Former President Barack Obama is asking Oregonians to give Gov. Tina Kotek a second term, four years after he endorsed his fellow Democrat in her first gubernatorial bid.
“Hey Oregon, Barack Obama here,” the former president states in a 48-second video released by Kotek’s campaign Tuesday. “You know what’s on the line in this election? Your healthcare. Your reproductive rights. Your ability to vote by mail. That’s why we need your governor, Tina Kotek, fighting for Oregon.”
Obama doesn’t mention Kotek’s main opponent, Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan, nor President Donald Trump, who Kotek has repeatedly referenced in her own messaging, pledging to stand up against his controversial policies. Instead, he says Kotek would continue to “stand up to anyone” if it would help Oregonians.
Voters in the state have about two weeks to drop off or mail their ballots in the Nov. 3 election.
Polling has indicated a tight race between Kotek and Drazan, although Oregon has not elected a Republican governor in 44 years. The Cook Political Report, a prominent national elections analysis group, is currently rating the race as leaning in Kotek’s favor.
In the new campaign video, Obama also touts some of Kotek’s accomplishments in office, saying she has expanded abortion access, helped restore food assistance benefits and fought to protect Medicaid services.
“Tina won’t rest until everyone can send their kids to good schools, make a good living and build a better life,” Obama states.
Obama has endorsed several Democratic candidates in competitive U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races in at least five other states, including in Wisconsin, Mississippi and Georgia.
In 2022, Obama filmed a similar video in support of Kotek. Also that year, then-President Joe Biden and several other high-profile Democrats visited Oregon to campaign for Kotek. (That race was seen as highly competitive.)
Trump has also been campaigning for Republicans across the country, but there is no indication that he will publicly support Drazan or visit Oregon, where polls have consistently shown him to be deeply unpopular. Throughout her campaign, Drazan has criticized some of Trump’s most controversial actions while avoiding any broader criticism of the president.
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