PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s largest labor union is contributing an additional $1 million to Democratic candidate for governor Tina Kotek as the race appears to be one of the closest in years.
Felisa Hagins, political director for SEIU Local 49, told Oregon Public Broadcasting about the donation on Wednesday.
The union had already given almost $700,000 to Kotek’s campaign via five separate political funds.
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The total is by far the most that SEIU, which has over 55,000 members in Oregon, has spent on a candidate in the state. State campaign finance records show it contributed less than $1.2 million to Gov. Kate Brown’s reelection in 2018.
Last week, Nike co-founder Phil Knight donated $1 million to Republican Christine Drazan’s campaign after previously giving $3.75 million to independent candidate Betsy Johnson.
Two non-partisan elections forecasters — Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball — have rated the Oregon gubernatorial race and the U.S. House race in Oregon’s 5th district as “toss-ups.”
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