In a campaign ad, Drazan promises she will not ban abortion, cut health care or let Washington control Oregon. The message aims to distance her from President Donald Trump and national Republican politics, while focusing attention on concerns about schools, housing costs and the state’s economy.

Drazan, a state senator and the GOP’s 2022 nominee for governor, told an interviewer she would serve Oregonians regardless of who occupies the White House. “I am my own person,” she said, rejecting political labels and arguing that voters are tired of division.

Her challenge is appealing to moderate and Democratic-leaning voters without alienating her Republican base. Ryan Duale, a 38-year-old collision repair technician from Milwaukie who voted for Kamala Harris in 2024, said he is still examining Drazan’s environmental positions but is drawn to her focus on economic growth.

“I want to focus on what we can do,” Duale said, adding that he is tired of hearing the governor’s race framed primarily as a fight with Trump.

Drazan has promised to improve schools, reduce taxes and make Oregon more business-friendly. As a legislative leader, she used procedural tactics and walkouts to slow Democratic policies. She also cited blocking a proposed gas tax as a recent accomplishment, saying it would have been unaffordable.

On federal changes to food assistance and health care, Drazan said the social safety net matters to her, noting that her family relied on food stamps. She also argued Oregon must address errors in its administration of SNAP, while saying federal officials are entitled to expect public funds to be used responsibly.

Drazan’s positions on abortion and voting access may be particularly important to voters considering a break from Democrats. She says she has never supported an abortion ban, but identifies as personally anti-abortion because of her faith. She argued that major changes to Oregon’s abortion laws would require action by the Legislature, where Democrats hold a majority, and said she would not impose her beliefs on others.

On elections, Drazan said she supports Oregon’s vote-by-mail system and would not change it as governor. She has also backed allowing in-person voting as an option, citing concerns about mail delivery delays and ballots that were not received in parts of the state in 2024. Drazan said her aim is to give voters confidence that their ballots will be counted.

Kotek and Drazan previously served together in the Legislature, where Drazan led House Republicans and Kotek was House speaker. Drazan lost to Kotek in 2022, in a three-way race that also included former state Sen. Betsy Johnson. Public polling in the current contest has suggested a tight race, with recent surveys indicating some movement toward Kotek.

It has been more than four decades since a Republican won Oregon’s governorship. Drazan’s campaign is betting that voters dissatisfied with the state’s direction will prioritize local concerns over national partisan identities.