Republican gubernatorial candidate Knute Buehler's campaign got a major boost this week, with a $500,000 contribution from Nike co-founder Phil Knight.

The cash infusion will help Buehler narrow the fundraising gap with Gov. Kate Brown. But she still has a formidable advantage: $1.4 million on hand, even after spending more than $700,000 this year. Buehler's campaign has $700,000, after spending only $100,000.

Knight's donation is his largest ever to an Oregon campaign.

"I'm thrilled to have Phil Knight – one of Oregon's most influential citizens and innovative business leaders – on our team," Buehler said in a prepared statement. "Phil Knight looks beyond narrow political labels – and so do I. He believes Oregon's future is worth fighting for and it's time for change – and so do I."

Knight made the contribution on Monday, and it was reported in the state's campaign finance database on Wednesday. The billionaire has a history of contributing to both Republicans and Democrats.

In 2010, Knight gave $400,000 to Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Blazer Chris Dudley. That was his biggest donation until this week.

Knight switched teams in 2014, with a $250,000 contribution to help Democratic former Gov. John Kitzhaber win re-election against Republican Dennis Richardson. Then last year, Knight contributed a total of $380,000 to Republicans in competitive legislative races.

Brown also has a billionaire backer, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. But it's unclear whether he'll repeat his $250,000 gift to Brown's 2016 campaign this time.

Buehler announced his bid for governor earlier this month. Although Brown has been on the campaign trail since she was elected in November, she has not formally announced her candidacy.

Buehler is a moderate Republican who pushed to expand access to birth control and has crossed the aisle to vote with Democrats to push an anti-coal bill that doubled the state's renewable energy requirements. He wants to cut down on government spending. This year, he sided with landlords on the question of rent control and voted against a $550 million tax increase to sustain the state's Medicaid program.

-- Hillary Borrud

503-294-4034; @hborrud