November 11, 2022 3:40 p.m.

Republican Christine Drazan has conceded the race for governor to Democrat Tina Kotek.

In a statement released Friday afternoon, Drazan said, “I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of those who supported me and put their trust in our campaign. I also want to assure Oregonians that every vote will be counted and that their voices were heard in this election”.

Drazan said, “Unfortunately, given what we know about the ballots outstanding, the math for a comeback simply does not add up. Though the campaign for Governor of Oregon has come to an end, I am immensely grateful for all the Oregonians who joined our movement to take our state in a new direction”.

Drazan’s statement said, “A majority of Oregonians supported a candidate that did not win. This is a unique moment in Oregon’s history and an extraordinary opportunity for leadership that recognizes the dynamics of this race that call for moderation and inclusivity moving forward”.

She concluded by saying, “I have spoken to Tina Kotek and hope for the best for our state as she steps into this role.

As of Friday afternoon, the Oregon Secretary of State’s website showed Kotek leading by over 64,000 votes. Kotek had just over 47 percent of the vote to more than 43 percent for Drazan. Non-affiliated candidate Betsy Johnson has slightly over 8.6 percent.