Democrat John Kitzhaber will be back to serve another term as Oregon governor.
Republican challenger Chris Dudley conceded defeat late Wednesday after Kitzhaber rode a rising tide of votes from Multnomah County, the state's most populous county, according to the Oregonian newspaper.
Kitzhaber now steps back into the office he held between 1995 and 2003.
Even with his opponent's concession, Kitzhaber delayed his acceptance speech until Thursday morning, choosing to wait until all votes are counted from Multnomah County, the newspaper reported.
Kitzhaber will replace Democrat Ted Kulongoski, who has served since 2003. Oregon prohibits a governor from serving more than two consecutive four-year terms.
The new governor will face a tough local economy.
The state's economist has forecast a significant drop in revenue due mainly to a dearth in tax collections, which has forced the state to find ways to plug holes in its budget.
