Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will speak at a Republican fundraising gala in Hillsboro on Saturday, Sept. 26, joining Oregon gubernatorial nominee Christine Drazan weeks before the Nov. 3 election.

The Oregon Reagan Dinner 2026 Gala is set for NW Events & Environments, 2900 N.E. Century Blvd., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and the program starting at 7 p.m., the Hillsboro News Times reported. The Oregon Republican Party announced DeSantis's appearance and described the gala as celebrating America's 250th anniversary.

DeSantis, who ran for president in 2024, is nearing the end of his second term as Florida's governor. He is one of several high-profile speakers. State Sen. Bruce Starr, the Oregon Senate minority leader and a Hillsboro High School graduate, and Katie Harman Ebner, Miss America 2002, are also scheduled to appear.

The gala lands in the middle of a tightening governor's race. Drazan, a state senator from Canby, is challenging Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek in a rematch of Oregon's 2022 contest.

The race is close. A DHM Research poll of 600 likely voters, commissioned by Grow Oregon and released Tuesday, Sept. 15, showed Drazan leading Kotek 45% to 43%. The 2-point gap falls within the poll's 4-point margin of error, OPB reported. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report on Thursday, Sept. 10, shifted its forecast from "Likely Democrat" to "Lean Democrat," according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

Trump's influence has become a central campaign issue. The Democratic Party of Oregon launched a statewide "No Trump in Oregon" tour on Monday, Sept. 14, in Portland, aimed at linking Drazan to the Trump administration. Drazan's campaign manager, Trey Rosser, pushed back in a statement that day, calling Kotek "a failed governor" and adding: "On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, voters will be holding a 'No Kotek in Oregon' event of their own."

DeSantis has his own history with Trump. Trump endorsed DeSantis during his first Florida governor's race in 2018. DeSantis later challenged Trump for the 2024 presidential nomination, then dropped out and endorsed him, according to the Hillsboro News Times.

As of Monday, Sept. 14, Kotek held a significant fundraising edge, with about $8 million in the bank compared to Drazan's $3 million, OPB reported.

The two candidates are scheduled to debate for the first time this cycle on Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. at the University of Oregon in Eugene.