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Image from KnuteBuehler.com

Knute's running.

Knute Buehler—a former Republican state representative from Bend who lost the 2018 Oregon governor's race to Kate Brown—announced Tuesday that he is running for Congress. Buehler is running to be the Republican candidate for Oregon's second congressional district, a seat long held by retiring Rep. Greg Walden.

“Many Oregonians are tired of being disrespected or ignored by Portland liberals and elite D.C. politicians," Buehler said in a press release announcing his candidacy. "In Congress, I will defend the values, rights and jobs threatened by the powerful arm of big government. I will be a conservative voice for the people and place I call home."

Buehler characterized himself as a moderate in the 2018 governor's race, playing up accomplishments and positions that could appeal to Democratic voters, such as passing a bill that allows pharmacists to write birth control prescriptions. But judging by a campaign video released Tuesday, Knuehler is leaning into his conservatism this time around. The video features grainy, stylized footage of Rep. Alexandria Occasio-Cortez, a favored boogeyman for Republicans, and blames "bigger government" and "more regulation" for Oregon's woes.

The press release also noted that Buehler has won the majority of votes from the second congressional district twice in statewide elections—once when running for governor against Brown, and once in a 2012 run for secretary of state (which he also lost to Brown).

Buehler has been considering running for Walden's seat since at least October. In the Republican primary, he will face off against former state Senator Jason Atkinson and current state Senator Cliff Bentz.

Buehler doesn't appear to have officially filed as a candidate with the Federal Elections Commission yet, but he has $81,000 in a political action committee he's been using to help other Republican candidates in Oregon.