PORTLAND, Ore. (Sep. 26, 2026) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan said Oregon needs a change in direction during a Thursday forum in Portland, criticizing the state’s economic policies and calling for a greater focus on business growth, affordability and public services.
Drazan, a state senator from Canby, spoke alongside Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek at the Portland Business Journal and Oregon Business & Industry’s Oregon Competitiveness Summit and Gubernatorial Candidate Forum. The event marked the first time the two candidates shared a stage during the 2026 general election campaign.
Drazan questioned whether Oregon voters should continue electing the same type of political leadership after years of economic challenges.
“Who do we trust to fix what’s broken? Who do we believe can actually deliver on what they’re sharing and talking about today?” Drazan said.
She cited Oregon’s unemployment rate and increasing personal bankruptcies as indicators of economic challenges facing the state.
“We cannot continue to go down this path of electing the same kinds of people over and over and over again and expecting a different result,” Drazan said.
Drazan also addressed Oregon’s tax structure, including the Corporate Activity Tax, which applies to businesses with more than $1 million in annual sales.
She said she would consider raising the threshold and argued that economic growth could offset some lost revenue.
“When businesses grow and thrive, it grows the pie overall for our state,” Drazan said. “We’re an income tax dependent state. We need jobs.”
Drazan also criticized how some Corporate Activity Tax revenue is used, saying some of the money is “fattening up bureaucracy” rather than going directly to schools. Kotek disputed that characterization, saying the roughly $3 billion allocated to schools every two years also supports early childhood education, school meals and counselors.
The candidates also discussed Portland, with both acknowledging that the city has faced significant challenges while differing over the direction of the city and state.
Drazan said Portland can recover but argued that a change in direction is necessary.
“I think that’s the message today is that Portland will come back fully and stronger than ever, but we’ve got to change direction for that to happen,” she said.
Drazan also addressed the Trump administration, saying that as governor she would put Oregon’s interests first regardless of who occupies the White House.
“I’m asking to lead our state to the benefit of the citizens of this state, period,” Drazan said. “And there is no doubt that tariffs have harmed our state. There is no doubt that the war in Iran is harming our state today.”
“We need to have Oregon’s voices heard. And I can tell you that no matter who is in the White House, I will always stand up for the state,” she said.
The forum was not structured as a formal debate. Drazan and Kotek are scheduled to meet for a debate Oct. 1 at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Additional debates are scheduled for Medford on Oct. 7 and Bend on Oct. 13.
The 2026 election is a rematch of the 2022 governor’s race between Kotek and Drazan.
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