PENDLETON — The five candidates who were running for Oregon Senate District 29 have reported a combined total of $187,324.64 in cash contributions, with more than $150,000 coming from two campaigns.

Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann leads the campaign contribution charge with $83,170, according to Oregon Secretary of State records, while Wallowa County Commissioner Todd Nash is not that far behind with $73,218.18.

Jim Doherty, former Morrow County commissioner who lost his seat in a recall in 2022, is in third, reporting contributions totaling $23,788.35.

Andy Huwe, of Enterprise, is the fourth Republican in the primary and has reported contributions of $1,070.15. The fifth candidate, Tania Wildbill, of Pendleton, came in last with contributions of $775, although she withdrew from the race on Dec. 26, according to the Oregon Secretary of State.

The five are vying to replace Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, who is not seeking a fourth term. Senate District 29 includes Wallowa, Union, Umatilla, Morrow, Gilliam, Sherman and parts of Wasco counties.

Drotzmann and Nash both said they think they will need more money to mount a successful campaign.

Drotzmann said it would take roughly $200,000 to win the Senate District 29 seat. He said his campaign plans to spend much of the money on marketing on social media, ads, business cards, signs, an email campaign and direct mailers focusing on GOP voters. He said he intends to connect with voters through community engagement and meeting the public at events to spread his message and listen to the community’s concerns.

Nash, of Enterprise, said he thought the campaign would take more than $100,000. He said his campaign is planning to spend its funding on direct mailers, signs and travel for in-person outreach across the counties of District 29. He said he plans to build on the name recognition he has garnered through his work as Wallowa County commissioner and through the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, meeting people at events and going door to door to connect with voters.

Hansell said running for an open seat presents different challenges than running as an incumbent. And because District 29 is now larger than it was when he first ran, he is unsure of the cost associated with a successful campaign. Hansell recommended candidates use ads, mailers and print media and radio to tell voters about their platforms, who they are and why they are running.

But when it comes to really reaching voters, Hansell said nothing beats community engagement. Meeting voters, listening to them, their needs and their wants, will drive the campaign conversations, he said, and play a big role in who wins his legislative seat.

The filing deadline for the May 21 primary is 5 p.m. March 12, 2024.

Friends of Dave Drotzmann

Drotzmann is an optometrist, and his connections to that field are reaping rewards for the campaign. His campaign’s largest cash contribution has been $5,000 from the Oregon Optometric Public Affairs Council, while fellow optometrists James Hale and Rob Young, both in Corvallis, each gave $2,500 to the campaign.

And The Eye Care Center of McMinnville gave $1,000.

Hermiston businesses also are backing the mayor’s bid.

Bellinger Produce LLC contributed $3,000 to his campaign, and insurance company The Simmons Agency Inc. donated $2,500.

Drotzmann’s other cash contributions of $1,000 in 2023:• $2,000 from David McBride, of Beaverton, June, 6.

• $2,000 from Dorothy Smith, of Hermiston, July 26.

• $1,000 from Robert Echenrode, of Hermiston, June 14. Echenrode is the general manager and CEO of Umatilla Electric Cooperative.

• $1,000 from Phillip Hamm, of Hermiston, June 20.

• $1,000 from Penny Krebs, of Ione, June 21.

• $1,000 from George Murdock, of Pendleton, Aug. 10. Murdock is a retired Umatilla County commissioner, former publisher of the East Oregonian and former superintendent of the InterMountain Education Service District.

• $1,000 from Tammie Williams, of Echo, Aug. 25.

• $1,000 from Gary Frederickson, of Boardman, Sept. 1.

• $1,000 from Willamette Valley Vineyards, of Turner, Nov. 27.

Pacific Northwest Communications is handling Drotzmann’s campaign, which he so far has paid $47,349.92 for managing the campaign, conducting surveys and polls, online and social media advertising, making and sending out campaign brochures and the like.

The campaign’s second largest expense is $1,500 to the Friends of Bill Hansell. Other expenses come in at less than $1,000.

Friends of Todd Nash

Nash’s top two donations came from out of state.

James Kennedy, of Atlanta, donated $5,600. Kennedy is chairman emeritus of the global conglomerate Cox Enterprises.

