Oregon Republican Governor nominee?
$204.0K
MAY 26, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleSports commentator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age49 years old (Apr 3, 1977)
GenderMale
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LocationOregon
BackgroundSports commentator
EducationWest Linn High School
Notable personal detailsChael Sonnen is an American sports commentator, MMA analyst, promoter, and retired mixed martial artist from Oregon. He wrestled at the University of Oregon, earning NCAA Division I All-American honors, and graduated in 2001 with a B.S. in sociology. He later competed professionally in MMA for organizations including the UFC and Bellator and founded the Submission Underground grappling promotion.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Healthcare
The candidate has not articulated a clear, detailed healthcare platform. In past public remarks he described the federal healthcare bill (the ACA) as complex and said Republicans had not presented a better alternative, indicating noncommittal or undeveloped positions on major healthcare reforms.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate favors aggressive, law-and-order approaches to public safety and has proposed deputizing nontraditional armed groups to fight crime; he frames armed citizens and deputized individuals as part of the solution to school shootings and violent crime. He has not published a detailed gun-policy platform on his official site that specifies positions on background checks, red flag laws, or assault-weapon restrictions.
News
Chael Sonnen is in the news for weighing in at an Oregon public hearing on a bill that would move a referendum vote on the state’s transportation taxes from November to May. The referendum effort, backed by more than 250,000 signatures, seeks to stop increases in gas and payroll taxes. The timing change is being debated amid opposition from Gov. Tina Kotek and Democratic leaders, who argue it raises constitutional concerns.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising