Political spending on the Oregon governor's race nearly doubled from four years ago. The state is one of just five in the nation without campaign contribution limits.

Democratic heavy hitters from Bernie Sanders to Joe Biden have all gone to Oregon to stump for Tina Kotek, who is in a too-close-for-comfort governor’s race against not only a Republican, but an independent candidate polling in the double digits. As one liberal strategist said, the major question in the race is: Will Democrats “come home to the party in the end”?

While nonaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson appears to be third in polling, her candidacy reflects a breakthrough in a state where the two major political parties have near total control over who appears on the November ballot, the editorial board writes. While Democrats are casting her as a spoiler candidate, they – and Republicans – should recognize that it's long past time to open up their primaries and give 41% of Oregon voters a greater say in who their top candidates are.

Democrat Tina Kotek pledged Monday to make capping campaign contributions one of her top priorities if she’s elected governor – but she won’t turn down large campaign checks.

Democratic candidate for Oregon governor Tina Kotek on Monday reiterated her pledge to prioritize pushing for campaign contribution limits if she is elected.

The three leading candidates in Oregon's race for governor combined had reported raising $47 million as of Monday. Four years ago, the Democrat and Republican raised approximately $37.8 million.

This week in the Oregon governor's race, leading candidates traded barbs in two televised debates and disclosed some huge campaign donations.

The new disclosure means Betsy Johnson's total fund-raising has reached $16.2 million – $2.6 million more than Democrat Tina Kotek and $3.4 million more than Republican Christine Drazan.

Betsy Johnson, the unaffiliated candidate for Oregon governor, spent two decades as a Democrat in the Legislature and even longer as a powerful presence in local politics.

Betsy Johnson, a pro-gun, woke-bashing former Democrat is waging a strong bid for governor.

Oregon elections officials say Betsy Johnson obtained enough valid signatures to get on the November ballot for governor.

Phil Knight has given an astonishing $1.75 million to timber heiress and former Democratic state Sen. Betsy Johnson’s bid for Oregon governor.

Phil Knight has given an astonishing $1.75 million to timber heiress and former Democratic state Sen. Betsy Johnson’s bid for Oregon governor.

This week in the race for Oregon governor, Republicans launched an ad portraying other candidates as bobbleheads and a Democrat-allied PAC paid for ads attacking unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson.

Oregon’s three leading candidates for governor all spent at least $4 million over the summer and devoted most of their summer spending to TV advertising, according to an Oregonian/OregonLive analysis.

Betsy Johnson paid a Washington-based signature gathering firm more than $200,000 to collect signatures for her campaign.

No one needs this.

She’s a no-party septuagenarian with wide-rimmed glasses and an extensive collection of scarves who could disrupt years of Democratic dominance in the Oregon governor’s mansion.

Some Democrats fear that Johnson, a former member of the party, could siphon away votes in November's election for governor. She is running as a nonafilliated candidate.

April 5, 2022 on The Story: Six months out from the general election, fundraising for the Oregon governor's race is through the roof. Why is there so much money in Oregon politics, and where does the state stand on campaign finance reform? Watch more The Story videos: http://bit.ly/watchTheStory Follow The Story on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheStoryKGW Follow The Story on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestorykgw

Nike co-founder Phil Knight, who has a history of supporting Republican candidates in Oregon, gave another $250,000 on Friday to longtime moderate Democratic lawmaker Betsy Johnson, who is running for governor this year without any party.