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

Debates Date Host Moderator Link ParticipantsKey: Participant  Non-invitee  George Carillo Tina Kotek Tobias Read Patrick Starnes 1 Mar 18, 2022 Oregon AFL–CIO Michelle Damis 2Apr 22, 2022City Club of PortlandLaural PorterDavid Molko Video 3May 3, 2022KOIN 6 NewsPamplin Media GroupKen BoddieVideos

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TinaKotek TobiasRead UndecidedFM3 Research (D)FM3 Research (D)April 7–11, 2022653 (LV)± 3.8%25%20%56%

Results

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)

Debates Date Host Moderator LinkParticipantsKey: Participant  Absent  Non-invitee  1 Apr 7, 2022 Timber Unity Denise QuinnHunter Newton 2Apr 21, 2022Central Oregon DailyThe BulletinAllen SchaufflerJerry O'BrienVideo 3Apr 22, 2022Linn County Republican PartyAdam KeatonVideoVideo 4Apr 28, 2022KOIN 6 NewsPamplin Media GroupJeff GianolaVideos 5May 3, 2022City Club of PortlandLaural PorterDavid MolkoVideo

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BridgetBarton ChristineDrazan JessicaGomez KerryMcQuisten BudPierce StanPulliam BillSizemore MarcThielman BobTiernan Other UndecidedNelson Research (R)Nelson Research (R)Apr 29 – May 2, 2022514 (LV)± 4.3%3%19%2%6%10%7%4%6%14%3%27%Nelson Research (R)Nelson Research (R)Apr 11–13, 2022520 (LV)± 4.3%2%8%4%3%11%5%5%4%5%5%48%Fallon Research & Communications (R)Fallon Research & Communications (R)Early Nov 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%–2%2%–14%––––15%67%

Results

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 Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report September 16, 2022Inside Elections October 7, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 7, 2022PoliticoOctober 3, 2022 RCP November 1, 2022Fox News September 20, 2022538November 8, 2022Elections DailyNovember 7, 2022

Debates Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Republican IndependentKey: Participant  Tina Kotek Christine Drazan Betsy Johnson 1 July 29, 2022 Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Mark GarberVideo 2Sept. 27, 2022Oregon State University–CascadesKTVZCity Club of Central OregonCathy MarshallVideo (Part 1)Video (Part 2) 3Oct. 4, 2022KATUSteve DunnVideo 4Oct. 6, 2022KOBISouthern Oregon UniversityCraig SmullinVideo 5Oct 19, 2022The OregonianKGWLaurel PorterHillary BorrudVideo

Post-primary endorsements

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated TinaKotek (D) ChristineDrazan (R) BetsyJohnson (I) OtherMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsOctober 17 – November 6, 2022November 7, 202242.3%41.0%11.5%5.2%Kotek +1.3FiveThirtyEightFiveThirtyEightJune 29 – November 6, 2022November 7, 202244.9%41.9%8.4%4.8%Kotek +3270toWin270toWinOctober 26 – November 7, 2022November 7, 202243.6%42.2%8.6%5.6%Kotek +1.4Average43.6%42.0%9.5%4.9%Kotek +1.6