$6 million spent in gubernatorial races

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The latest campaign expense reports show that candidates for governor have spent more than $6 million dollars in the Oregon primary.

The reports released Friday show that Gov. Ted Kulongoski, a Democrat, and Republicans Kevin Mannix and Ron Saxton, have each spent about $400,000 this month alone.

The reports also show that medical equipment manufacturer Loren Parks has boosted his donations to Mannix to $731,000 so far – making Parks the largest single political donor in state history.

The other major contributor to political advertising during the primary has been a group funded with $820,000 from the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.

The tribe has funded TV ads critical of Kulongoski and Mannix, while supporting Jim Hill, a former state treasurer who has challenged fellow Democrat Kulongoski for their party’s nomination in the primary.

 

Gubernatorial hopefuls’ campaign funds

As reported Friday, May 12

  • DEMOCRATS

    • Lane County Commissioner Pete Sorenson, $78,299 raised, $77,121 spent
    • Jim Hill, $320,396 raised, $277,988 spent
    • Gov. Ted Kulongoski, $1.66 million raised, $1.35 million spent
  • REPUBLICANS

    • State Sen. Jason Atkinson, $372,549 raised, $423,169 spent
    • Kevin Mannix, $1.9 million raised, $1.87 million spent
    • Ron Saxton, $1.95 million raised, $1.87 million spent
  • INDEPENDENT

    • State Sen. Ben Westlund, $344,414 raised, $280,380 spent