Rep. Christine Drazan , a prominent Republican from Canby, was appointed to fill an empty state Senate seat Thursday as she acknowledged she could depart the seat early to again run for governor in 2026.

In a joint meeting, county commissioners from Wasco, Hood River, Multnomah and Clackamas counties chose Drazan to represent Senate District 26 over her colleague Rep. Jeff Helfrich , a Republican from Hood River.

The seat was recently left open by the departure of Sen. Daniel Bonham, a Republican from The Dalles who was tapped to work for the federal Labor Bureau. The term runs through January 2027.

Meanwhile, several Republican legislative aides and lawmakers told The Oregonian/OregonLive they’ve heard speculation that Drazan plans to announce a run for governor at an event Monday

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