Phil Knight, the billionaire co-founder of Nike, has made a staggering $3 million political donation in a bold attempt to shift Oregon's political balance of power away from Democratic control.
Record-Breaking Political Spending
The 87-year-old businessman, with an estimated fortune of $34.4 billion, contributed the unprecedented sum to the Bring Balance to Salem PAC last month. This political action committee, established in 2021, specifically aims to curb Democratic dominance in Oregon state politics.
According to reports from Willamette Week, Knight's latest contribution represents his largest-ever political donation, breaking his own previous records. The timing is particularly significant, coming just weeks before November's election results that generally favoured Democrats across the nation.
The Battle for Oregon's Political Future
Democrats currently maintain firm control over Oregon's legislative chambers, holding an 18–12 majority in the state Senate and a 37–23 majority in the House of Representatives. This three-fifths margin in each chamber grants them the power to push through new or increased taxes without requiring any Republican votes.
The Bring Balance to Salem PAC has been actively working to challenge this Democratic stronghold. During the 2022 election cycle, the committee spent nearly $5 million supporting Republican candidates, with similar expenditure levels projected for 2024.
Knight's substantial contribution has significantly boosted the committee's financial resources, increasing their cash on hand to $3.93 million as they intensify efforts to reduce Democratic majorities in the state legislature.
Knight's Growing Political Influence
This isn't Knight's first major foray into Oregon politics. Between 2022 and 2024, the billionaire had already personally contributed $2 million to Republican causes in the state.
His political strategy appears to be evolving, with this record donation signalling a potentially more aggressive approach in future races, including the upcoming governor's contest in 2026.
In the 2022 governor's race, Knight demonstrated his willingness to support multiple candidates, pouring $3.75 million into former state Senator Betsy Johnson's independent bid while simultaneously contributing $1.5 million to state Senator Christine Drazan's Republican campaign. Despite these substantial investments, Democrat Tina Kotek ultimately claimed victory.
Interestingly, Christine Drazan has already announced her intention to run again in 2026, setting the stage for another potentially expensive and closely watched contest.
Broader Trend of High-Profile Political Donations
Knight isn't alone in making substantial political contributions. In August, the Kansas City Chiefs contributed $25,000 to Republican Missouri House candidates. This donation followed closely after Missouri's state legislature approved a $1.5 billion stadium funding plan aimed at convincing both the Chiefs and MLB's Royals to remain in the state.
Last year, both sports organisations demonstrated their financial commitment to political causes, with the Chiefs reportedly spending more than $3 million and the Royals contributing another $2.5 million to support a ballot measure extending sales taxes for stadium renovations.
Meanwhile, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates made headlines in August by quietly ceasing funding to a $77 billion foundation that had supported various progressive causes and Democratic candidates. The Gates Foundation had been one of the earliest and largest backers of Arabella Advisors, dispersing or pledging approximately $450 million to its nonprofit funds over sixteen years.
Analysts from organisations including the Cook Political Report generally foresee a solid 2026 for Democrats nationally, though they note that gains may be limited by the scarcity of competitive races. Nevertheless, with his massive financial commitment, Phil Knight appears determined to challenge conventional political wisdom and reshape Oregon's political landscape.
