Kate Brown

The Oregon Health Authority is changing its approach to Medicaid to improve health and contain costs.

Rep. Knute Buehler has spent $1.3 million in the past eight weeks as he works to fend off challengers Greg Wooldridge, backed by Right to Life, and Sam Carpenter, who has the support of former Senate candidate and Oregon Medical Association past president Monica Wehby.

The governor promised to seek alternative revenues if Measure 97 fails while her Republican opponent would be willing to consider service cuts while keeping people insured. The Eugene debate also featured Independent candidate Cliff Thomason, who backs a sales tax that could lead to a single-payer health system as well as deal with current budget needs.