Abortion Rights Win in Oregon; Voters Elect Tina Kotek as Governor

Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon-endorsed candidate Tina Kotek has won her election for Governor. This victory means abortion access in Oregon will continue to have a champion in the Capitol and will be protected and expanded.

As this election proved, voters want elected officials who are bold champions for abortion access. Kotek put abortion rights at the forefront of her campaign, talking about her commitment to protecting abortion access on the campaign trail, running ads focused on reproductive freedom and standing up for our rights on the debate stage. Thanks to her bold leadership as House Speaker, abortion rights are protected in state statute — but there is so much more work that remains now that Roe vs. Wade has been overturned.

Statement from An Do, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon:

“This is a huge win for abortion rights and reproductive freedom in Oregon. Our rights were on the line, and Oregonians turned out to vote for an unapologetic champion for reproductive health and rights. We know Tina Kotek will fiercely fight to protect the right and access to abortion. This is a clear sign that Oregonians want the right to make their own decisions about their bodies and will vote out any politicians hellbent on taking our freedom and controlling our lives. We are the majority. We showed up and showed out, and we are ready to get to work with Tina Kotek to protect our rights and expand access to care.

“Abortion was the game-changer in this election — defying history and the pundits to drive monumental victories for many reproductive rights champions and abortion access across the country. The elections here in Oregon and in Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Vermont and California proved that when abortion is on the ballot, voters choose control over their bodies, lives and futures every time. Voters confirmed that politicians who attack abortion access represent a radical fringe movement — not the will of the people.”

Planned Parenthood supporters worked around the clock to elect reproductive healthcare champions. This included door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, text banking and more. Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon’s investment was a component of “Take Control,” a national $50 million campaign by Planned Parenthood advocacy and political organizations to protect reproductive rights across the country — the largest-ever electoral program in the groups’ history.