kotek in general election)
Melissa Unger, executive director of Service Employees International Union Oregon chapter
Ted Wheeler, mayor of Portland and former Oregon state treasurer
Endorsements
Tina Kotek
Patrick Starnes
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Christine Drazan, former minority leader of the Oregon House of Representatives (2019–2021) and state representative from the 39th district (2019–2022)
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 (1993–1997) and former chair of the Oregon Republican Party (2009–2011)
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
Knute Buehler, former state representative from the 54th district (2015–2019), nominee for Secretary of State in 2012, and nominee for governor in 2018 (endorsed Johnson)
Dallas Heard, state senator from the 1st district and former chair of the Oregon Republican Party (endorsed Drazan in general election)
Tim Knopp, minority leader of the Oregon Senate from the 27th district
Dennis Linthicum, state senator from the 28th district (endorsed Drazan in general election)
Julie Parrish, former state representative from the 37th district (2011–2019)
Bill Post, former state representative from the 25th district (2015–2021) (ineligible due to out-of-state residency)
Tootie Smith, Clackamas County chair and former state representative from the 18th and 28th districts (2001–2003) (endorsed Drazan in general election)
Endorsements
Bridget Barton
Oregon Right to Life PAC (co-endorsed with Tiernan, Drazan, and Pierce)
Individuals
Lars Larson, conservative talk radio host
Bud Pierce
Bob Tiernan
Oregon Right to Life PAC (co-endorsed with Barton, Drazan, and Pierce)
Independents and other parties
Candidates
Candidates for general election
Betsy Johnson, former Democratic state senator from Oregon's 16th Senate district (non-affiliated)
R. Leon Noble (Libertarian Party)
Donice Noelle Smith, Army veteran and talk show host (Constitution Party)
Withdrew
Nathalie Paravicini, naturopathic doctor (Pacific Green Party and Oregon Progressive Party) (endorsed Kotek)
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
Kevin Levy, real estate broker (Independent Party)
Paul Romero, refrigeration repair technician, Republican candidate for Oregon's 2nd congressional district in 2016 and 2018, and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 (Constitution Party)
General election
Post-primary endorsements
Tina Kotek (D)
U.S. executive branch officials
Joe Biden, 46th president of the United States (2021–2025)
Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States (2009–2017)
U.S. senators
Jeff Merkley, U.S. senator from Oregon
Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator from Vermont
Ron Wyden, U.S. senator from Oregon
U.S. representatives
Earl Blumenauer, U.S. representative from Oregon's 3rd congressional district
Suzanne Bonamici, U.S. representative from Oregon's 1st congressional district
State officials
Kate Brown, governor of Oregon and former Oregon secretary of state
Tobias Read, Oregon state treasurer and 2022 governor candidate
State legislators
Wlnsvey Campos, state representative from the 28th district
Michael Dembrow, state senator from the 23rd district and former state representative from the 45th district
Maxine Dexter, state representative from the 33rd district
Jeff Golden, state senator from the 3rd district
Dacia Grayber, state representative from the 35th district
Kayse Jama, state senator from the 24th district
Rob Nosse, state representative from the 42nd district
Khanh Pham, state representative from the 46th district
Andrea Valderrama, state representative from the 47th district
Native American tribes
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Labor unions
Oregon AFL-CIO
Oregon AFSCME
Political parties
Working Families Party
Newspapers
The Astorian
The Skanner
Organizations
Everytown for Gun Safety
Pro-Choice Oregon
Stand for Children Oregon
Individuals
Nicholas Kristof, former New York Times journalist and disqualified 2022 governor candidate
Nathalie Paravicini, former 2022 Pacific Green Party and Oregon Progressive Party governor candidate
Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood
Liz Shuler, president of the AFL–CIO
Christina Stephenson, civil rights attorney and candidate for labor commissioner
Musicians
The Decemberists
Portugal. The Man
Christine Drazan (R)
U.S. representatives
Cliff Bentz, U.S. representative from Oregon's 2nd congressional district (2021–present)
State officials
Chris Christie, former governor of New Jersey (2010–2018)
Larry Hogan, governor of Maryland
Glenn Youngkin, governor of Virginia
State legislators
Daniel Bonham, state representative from the 59th district (2017–present)
Vikki Breese-Iverson, minority leader of the Oregon House of Representatives (2021–present) and state representative from the 55th district (2019–present)
Neil Bryant, former state senator from the 27th district (1993–2001)
Shelly Boshart Davis, state representative from the 15th district (2019–present)
Jessica George, state representative from the 25th district (2021–present)
Christine Goodwin, state representative from the 2nd district (2021–present)
Cedric Hayden, state representative from the 7th district (2015–present)
Dallas Heard, state senator from the 1st district (2018–present) and former state representative from the 2nd district (2015–2018) and chair of the Oregon Republican Party (2021–2022)
James Hieb, state representative from the 39th district (2022–present)
Bill Kennemer, state senator from the 20th district (2021–present) and 12th district (1987–1997) and former state representative from the 39th district (2009–2019)
Tim Knopp, minority leader of the Oregon Senate (2021–present) and state senator from 27th district (2013–present)
Bobby Levy, state representative from the 58th district (2021–present)
Rick Lewis, state representative from the 18th district (2017–present) and former mayor of Silverton (2015–2017)
Dennis Linthicum, state senator from the 28th district (2017–present) and former Klamath County commissioner (2009–2015)
Raquel Moore-Green, state representative from the 19th district (2019–present)
Lily Morgan, state representative from the 3rd district (2021–present)
Ron Noble, state representative from the 24th district (2017–present)
Mark Owens, state representative from the 60th district (2020–present)
E. Werner Reschke, state representative from the 56th district (2017–present)
Anna Scharf, state representative from the 23rd district (2021–present)
Wayne Scott, former minority leader of the Oregon House of Representatives (2007–2009) and state representative from the 39th district (2003–2009)
Mark Simmons, former speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives (2001–2003) and state representative from the 58th district (1997–2003)
David Brock Smith, state representative from the 1st district (2017–present)
Greg Smith, state representative from the 57th district (2003–present) and 59th district (2001–2003)
Duane Stark, state representative from the 4th district (2015–present)
Kim Thatcher, state senator from the 13th district (2015–present) and former state representative from the 25th district (2005–2015)
Kim Wallan, minority whip of the Oregon House of Representatives (2019–present) and state representative from the 6th district (2019–present)
Boomer Wright, state representative from the 9th district (2021–present)
Jack Zika, state representative from the 53rd district (2019–present)
Local officials
Kevin Cameron, Marion County commissioner (2014–present) and former state representative from the 19th district (2005–2014)
Tim Freeman, Douglas County commissioner (2015–present) and former state representative from the 2nd district (2009–2015)
Stan Pulliam, mayor of Sandy and 2022 governor candidate
Sherrie Sprenger, Linn County commissioner (2021–present) and former state representative from the 17th district (2008–2021)
Organizations
National Federation of Independent Business Oregon
Oregon Association of Realtors
Oregon Chiefs of Police Association (co-endorsed with Johnson)
Oregon Coalition of Police & Sheriffs (co-endorsed with Johnson)
Oregon Farm Bureau
Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association (co-endorsed with Johnson)