DECISION 2026: One-on-one with gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Former Oregon House Minority Leader and current state senator Christine Drazan brought her campaign for governor to Central Oregon on Friday, outlining her vision for the state and voicing strong opposition to recent tax and fee hikes passed for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
Just hours before her interview with KTVZ News, the group “No Tax on Oregon” submitted nearly 200,000 signatures to challenge the state’s new tax package, which doubles most DMV fees and raises the gas tax. The Secretary of State’s Office confirmed receipt of the signatures and has until late January to verify them. If approved, the measure will go before voters in 2026, a move Drazan says she fully supports.
“The Democrats in charge ignored alternatives,” Drazan said in an interview with KTVZ News. “They could have balanced the budget with existing revenue. Instead, they passed new taxes when Oregonians are already struggling.”
Drazan sharply criticized Governor Tina Kotek and Democratic legislative leaders, accusing them of mismanaging state finances. She argued that the ODOT budget could have been balanced by cutting what she called “waste”, pointing to spending on climate programs, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and consultants.
“Government should live within its means,” Drazan said. “Families across Oregon have had to make hard choices about what they can afford. Government should do the same.”
Drazan, who represented Canby in the state legislature and now serves as a senator, said her campaign’s central focus is affordability, starting with housing. She described Central Oregon’s housing market as “nearly impossible” for many families, blaming state tax and regulatory policies.
“Politicians did this to folks in Central Oregon,” she said. “The tax structure, the regulatory structure, the land-use rules—those decisions made homeownership out of reach for too many.”
Drazan said she supports cutting red tape to speed up housing construction but opposes what she called Governor Kotek’s “one-size-fits-all” approach to land use and community planning. “Her approach has been to require communities to ignore their values and shove houses in every nook and cranny,” Drazan said. “I wouldn’t do that.”
In addition to her campaign stops in Central Oregon, including visits with business owners and local Republican leaders, Drazan emphasized her commitment to fiscal restraint and restoring what she calls “common-sense governance.”
“We’re in the middle of a primary, and these are real choices for Oregon’s future,” Drazan said. “We need a state that’s affordable, accountable, and working for everyone.”
Find more Decision 2026 coverage here.
