politics

Oregon's Gubernatorial Campaign Fundraising Continues Torrid Pace

By Jeff Mapes (OPB)
Nov. 6, 2018 3:38 p.m.

Final disclosure reports filed before Tuesday's election show that the two major candidates for Oregon governor are continuing their torrid fundraising. Democratic incumbent Gov. Kate Brown raised more than $17 million. Republican challenger Knute Buehler raised $18.5 million.

RELATED: Live Oregon and Washington 2018 midterm election results.

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So far, the two have doubled the previous record for an Oregon governor’s race, set in 2010.  The reports cover money raised and spent up to eight days before the election.

In that period, Buehler received several business-related donations of up to $10,000. Brown received $100,000 from the Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon. Abortion rights advocates have staunchly backed her re-election campaign.

During the campaign, both candidates were heavily supported by the partisan gubernatorial associations that are funded by numerous special interests.  The Republican Governors Association gave Buehler nearly $3.4 million while the Democratic Governors Association sent $2 million to Brown.

Nike co-founder Phil Knight attracted national attention by giving a total of $2.5 million to Buehler over the course of his campaign (Knight also gave another $1 million to the Republican Governors Association).  Buehler was also heavily backed by the timber industry and several other business interests. Brown received more than $2 million from organized labor as well as hefty contributions from a Democratic women's group, environmental organizations and a gun-control group.

The tally for Brown and Buehler together tops $35 million. The previous Oregon record for gubernatorial election fundraising pales in comparison.

In 2010, Republican Chris Dudley and Democratic incumbent John Kitzhaber together raised more than $17.7 million for their campaigns. Kitzhaber edged Dudley by a small margin in the election.


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