Gov. Brown officially enters Oregon gubernatorial race

PORTLAND – Gov. Kate Brown has officially placed herself in the running for Oregon’s gubernatorial election.

The Democrat filed candidate paperwork on Tuesday, the last day to do so for most major elected offices in the state.

The former secretary of state took over from John Kitzhaber just over a year ago, after he stepped down amid an influence-peddling scandal.

Brown faces four little-known Democratic rivals in the May 17 primary.

One Independent and four Republicans are also running for the position. The GOP candidates include Allen Alley, a former Oregon Republican Party chairman, and Bud Pierce, an oncologist from Salem.

Oregonians haven’t elected a GOP governor since 1982 and no Republican has taken a statewide race since 2002.