GOP nominee for Oregon governor, State Sen. Christine Drazan (R-Canby) visited with members of the OAN Government Relations Committee and pledged her support for the nursery industry. Photo by Curt Kipp
State Sen. Christine Drazan (R-Canby), the Republican nominee for Oregon governor, visited with members of the OAN Government Relations Committee at the 2026 Farwest Show. There, the longtime ally of the nursery industry reiterated her belief in its importance. “You guys as an industry are critically important to our state, to our economy, to our communities, and I view it as a privilege to be able to spend time with you guys during this show,” she said.
Drazan pledged to provide support and relief against regulatory and cost pressures that she said punish business. “We have got to say, ‘We’re open for business. We want you here. What’s it gonna take for you to grow? What are the limitations on your growth?’” Drazan said.
Drazan opposes the state’s agricultural overtime law, which has been phased in over the past four years. The overtime threshold started at 56 hours, then moved to 48 hours in 2025 and will drop to 40 hours on January 1, 2027. Other issues she mentioned included the state’s corporate activity tax, or CAT, which taxes gross revenues. “That tax, for it to be uniquely heavy on activity within our borders, not based on profit, entirely based on activity, it’s irrational,” she said.
Drazan mentioned eliminating Oregon’s Climate Protection Program, which was created by executive order in 2020. It phases in emissions caps over time. “I look forward to tearing up the Climate Protection Program on day one,” Drazan said. “I’m super excited to take that executive order and light it on fire.”
She blamed high living costs in Oregon largely on the state’s energy policies.
“If we are gonna have this approach that we must decarbonize everything, it’s expensive,” she said. “If we’re only wind and solar, and we have now abandoned the concept that even natural gas is clean enough for us, and hydropower isn’t even on our list for being green enough for us, then we’re not, we’re not serious about ensuring that our economy is strong and growing.”
