Phil Knight Drops $50,000 Into Oregon House Race

The donation comes as Republicans try to erode Democrats' majority.

By Beth Slovic

Phil Knight just contributed $50,000 to the campaign of the Republican candidate for House District 30, Dan Mason.

House District 30 covers Hillsboro's Silicon Forest but not Nike's headquarters, which are in neighboring House District 34.

But the open race for House District 30 represents one of the best chances for the GOP to erode Democrats' 35-25 majority in the House. Rep. Joe Gallegos (D-Hillsboro) opted not to run again.

Mason, who manages a 288-unit apartment complex in the Tanasbourne area, faces Democrat Janeen Sollman, a member of the Hillsboro School Board, and Kyle Markley, a Libertarian, in November.

Mason ran in 2014 against Gallegos, finishing a close second.

In a bizarre twist, Mason earned the nomination of the Independent Party in June after beating Sollman in a dice roll.

Mason now has $57,000 in the bank, while Sollman has $45,000.

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