$10 million mystery check from California union hangs over governor’s race

There’s a shadow hanging over the Oregon’s governor’s race: a record $10 million check that a California carpenters union wrote to an affiliated Oregon political action committee Sept. 16.

Since Oregon launched its electronic campaign filing database, Orestar, in 2007, the largest previous individual transaction was a $4.46 million contribution that agribusiness giant DuPont Pioneer made to oppose a 2014 ballot measure that would have required food labels to disclose genetic modifications. (The measure failed after a recount).

But now, in a move that has the political class chattering, the carpenters union has more than doubled the previous record. Calls to half a dozen political insiders yielded nothing more than the expectation that the money would find its way from the Oregon carpenters PAC to Democrats.

The carpenters PAC, Building a Stronger Oregon, has so far this year given $500,000 to Gov. Tina Kotek for her reelection campaign; $150,000 to the Senate Democratic Leadership Fund; and another $200,000 to various Democratic candidates. The union is a reliable Democratic donor, but nothing on the scale of $10 million: In 2024, the last election year, it spent less than $500,000.

Eric Morgan, treasurer of Building a Stronger Oregon, declined to talk about where the rest of the funds might go and instead referred Oregon Journalism Project to the union’s California-based lobbyist, Ron Rowlett. Rowlett did not respond to requests for comment.

The Oregon carpenters’ newfound financial muscle comes as the governor’s race looks as tight as any since 2010, when Democrat John Kitzhaber defeated Republican Chris Dudley by fewer than 23,000 votes.

Polling shows Kotek and her Republican opponent, state Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, in a virtual dead heat. The candidates made their first joint appearance of the campaign last week at a Portland business forum. They will engage in their first 2026 debate on Oct. 1 beginning at 6 pm at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

The event is co-sponsored by Oregon Journalism Project, Lookout Eugene-Springfield, KVAL TV and the UO’s School of Journalism and Communication.

Even if she gets no more support from the carpenters PAC, Kotek already enjoys a large financial advantage: The governor has $8.3 million on hand, more than eight times Drazan’s $965,000. Whatever the carpenters’ plans may be, the union’s enormous bankroll sends a message to Republican donors that there are more funds available if Kotek needs them.

This week’s debate will broadcast by KVAL and streamed live on YouTube and Facebook.