Oregon Working Families Party nominates Gov. Tina Kotek for reelection

Bend, ORE. (KTVZ) --- The Oregon Working Families Party has cross-nominated Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek for a second term in the state's gubernatorial race.

The decision follows a party vote backing candidates who agree to specific policy commitments focused on working-class families.

Oregon utilizes a fusion voting system, which allows more than one political party to nominate the same candidate on an election ballot.

The nomination was finalized following a vote at the party's convention on Aug. 16 at the ILWU Local eight Union Hall in Portland, which brought together more than 200 members, elected officials and organizational representatives from across the state.

Gov. Kotek accepted the cross-nomination during the event, emphasizing economic priorities for working residents. “Thank you to the Oregon Working Families Party for inviting me to your convention and for the honor of earning your cross-nomination,” Kotek said. “Oregonians deserve a governor who will defend frontline communities from immediate attacks and deliver on a better future. My opponent does not share our vision for Oregon and I refuse to let us go backward. But this election is not only about what we are fighting against – it is also about what we are fighting for: an Oregon where working people can afford a home, quality child care and the basic costs of living; where they can join a union, raise a family and retire with dignity. I'm proud to earn this cross-nomination by re-committing to that work.”

As part of the cross-nomination, Kotek agreed to a set of policy commitments. These include enforcing state sanctuary protections and the Immigrant Justice Package, maintaining farmworker overtime rules, protecting climate measures and expanding universal preschool statewide using the model established by Multnomah County's Preschool For All. Her commitments also include holding corporations accountable when receiving public funds, expanding higher education access, increasing campaign finance transparency, investing in restorative justice programs, creating jobs through clean energy and infrastructure projects and meeting with the Working Families legislative caucus during legislative sessions.

Party leaders characterized the endorsement as an agreement built on specific policy benchmarks. Annie Naranjo-Rivera, state director of the Oregon Working Families Party, highlighted the significance of candidate commitments to working-class voters. “Across the country we see candidates winning when they stand with working people. By attending our convention and committing to working people's issues, Gov. Kotek is grounding herself with the priorities of Oregon's multiracial working class,” Naranjo-Rivera said. “The Governor made commitments that give working people across Oregon concrete policy goals to organize around and fight for in the November election.”

Naranjo-Rivera noted that the cross-nomination followed detailed discussions with party members about challenges facing Oregon families. “Our members have sent a clear message: they will support candidates who can point to a concrete plan for working people,” Naranjo-Rivera said. “This cross-nomination is not a favor. It is the result of Gov. Kotek being in dialogue with members of our party, hearing what multiracial working-class families in Oregon are up against and putting her name on commitments that working families can hold her to.”

The policy commitments will serve as focal points for the party's organizing efforts leading up to the November election.