Democrats now have a 30-year winning streak when it comes to the Oregon governor's office. Kate Brown easily held off Republican challenger Bud Pierce Tuesday night.
Brown was technically the incumbent but was making her first run for governor. That's because as secretary of state, she became governor became governor in February 2015 when John Kitzhaber resigned amid a criminal ethics investigation. That chain of events means the winner of this year's governor's race will only serve until the 2018 election - - the remaining two years of the four-year term Kitzhaber won during the 2014 election.
Brown celebrated her victory with a crowd of Democratic supporters at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.
"I am so honored to be serving as your governor for the next two years,” she said. “Thank you so very much."
Brown defeated Salem cancer doctor Bud Pierce. The Republican was making his first run for public office. He told a crowd of Republicans gathered at the Salem Convention Center that he had called his Democratic rival to offer his congratulations.
"I told her that she is now Oregon's governor, and she is my governor,” Pierce said. “And what that means is we step away from today and we're all going to work together to create the great state that we want it to be for all its citizens."
Pierce said he's not sure if he'll challenge Brown again in 2018.
Copyright 2016 Northwest News Network
