Wednesday, January 28, 2026-Former NBA veteran and Portland Trail Blazer star Chris Dudley has officially entered the 2026 Oregon governor’s race, launching a political comeback that could reshape the state’s leadership landscape.
Dudley confirmed his campaign in a video announcement, emphasizing his long ties to Oregon and outlining a platform focused on education, affordability, public safety, and economic opportunity. His entry injects major name recognition into an already competitive Republican primary and immediately elevates the race’s visibility statewide.
Dudley’s return to politics comes 16 years after his narrow loss in the 2010 gubernatorial election, when he came within a single percentage point of winning. He remains one of the most recognizable Republican figures in Oregon politics and is betting that his mix of business experience and sports fame can galvanize voters frustrated with the current political climate. Still, he faces stiff competition from Republican rivals who have spent months fundraising, organizing, and building ground operations ahead of the primary.
If Dudley secures the Republican nomination, he would face Democratic Governor Tina Kotek in the general election. Oregon has not elected a Republican governor in decades, making the race an uphill climb, but Dudley’s candidacy highlights growing political volatility and dissatisfaction across the state. The contest is shaping up as a high-stakes test of whether a well-known outsider can convert recognition and past momentum into electoral victory in a rapidly evolving political environment.
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