The front-runners in Oregon’s gubernatorial race will square off in a live debate Thursday, Oct. 1.

The debate between Gov. Tina Kotek and state Sen. Christine Drazan will take place at 6 p.m.

Lookout Eugene-Springfield is teaming up with other Oregon media outlets to co-sponsor “Election 2026: The Governor’s Debate.”

It will be the first debate for the candidates in this election cycle, though they faced off during the 2022 gubernatorial election. Kotek, a Democratic governor, is running for a second term and Drazan, a Republican challenger, is hoping to unseat her. 

Lookout is co-sponsoring the debate alongside Oregon Journalism Project, KVAL TV, and the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.

Panelists will be Lookout senior correspondent Ben Botkin, Nigel Jaquiss of Oregon Journalism Project and Bayla Orton of the University of Oregon. KVAL’s Kendall Bartley will moderate.

The debate will be held on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene and broadcast on KVAL. It will stream live on YouTube and be available on Lookout’s website, mobile app and Facebook page.