While Oregon lawmakers debated campaign finance limits, Phil Knight gave $2 million to Republican PAC

[barbaraann]

BY: JULIA SHUMWAY - MARCH 18, 2024 10:23 AM

While lawmakers debated campaign finance limits last month, Oregon’s richest man quietly gave another $2 million to a political action committee that tries to elect Republicans to the statehouse.

Nike co-founder Phil Knight gave $2 million on Feb. 15 to the Bring Balance to Salem PAC, which spent more than $4 million in 2022 trying to elect Republicans. Knight has given the PAC $7 million since it launched in 2021.
...
In turn, committees like Bring Balance to Salem could give no more than $5,000 in a two-year election cycle to a candidate and no more than $15,000 per year to a caucus committee. In 2022, Bring Balance to Salem gave more than $860,000 to Senate Republicans’ Leadership Fund and nearly $560,000 to House Republicans’ Evergreen Oregon PAC, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars directly to candidates.

That spending helped Republicans gain one seat in the Senate and two in the House, though Democrats still hold a four-seat majority in the Senate and a 10-seat majority in the House.

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/briefs/while-oregon-lawmakers-debated-campaign-finance-limits-phil-knight-gave-2-million-to-republican-pac/

Phil Knight is the 31st richest man in the world.
https://www.forbes.com/profile/phil-knight/?sh=502c791e1dcb

[Permanut]

1. I worked for Nike in the early years - late 70's..

Great place to work, back when Phil Knight didn't have two dollars to buy legislators with, let alone 2 million.

I apologize for helping him make his first billion; the company is very different now, and I'm no longer associated as a customer or any other way.

[barbaraann]

2. I'll bet that was exciting!

At least Nike produces great products!

[Permanut]

3. It was, and a little crazy..

Every summer we had an event called the "Beer Relays" for employees, at the Jesuit High School track in Beaverton, Oregon.

The event included, of course, beer, and relays, races among the Nike departments. Also included custom T-shirts, tricycles and propeller beanies.

Most important, I met my wife there in 1980; we're about to celebrate our 37th anniversary.

[barbaraann]

4. Wow!

You really were lucky to be part of that.