UO Students Help Run Oregon's Gubernatorial Debate

Students Take the Controls for Oregon’s First Gubernatorial Debate

When incumbent Tina Kotek and Republican challenger Christine Drazan faced off on the University of Oregon campus for the state’s first gubernatorial debate on Oct. 1, the production crew behind the broadcast looked a little younger than usual. As journalism.uoregon.edu reported, undergraduate students from the UO School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) ran the clock, operated the teleprompter, and questioned the candidates directly on live television. The event, held without a live studio audience, brought together local and regional media partners including the Oregon Journalism Project, Lookout Eugene-Springfield, and CBS affiliate KVAL to organize a high-stakes political showdown.

Questions From the Student Panelists

Fourth-year journalism student Bayla Orton secured a coveted spot on the debate panel, joining veteran journalists Nigel Jaquiss of the Oregon Journalism Project and Ben Botkin, senior correspondent for Lookout Eugene-Springfield. Orton worked on questions for the candidates to ensure they were framed accurately and strongly.

During the live broadcast, Orton posed a total of five questions to Kotek and Drazan. According to dailyemerald.com, the panel pressed the candidates on pressing state issues such as economic affordability, mental health services, and mail-in voting policies. For Orton, the experience of questioning top state politicians on live television bridged the gap between academic theory and real-world media pressure.

Exclusive Interviews and Behind-the-Scenes Broadcast Operations

While Orton handled the panel, other SOJC students managed the complex mechanics of a live broadcast. Third-year journalism and political science major Billie Corsetti, serving as co-associate news editor for The Daily Emerald, secured an exclusive pre-debate interview with Governor Kotek.

Behind the scenes, Duck TV students worked alongside KVAL professionals to keep the broadcast timed and scripted precisely. Gretchen Wackler served as the visual timekeeper, holding up yellow and red cards to signal remaining speaking time, while MCayden Marlar operated the remote control to manage candidate timers and 30-second rebuttals. Justin Santos ran the teleprompter for KVAL moderator Kendall Bartley, ensuring the broadcast ran smoothly from opening statements to closing remarks.

Affordability, Housing, and Policy Clashes

The debate itself quickly turned to the competing economic strategies of the two candidates. As dailyemerald.com detailed, Senator Drazan placed affordability at the center of her platform, arguing that government regulations and executive policies have made Oregon uniquely expensive for families. Drazan specifically targeted Kotek’s Climate Protection Program, pledging to repeal the emission reduction plan to lower everyday costs for residents.

Instagram

Governor Kotek countered by highlighting the state’s recent progress in housing production. Citing data showing an 11.5% increase in housing starts during the first half of the year compared to the previous year, Kotek pointed to streamlined permitting processes and targeted infrastructure investments as proof of steady momentum. The candidates also debated homelessness strategies, with Drazan advocating for a more recovery-oriented approach and Kotek emphasizing ongoing state-led infrastructure funding.