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Nike co-founder Phil Knight donated $1 million to former Portland Trail Blazer Chris Dudley, a Republican candidate for Oregon governor.
Knight’s donation is the largest any candidate has received in the race thus far.
Former Trail Blazer Chris Dudley has received $1M from Nike founder Phil Knight today – reported in Orestar. Bringing his total raised to $1.8M
Earlier this week we reported Christine Drazen was the top GOP fundraised at $1.2 million.
Anything can happen from here, but it’s a… pic.twitter.com/nD6xmTd4Xl
— PDX Real (@PDXReal1) March 12, 2026
OPB has more:
According to state records, Knight made the contribution on Tuesday, the last day candidates could file for the May primary. The donation was first reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
The sizable gift – by far the largest made so far to a 2026 gubernatorial candidate – brings Dudley’s fundraising to $1.7 million since he announced his candidacy in January. That’s roughly on par with the total raised by state Sen. Christine Drazan, the 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee who is among the GOP front-runners this year.
Dudley and Drazan’s fundraising has far outpaced two other notable candidates in the Republican primary race, state Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, and Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell.
The latest donation by Knight continues the billionaire’s recent history of heavily funding Republicans’ war chests in a state where Democrats hold legislative majorities and every statewide elected position.
Dudley is making his second attempt for governor in the Beaver State.
Former Knicks center Chris Dudley makes second run for governor of Oregon https://t.co/7lVsejzDPF pic.twitter.com/csv5aZBoyi
— New York Post (@nypost) January 28, 2026
“Oregon is too great a state to settle for a struggling economy. I’ve spent my career negotiating billion-dollar deals, leading organizations as a CEO, and more than 25 years as a CFP,” Dudley said.
“I understand what it takes to grow businesses, create jobs, and turn opportunity into real results. As governor, I’ll bring that leadership to Salem and get Oregon’s economy moving again,” he added.
Oregon is too great a state to settle for a struggling economy.
I’ve spent my career negotiating billion-dollar deals, leading organizations as a CEO, and more than 25 years as a CFP.
I understand what it takes to grow businesses, create jobs, and turn opportunity into real… pic.twitter.com/w1t1SwgGQn
— Chris Dudley (@Dudley4Oregon) March 12, 2026
Fox News explained further:
Dudley, who was born in Connecticut and went to high school in San Diego, California, played in Portland from 1993-97 before returning for the 2001-02 season. He played his final two seasons with the Trail Blazers before retirement.
Dudley came within less than two percentage points of becoming Oregon’s governor in 2010, falling to then-incumbent Democrat John Kitzhaber, 49.3% to 47.8%.
He joins a field now of 14 Republicans who have all announced they will be running to defeat current Gov. Tina Kotek. Kotek and five other Democrats also announced they are running.
The Oregon primary election is set for May 19.
Dudley began his NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected him in the fourth round of the 1987 NBA Draft. He played parts of three seasons there before a trade to the New Jersey Nets.