2016 Oregon gubernatorial special election

The 2016 Oregon gubernatorial special election took place on November 8, 2016, to elect the Governor of Oregon, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, other gubernatorial elections and various state and local elections.
The election determined who would fill the remaining two years of the term of Democratic governor John Kitzhaber, who was re-elected in 2014 and resigned in February 2015. Incumbent Democratic governor Kate Brown, who as Oregon Secretary of State succeeded to the governorship, ran for election to the office. In primary elections held on May 17, Brown easily captured the Democratic nomination, and the Republicans picked Salem oncologist Bud Pierce.
Brown won the election and became the first openly LGBT person elected to a term as governor in U.S. history. This election was the first time since 1990 that a woman was elected Governor of Oregon. As of, it was also the most recent gubernatorial special election in the U.S., excluding recall elections.

Democratic primary

Allen Alley, former chairman of the Oregon Republican Party, nominee for Oregon State Treasurer in 2008 and candidate for governor in 2010
Bruce Cuff, real estate broker and candidate for governor in 2014
Bob Forthan, perennial candidate
Bob Niemeyer, engineering company owner and candidate for OR-01 in 2014
Bud Pierce, physician

Shane Bemis, Mayor of Gresham
Knute Buehler, state representative and nominee for secretary of state in 2012
Sid Leiken, Lane County Commissioner, former mayor of Springfield and candidate for Oregon's 4th congressional district in 2010
Julie Parrish, state representative
Dennis Richardson, former state representative and nominee for governor in 2014
Sherrie Sprenger, state representative
Monica Wehby, pediatric neurosurgeon and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014

Aggregate polls

Source of poll aggregation	Dates administered	Dates updated	Kate Brown	Bud Pierce	Other/Undecided	Margin
Real Clear Politics	October 4–29, 2016	October 29, 2016	45.5%	35.5%	19.0%	Brown +10.0%

→ Indicates an internal poll conducted on behalf of Bud Pierce.
with Allen Alley

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Kate Brown	Allen Alley	Other	Undecided
Moore Information	April 20, 2015	500	± 4.0%	47%	32%	—	21%

with Shane Bemis

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Kate Brown	Shane Bemis	Other	Undecided
Moore Information	April 20, 2015	500	± 4.0%	45%	26%	—	28%

with Dennis Richardson

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Kate Brown	Dennis Richardson	Other	Undecided
Moore Information	April 20, 2015	500	± 4.0%	48%	41%	—	12%

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Brown won three of five congressional districts. Pierce won the other two, including one that elected a Democrat.