Nike co-founder Phil Knight has dropped another $1 million on Republican Rep. Knute Buehler's bid to be Oregon's next governor.

That Oct. 10 gift brings Knight's direct spending on Buehler's campaign to $2.5 million, according to state campaign finance records. Knight also gave $1 million in August to the Republican Governors Association, which turned around and spent $962,000 on Buehler's campaign, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported on Tuesday.

Buehler, a Bend legislator and physician, is running against Democratic Gov. Kate Brown.

Knight's latest contribution was filed with the state just before midnight Wednesday and was first reported early Thursday morning by the Portland Tribune.

Although he has supported both Democrats and Republicans in the past and shelled out significant sums on gubernatorial campaigns, Knight's spending on Buehler's campaign has far surpassed the previous record for an individual political donor in Oregon. The state does not have campaign contribution limits.

-- Hillary Borrud

503-294-4034; @hborrud