Oregon

Democrats control the governor’s office, both chambers of the Legislature, the attorney general’s office, and the secretary of state’s office. Governor Tina Kotek won her May 19 primary and faces Republican Christine Drazan in a November rematch of the 2022 race.

Oregon has governing power. The question is whether it is using that power fast enough on homelessness, housing, and the aftermath of its drug decriminalization experiment.

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Homelessness keeps getting worse despite emergency powers

Kotek declared a homelessness emergency on her first day in office in January 2023. She has extended it twice since then, most recently in January 2026.

12,034 people were homeless in the Portland metro area in January 2025, a 61% increase from two years earlier

The state committed $20 million for permanent supportive housing with intensive services for people with addiction or mental illness. In May 2026, Kotek announced $94 million to help older Oregonians find affordable housing.

Thousands of people have moved from streets to shelter and from shelter into homes. But the numbers are still climbing. Kotek’s own words frame the tension.

The 61% increase is the single most cited number against Kotek as she runs for reelection. Drazan will center her campaign on Portland livability and public safety, the same themes she ran on in 2022.

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A $376 million bet on building more homes

The 2026 Legislature passed a $376 million housing package, the largest in state history. Kotek signed most of the bills in late March and April 2026.

The private equity protection in HB 4128 is one of the strongest in the country. Wall Street investors have bought thousands of single-family homes in Oregon and converted them to rentals, driving up prices for first-time buyers.

The question is whether $376 million and zoning changes can outrun a housing shortage that took decades to build.

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Oregon reversed its drug experiment

In 2020, Oregon voters made history by passing Measure 110, which decriminalized possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. It was the first law of its kind in the country.

Four years later, it was over. Governor Kotek signed House Bill 4002 in 2024, making possession a crime again.

Before HB 4002	After HB 4002
Small-amount possession was a civil violation with a $100 fine	Possession is a misdemeanor again
Revenue went to addiction treatment services	Treatment infrastructure still building out
Oregon was a national model for decriminalization	Oregon is now cited as proof that decriminalization failed

Kotek initially insisted during her 2022 campaign that Measure 110 deserved more time. She later said intervention was necessary. The reversal split advocates. Supporters say it was the only response to the fentanyl crisis. Opponents say it criminalized addiction without building enough treatment beds first.

The treatment infrastructure Measure 110 was supposed to fund is still being built. That is the gap that matters now. Recriminalizing possession without adequate treatment means more people cycle through the courts instead of getting help.

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Voters approved a gun law in 2022 and it still has not taken effect

Oregon voters passed Measure 114 in November 2022. It requires a permit to buy a gun and bans magazines holding 10 or more rounds. Nearly four years later, it has never been enforced.

The Legislature tried to help. The House passed HB 4145 by a vote of 33-19 to implement Measure 114. But Senate Republicans threatened a walkout, and Democrats gutted the bill in the final days of session. The implementation timeline was pushed to 2028. The bill went from 28 pages to two.

This is a case study in how a minority party can override a majority vote by threatening to shut down government. Oregon Democrats had the votes. They chose to compromise rather than risk a walkout that would stall the entire session.

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The governor’s race is a rematch

Kotek beat Drazan by a few percentage points in 2022, in a three-way race that included independent Betsy Johnson. This time it is head-to-head.

Race	Candidates	Date
Governor	Tina Kotek (D) vs. Christine Drazan (R)	November 3, 2026
Gas tax referendum	Repeal of Democratic-passed gas tax increase	November 3, 2026

Drazan will run on homelessness, Portland safety, and the perception that Democratic leadership has not delivered. Kotek will run on the $376 million housing package, the homelessness emergency response, and legislative results.

The gas tax repeal referendum adds another ballot fight. Democrats passed gas tax increases and fee hikes. A repeal effort made the ballot. The referendum could drive turnout from voters who feel the cost of living directly.

The lever Oregon’s governor controls homelessness emergency powers, housing agency direction, and the veto pen on the Legislature’s work

Voters who care about housing, drug policy, gun safety, or public lands should know what the governor can do and what the Legislature needs to send them.

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Protect yourself right now

1. Check your voter registration. Oregon uses automatic voter registration and vote-by-mail. Verify your address and ballot delivery at oregonvotes.gov.

2. Track your ballot. Oregon lets you track your ballot online. Do not assume it arrived. Confirm it was received and counted.

3. Know the gas tax referendum. Read the actual ballot measure language before November. Campaign ads on both sides will simplify it.

4. Ask candidates about Measure 114. The gun law voters approved in 2022 still has not taken effect. Ask governor and legislative candidates whether they will implement it or let it sit until 2028.

5. Call the governor’s office. 503-378-4582. Ask about treatment infrastructure. Recriminalizing drug possession without adequate treatment capacity means more court cycling, not more recovery.