Two women have served as governor of Oregon: Democrat Barbara Roberts, who served from 1991 to 1995 and current Democratic Governor Kate Brown, who has held the office since 2015. Today, women hold the majority of statewide elective executive offices in Oregon.

In a little more than a month, voters will determine the next governor of Oregon; Democrat Kate Brown is term-limited. Oregon voters made history in 2016, when they elected Brown, who's openly bisexual, making her the first openly LGBT person elected governor in any state. Now, Oregon is the site of another historic gubernatorial contest. Three women are vying for the state’s top office: Tina Kotek (D), Christine Drazan (R), and Betsy Johnson (I).

All 3 women served in the Oregon state legislature. Democrat Tina Kotek, the first openly Lesbian woman to serve as Speaker of the Oregon House, served from 2013 to 2022. Republican Christine Drazan served as the Minority Leader of the Oregon House from 2019 to 2021. In that role, she was in direct conflict with then-Speaker Kotek. Betsy Johnson is a former member of both the Oregon House (2001-2005) and Senate (2005-2021). During the entirety of her tenure, she ran and served as a Democrat, but she is now running in the gubernatorial election as an Independent. Notably, Johnson’s successful petition drive to qualify for the ballot was bolstered by cash from Nike founder Phil Knight and several timber and construction companies and groups. The race has attracted over $30 million in campaign contributions, with national party groups backing Kotek and Drazan.

Already, the three candidates have differed sharply on their stances on issues like guns, law enforcement, housing, and education. The urban-rural divide in American politics is a factor shaping each candidates stance. And in a year where abortion is on the ballot, the issue remains a point of contention in the race where Republican Christine Drazan maintains a "pro-life" stance as abortion access becomes "increasingly important" for Oregonians.

We sat down with Alison Gash, an associate professor of Political Science at the University of Oregon and Hillary Borrud, State Government and Politics Reporter for The Oregonian, for more on this unique 3-way, SHElection!