The second largest giver to Nash’s campaign is Greg Barreto, at $5,000. Barreto — owner and chief operating officer of Barreto Manufacturing and a former state representative for House District 58 — is now living in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, according to Oregon Secretary of State records.

Nash is a cattle rancher and the immediate past president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. His campaign has received $1,000 donations from the Creek Cattle Co., of Joseph, Krebs Sheep Co., of Ione, and ranchers Stanley Shear, of Joseph, and Jeremiah McKinley of Arlington, Washington.

Tweed Strategies, of Portland, has provided $2,000 in-kind in management services to the campaign; the Oregon Trappers Association has given $1,750; and John Zavoshy, of Saratoga, California, has contributed $1,291.98.

Nash’s other cash contributions of $1,000 or more in 2023:• $5,000 from Vernam Crane Service Inc., of Enterprise, June 10.

• $1,000 from Lynn Findley for State Senate, April 14.

• $1,000 from the David D. and Debra L. Vernam Trust, of Enterprise, June 16.

Nash’s top campaign expense is for the management services of Tweed Strategies. His campaign has paid the company $17,887.19.

Gateway Communications Inc., of Portland, lands in the No. 2 spending spot, with Nash’s committee paying $11,184.76 for campaign literature and brochures and postage. And Jennifer Design LLC, of Lake Oswego, is No. 3 for expenses, receiving $3,700 for management services, online and social media advertising and more.

Friends of Jim Doherty

Doherty, of Boarman, has reported his campaign’s top contributor is himself with a total of $5,600, and Custom Feed Services, of Boardman, is No. 2 with $5,000.

Doherty Recycling LLC and Doherty Welding, both of Pilot Rock, contributed $2,000 each. And the Friends of Jim Doherty also received $1,000 from Sadie Doherty, of Pilot Rock.

The Doherty campaign’s top expenditure is for the work of New Media, of Salem. The campaign has paid $20,034.22 to New Media for a number of services and products, including campaign management, brochures and online and social media advertising. Friends of Jim Doherty also has spent $3,490.95 for advertising with Sykes Publishing, of Heppner, which publishes the Heppner Gazette Times.

Senate District 30

In Senate District 30, Mike McLane of Crook County, former state representative and House Republican leader, is the only candidate to have filed, according to Secretary of State records.

District 30 includes Baker, Grant, Crook, Harney, Lake and Malheur counties, and parts of Deschutes and Jefferson counties. It is the largest Senate district, geographically.

The incumbent, Lynn Findley, R-Vale, announced Nov. 8 that he will not seek reelection to a four-year term in 2024.

Findley has endorsed McLane for the seat.

McLane’s political committee, Mike McLane for Oregon, has a cash balance of $64,950, according to campaign finance reports.

Since McLane started the committee in early November, he has received cash contributions totaling $66,701 and spent $1,850.

His largest cash contribution, of $40,000, was from Findley’s own committee, Lynn Findley for State Senate. That contribution was made Nov. 16, according to campaign finance reports.

McLane’s other cash contributions of $1,000 or more in 2023:• $5,000 from the Oregon Council of National Electrical Contractors Association Chapters, Dec. 14.

• $2,000 from the Associated General Contractors Committee for Action, Dec. 12.

• $2,500 from Clean Energy for Oregon Political Action Committee, Dec. 7.

• $1,000 from Coalition for a Healthy Oregon Political Action Committee, Dec. 7.

• $1,000 from Oregon Forest Industries Council Political Action Committee, Dec. 7.

• $1,000 from Friends of David Brock Smith, Dec. 4. Smith is a Republican state senator.

• $1,000 from Paul Craig, of Bend, Nov. 10.

• $1,000 from Shelly Boshart Davis, Nov. 10. Boshart Davis is a Republican state representative.

• $1,000 from Shawn DeRemer, of Happy Valley, Nov. 10.

House District 60

State Rep. Mark Owens, a Republican from Crane, is the incumbent for House District 60, which includes Baker, Grant, Harney, Lake and Malheur counties and parts of Deschutes County.

