PORTLAND, Ore. — A day after U.S. Rep. Greg Walden said he would not seek re-election, former state lawmaker and Republican gubernatorial candidate Knute Buehler announced on Twitter that he's considering seeking his party's nomination.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports at least two other Republicans who've also served in the Oregon Legislature say they will run or are considering it: Sen. Cliff Bentz of Ontario and former Sen. Jason Atkinson of Central Point.
Buehler of Bend is a surgeon by training and served two terms in the Oregon House of Representatives, after first winning election in 2014. He ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state in 2012 against Kate Brown, and Brown defeated him again in his 2018 bid for governor.
Buehler is fiscally conservative but on social issues, he is much more moderate than Walden. The Bend Republican is pro-abortion rights and a champion of gay marriage.
