Democratic nominee John Kitzhaber easily defeated Republican Bill Sizemore to win a second term.

It is also the most recent election in which any county in Eastern Oregon or Southern Oregon voted for the Democratic nominee, and the most recent gubernatorial election in which a candidate would win while carrying the majority of the state's counties.

Sizemore would run again for governor in the 2022 election, but would lose in the Republican primary.

[1] This election was the first time where an incumbent Democratic Governor of Oregon was re-elected since 1906.

Incumbent governor Kitzhaber emphasized his support of education and the environment.