Owens has filed for reelection in 2024 to a two-year term. He is the only candidate thus far, according to Oregon Secretary of State records.

Owens’ committee, Mark Owens for Oregon, has $32,910 in cash. His committee received $56,206 in cash contributions in 2023 and has spent $39,820.

Owens’ cash contributions of $1,000 or more since July 1:• $1,000 from Altria Client Services LLC, Dec. 12.

• $2,500 from Oregon Council of National Electrical Contractors Association Chapters, Dec. 4.

• $2,500 from Oregon Realtors Political Action Committee, Nov. 24.

• $2,500 from Ash Grove Cement Co., Nov. 18.

• $2,500 from CPM Development Corp., Nov. 18.

• $1,000 from Credit Union Legislative Action Fund, Nov. 17.

• $2,500 from Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nov. 17.

• $1,000 from Oregon Wheat Political Action Committee, Nov. 4.

• $1,000 from Anheuser-Busch, Nov. 3.

• $1,000 from Koch Industries Inc., Nov. 3.

• $5,000 from Nicholas Green, of John Day, Nov. 2.

• $1,000 from Avista Corp., Oct. 30.

• $1,000 from NewSun Cascade Development Services LLC, Oct. 11.

• $2,000 from Nike Inc. and Affiliates, Oct. 11.

• $1,500 from Oregon Farm Bureau Political Action Committee, Sept. 21.

• $1,000 from AGC Committee for Action, Sept. 19.

• $2,000 from Oregon Forest Industries Council Political Action Committee, Sept. 19.

• $2,500 from Pilot Rock Solar 1 LLC, Sept. 19.

• $2,000 from Idaho Power Co., Sept. 19.

• $1,500 from Cascade Natural Gas, Sept. 18.

• $2,500 from Natural Gas Political Action Committee, Sept. 6.

• $1,000 from Allstate Insurance Company, Sept. 2.

Owens’ cash expenditures of $1,000 or more since July 1:• $5,000 to Evergreen Political Action Committee, Nov. 28.

• $6,712 to Silvies Valley Ranch, for expenses for a fundraising event, Nov. 27.

• $1,000 to Tweed Strategies LLC, Nov. 1.

• $5,000 to Lynn Findley for State Senate, Oct. 17.

• $1,000 to Friends of Keri Lopez, Oct. 12. Lopez is a Republican candidate for House District 53.

• $1,000 to Tweed Strategies LLC, Sept. 22.

• $1,000 to Tweed Strategies LLC, Aug. 29.

• $1,500 to Stacy Clark, July 13.

Prineville mayor announces bid for Bentz’s U.S. House seat

PRINEVILLE — A Republican challenger is throwing his hat in the ring for the nomination for Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes all or part of 20 counties across Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern Oregon.

Jason Beebe, a self-described “America First” conservative, officially announced his candidacy Tuesday, Dec. 26, for the United States House of Representatives, challenging incumbent Cliff Bentz.

In a press release announcing his candidacy, Beebe, the mayor of Prineville, pledges to prioritize securing the border and building the wall to halt the drug trade and illegal immigration.

“As a committed patriot and advocate for the ‘America First’ agenda, Beebe brings a fresh perspective and unwavering dedication to the residents of Oregon’s Second Congressional District,” the press release said. “With a deep-rooted belief in limited government, fiscal responsibility, and putting American interests first, Beebe aims to be the voice of the people who have felt overlooked by the current representation.”

Bentz has won two terms to Congress, the last coming in 2022. A Republican from Ontario, Bentz is one of two Republican representatives at the federal level for Oregon.

Beebe, a longtime Prineville city councilor who was elected mayor in 2020, finished fourth in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate in 2022 — held by Democrat Ron Wyden.

Beebe joined the Army National Guard in 2003 and spent 10 months overseas in Iraq in 2009 and 2010. He retired from the National Guard in 2015 after 12 years of service.

He returned to Prineville after serving in Iraq motivated to tackle public service. He decided to enter local politics and was elected to the city council, where he has served for the past 12 years.

This article has been updated to reflect Tania Wildbill was no longer a candidate for Oregon Senate District 29 seat as of Dec. 26.