Buono speaks at democrtic pre-election breakfast

Barbara Buono, former state senator and Democratic gubernatorial nominee.

(Patti Sapone/NJ Advance Media)

TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie's one-time rival, former state Sen. Barbara Buono, is making a political return of sorts.

Buono is reportedly preparing to serve as a senior adviser to the incoming mayor of Portland, Oregon. Buono is among more than a dozen people Portland Mayor-elect Ted Wheeler announced would serve on his senior staff, according to The Oregonian.

The former Democratic gubernatorial nominee moved to Oregon in 2015.

Buono left New Jersey political life after her landslide defeat to Christie in 2013. At the time, Buono, who once served as majority leader in the state Senate, decried Democratic officials for their "onslaught of betrayal" in the statewide race.

Since then, Buono has taken to social media to take swipes at her one-time political rival by occasionally tweeting jabs at Christie.

Christie's 2013 re-election teed him up for national presidential campaign.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook.