Oregon Republicans, Nebraska Democrats pick challengers for incumbent governors

A 2018 primary voting location in Pennsylvania

(Image credit: Mark Makela/Getty Images)

published 16 May 2018

Oregon state Rep. Knute Buehler won a crowded Republican primary on Tuesday and will face Gov. Kate Brown (D) in November. Buehler, the most moderate of the Republicans on the ballot, ran for secretary of state in 2012, losing to Brown, who became governor in 2015 when John Kitzhaber stepped down amid scandal. Brown won a special election to keep the governorship in 2016.

In Nebraska, state Sen. Bob Krist (D) beat two challengers to win the Democratic primary and the right to face Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) in November. Krist was a Republican until he switched to nonpartisan last September, and he entered the Democratic race in February because he was unable to run as an independent. He has promised to govern Nebraska in a less-partisan manner than Ricketts if he wins.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.