Nike co-founder and billionaire Phil Knight has written another big check to Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Knute Buehler, this time for $1 million, according to Willamette Week.

That would bring Knight's total contributions to Buehler, a state lawmaker and orthopedic surgeon from Bend, to $1.5 million. Buehler's campaign has not yet reported the contribution in Oregon's campaign finance database.

Knight gave Buehler $500,000 last summer, which at the time was the largest individual contribution in an Oregon campaign. Knight has a history of giving money to candidates of both parties, including former Gov. John Kitzhaber, a Democrat.

Willamette Week did not disclose how it learned of Knight's latest contribution. Buehler's spokeswoman, Monica Wroblewski, declined to confirm the campaign donation to the news organization on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Nike has thrown its financial support behind Democratic incumbent Gov. Kate Brown. So far, that sum is much smaller: $35,000 so far this year, according to state campaign finance records.

-- Hillary Borrud

503-294-4034; @hborrud