Why AP called the Oregon governor race for Tina Kotek - The Associated Press - en Español

WASHINGTON (AP) — There were nary signs that Republican Christina Drazan was improving connected her ballot totals implicit caller days that would person enabled her to overtake Democrat Tina Kotek successful the Oregon governor’s race.

That’s what led the AP to telephone the contention Thursday nighttime for Kotek implicit Drazan and unaffiliated campaigner Betsy Johnson.

Even without factoring votes coming successful from areas that favored Kotek, determination inactive wasn’t capable country for Drazan to marque up the difference.

Kotek joins Maura Healey, elected Tuesday arsenic politician of Massachusetts, successful making past arsenic the nation’s archetypal openly lesbian elected governors.

Oregon hasn’t had a Republican politician since the 1980s and is typically reliably Democratic successful statewide contests. But this year’s race to win term-limited incumbent Democrat Kate Brown had Republicans hopeful and Democrats worried.

President Joe Biden campaigned for Kotek successful the closing weeks of the campaign, highlighting the race’s value to Democrats.

___

Reach Mike Catalini astatine http://twitter.com/mikecatalini and Meg Kinnard astatine http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP

___

Check retired https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections to larn much astir the issues and factors astatine play successful the 2022 midterm elections. Follow AP’s sum of the 2022 midterm elections at: https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections.