Democrat Kate Brown appears to have won reelection to become Oregon governor, defeating Republican challenger Knute Buehler.
As poll results came in shortly after 8 p.m., the Oregon Secretary of State’s office and show that with 1.3 million votes, Brown carried 50 percent of the votes, compared with Buehler’s 44 percent.
Brown’s victory would cap a year-long campaign that set a new state record for campaign funding. She and Buehler combined to spend more than $30 million, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
Brown, the incumbent, first rose to the position in 2015 following the resignation of former Gov. John Kitzhaber. She then won reelection, against Republican Bud Pierce, in 2016.
Buehler, from his campaign event at the Sentinel Hotel in Portland, conceded defeat shortly after 8:30 p.m. Joined onstage by his family, Buehler thanked supporters and said he was disappointed.
“My voice will not be leading this state for the next four years and I certainly accept that decision, but also let’s be very clear: the status quo in this state is not tolerable,” he said.
This story will be updated.
