Tackling homelessness top goal for Oregon Democrat Kotek

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek said Thursday she would focus on addressing the state's homelessness crisis and be a leader for all residents, though the race remained too early to call.

Republican rival Christine Drazan is monitoring returns and expecting Kotek's lead to narrow.

If she wins, Kotek would join Maura Healey of Massachusetts as the first openly lesbian elected governors in the United States.

“It is an absolute honor,” Kotek said. “I can tell you that being who I am is important to Oregonians across the state. Lots of young people have come up to me and said thank you for running and thank you for being who you are.”

Kotek stood in front of a fountain in Portland a few steps from the Willamette River and told an invitation-only crowd of reporters and supporters displaying her campaign signs that she was ready to get to work.

She said she plans to travel around Oregon starting in January to talk to community leaders about issues facing the state, particularly the shortage of affordable housing and addiction. She said her priorities are addressing homelessness, expanding access to mental health and addiction treatment and working to bridge the divisions in the state.

Kotek told reporters she has spoken with Drazan and Johnson, a former state senator who ran as an unaffiliated candidate and who conceded Tuesday night.

Drazan's campaign spokesman, asked for reaction, repeated a statement from Wednesday that said: “We continue to monitor returns with the expectation that this race will tighten.”

Tuesday is the last day for election officials to receive valid postmarked ballots by mail. There could be tens of thousands of uncounted ballots still in the mail in a state with 3 million registered voters.

Oregon was the...