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Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight Gives $3M to Republican PAC
The Bring Balance to Salem PAC now holds $3.93 million, aiming to break Democrats' supermajorities in Oregon's Legislature through Republican candidate support.
- On Oct. 22, Phil Knight, Nike co-founder, wrote a $3 million check to the Bring Balance to Salem PAC, disclosed in an Oregon Secretary of State filing and first reported Monday by Willamette Week.
- Phil Knight, Nike co-founder, aims to reduce Democratic supermajorities of 18-12 in the Senate and 37-23 in the House, noting districts remain largely uncompetitive due to gerrymandering.
- With Knight's gift, the Bring Balance to Salem PAC reported $3.93 million in cash on hand, after spending nearly $5 million in 2022 and just over $5 million in 2024 supporting Republican legislative candidates.
- The $3 million gift sets a state record as the largest single individual political donation in Oregon and signals Phil Knight, Nike co-founder, may spend aggressively ahead of the 2026 governor's race.
- Knight has poured $9 million into Bring Balance over three years, but despite large interventions, outcomes were not guaranteed and nonpartisan Cook Political Report expects Democrats to perform strongly next year.
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution86% Center
Bias Distribution
- 86% of the sources are Center
86% Center
14%
C 86%
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