In gov's race, candidates duel over data centers

By Alex Baumhardt | Senior reporter

For months, Oregon’s incumbent Gov. Tina Kotek and her Republican challenger, State Sen. Christine Drazan, of Canby, have traded party-line barbs in their dueling campaigns to lead the state. But bipartisan backlash against data centers is growing, and Kotek and Drazan are scrambling to present themselves as the candidate willing to curb development.

“Oregonians right now do not want to have candidates who are enthusiastic about bringing more data centers into Oregon,” John Horvick, senior vice president at DHM Research, told reporter Shaanth Nanguneri. A late July poll by the firm found that 71% of Oregonians have a negative view of data centers.

“Painting your opponent as the one who did this, or one who wants to do more of this, is basic blocking and tackling,” he said.

Also in today's edition:

Gov. Tina Kotek urges caution as wildfire season wears on and firefighters exhausted.
Feds sue Oregon for allowing students without legal status to pay in-state college tuition.
Group leading effort to restore abortion access by ballot initiative in Idaho sues state over confusing and misleading ballot language.

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Data centers emerge as new flashpoint between Kotek, Drazan in Oregon governor’s race

By Shaanth Nanguneri

A view of data centers in Boardman, Oregon. (Photo by Jordan Gale/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

For months, Oregon’s incumbent Gov. Tina Kotek and her Republican challenger, State Sen. Christine Drazan, of Canby, have traded party-line barbs in their dueling campaigns to lead the state. But a new fissure between the candidates is emerging over data centers, and the growing public backlash over the server farms in Oregon and nationwide.

‘A lot of fire season left:’ Gov. Kotek urges caution ahead of Labor Day

By Mia Maldonado

Skyler Merritt, a Cal Fire helicopter manager, looks out from an Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter as it approaches the Hagen Fire near Pendleton, on July 29, 2026. Cal Fire personnel are working alongside Oregon National Guard aircrews to help coordinate helicopter operations supporting Oregon’s wildfire response. (Photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne/Oregon National Guard)

After spending her morning flying across the state to observe active wildfires near Mount Hood and northeast Oregon, Gov. Tina Kotek warned Oregonians to stay alert as the state still has more than a month until the end of the fire season.

“It’s really horrifying to see the type of fire damage that’s already occurred,” Kotek said in a press conference Thursday afternoon.