Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell gains support from a top Republican donor.
The first big check in the 2026 Republican primary for governor arrived this week—and it didn’t go to House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, the 2022 GOP nominee and next year’s likely frontrunner, if she chooses to run.

Instead, filings with the Oregon Secretary of State’s office show that Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell recorded a $25,000 contribution from Rob Freres, the…