In a year when the number of female candidates across the country is setting records, Oregon already has more women in top state leadership positions than any other state, with track records in office to defend.
Issues like sexual assault and abortion rights that have attracted many women to join the electoral fray have become challenges for some of the Oregon candidates.
Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat seeking a second term, is up against Knute Buehler, an orthopedic surgeon who defeated nine other primary contenders and is a rare Republican candidate who favors abortion rights. Though Hillary Clinton carried the state by 11 percentage points in 2016, the race for governor was seen as a toss-up.
