Christine Drazan, the Republican candidate for governor of Oregon, conceded on Nov. 11 that she lost the race to Democrat Tina Kotek.
In a statement, Drazan said that even with ballots remaining to be counted, she cannot win.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to all those who supported me and put their trust in our campaign. I also want to assure Oregonians that every vote will be counted and that their voices were heard in this election. Unfortunately, given what we know about the ballots outstanding, the math for a comeback simply does not add up,” Drazan said.
She pointed out that Kotek has won less than 50 percent of the vote, with unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson taking a share.
“Though the campaign for Governor of Oregon has come to an end, I am immensely grateful for all the Oregonians who joined our movement to take our state in a new direction. A majority of Oregonians supported a candidate that did not win,” Drazan said. “This is a unique moment in Oregon’s history and an extraordinary opportunity for leadership that recognizes the dynamics of this race that call for moderation and inclusivity moving forward. I have spoken with Tina Kotek and hope for the best for our state as she steps into this role.”
Kotek was Oregon’s longest-serving House speaker, and Drazan was a leader of the minority Republicans in the Oregon House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Johnson was a Democratic senator who joined the governor race as an unaffiliated candidate after she quit the party.
Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan said on Friday there have been no reports of widespread voter fraud.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, who could not run for re-election due to term limits, issued a statement of congratulations to Kotek on Thursday.
“Congratulations to Governor-elect Tina Kotek—an advocate for working families who will fight to ensure every Oregonian has a chance at a better future,” Brown wrote on Twitter. “It has been my honor to serve as Governor, and I look forward to working together toward a smooth transition in January.”
