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[email protected] www.followthemoney.org In 2006, Oregon will join 35 other states in electing a governor; however, the Oregon race features a potential re-match of the closely fought 2002 general election in which Democrat Ted Kulongoski beat Republican Kevin Mannix by only a few percentage points in the contest for the open gubernatorial seat. During that election cycle, the two candidates raised more than $8.7 million, a record1 that will likely be broken in 2006 as both Kulongoski and Mannix face challengers in the May 16 primary. Because so many of the potential candidates have run for state office in the past, it is possible to predict where they may turn in the future for the financial support that will be crucial to their efforts. In races with contested primaries, candidates are locked in a battle over cash long before voters are aware of the particular candidates. Often, a candidacy is not considered viable unless the candidate demonstrates an ability to attract campaign donors. This is especially true in the Oregon race, because so many candidates have expressed an interest in running and because the race promises to be expensive.