Kotek, Drazan each call for Oregon data center moratorium

Data Center opponents rally outside the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Tuesday September 8, 2026. About 200 people attended where Gov. Tina Kotek called on Legislature to impose a statewide moratorium on new data center development. (photo credit Mark Graves, The Oregonian)

Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and her Republican opponent, Sen. Christine Drazan, both called for statewide moratoriums on data centers Tuesday, converging on the same position within hours of each other after years of more cautious stances on the hot-button issue.

The change comes as public sentiment sours on the industry ahead of the November election.

“I support a moratorium until we make sure that any data center development is done on our terms,” Kotek told a rally of roughly 200 Oregon data center opponents at the Capitol on Tuesday. Although she had previously spoken out against some of the industry’s excesses and its tax incentives, and had moved to block sale of state land for data centers, Kotek had stopped short of endorsing a statewide ban.

The governor still says existing law doesn’t give her the authority to impose a ban. So she called on the Legislature to act when it begins its next session early next year.

Drazan, who had opposed a statewide moratorium as recently as July, said Tuesday that the governor shouldn’t wait.

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