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Tina Kotek wins Democratic nod for Oregon's Governor


Tina Kotek - Image courtesy Tina Kotek's campaign
Tina Kotek - Image courtesy Tina Kotek's campaign
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PORTLAND, Ore. — Former Speaker of the House Tina Kotek has won the Democratic nomination in the race for Oregon’s next governor.

Kotek beat out her closest challenger, State Treasurer Tobias Read, with 56% of the vote as of 8:35 p.m. Tuesday.

ELECTION RESULTS

Kotek led Oregon’s House of Representatives for a record nine years. The Portland-based politician had collected endorsements from a third of Oregon lawmakers, nationally elected leaders, unions and organizations.

“In November, everything, everything we care about is on the line,” Kotek said in her victory speech. “Because this year, its’ not just a Democrat versus a Republican, this will be a three-way race for the highest office in our state, and this will be an election unlike any of us have ever seen. And whoever comes out of the Republican primary will be hell bent on bringing our state backwards at a time we need to go forward.”

Current Gov. Kate Brown, a progressive Democrat, cannot run for the position again due to term limits.

Oregon hasn’t seen a GOP governor in 35 years. But political experts say Republicans have an opening for victory amid widespread discontent in the state and a possible split in votes among the majority parties as the unaffiliated Johnson makes a gubernatorial run in the fall.

Among the crowded field of 19 Republican candidates are former Oregon House Republican leader Christine Drazan, former Oregon Republican Party Chair Bob Tiernan and Dr. Bud Pierce, a Salem oncologist.

The candidates who win in the Democratic and Republican primaries will be in a three-way race in the November election with former longtime Democratic state senator Betsy Johnson, who is running as a non-afilliated candidate.

Kotek said during her speech Tuesday that this year there will be two conservatives running in November, indicating Johnson would be the other one.

Oregon’s primary election results could be delayed in close races due to a new state law, which includes mail-in ballots that are postmarked by Election Day if county election offices get them within a week. Previously, ballots were only counted if they were received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

**The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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