A map of the newly realigned 5th Congressional District that stretches from Portland, across the Cascades, to Bend

The congressman now representing northern Deschutes County is a rare Democrat to receive contributions from the California family that is the nation’s largest landowners and is bankrolling efforts to undercut the party’s influence in Oregon.

U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby, has received $9,000 since 2016 from George and Mark Emmerson, the top two executive of Sierra Pacific Industries, the Redding, Calif-based timber and wood products company. The total includes $2,000 contributed by each brother to Schrader on Sept. 14, 2021 to be used in the 2022 election.

Sierra Pacific Industries has contributed $250,000 since February to a “Bring Balance to Salem,” a political action committee seeking to elect non-Democrats to state offices. The company gave $200,000 to former Sen. Betsy Johnson of Scappoose, who is running a non-affiliated campaign this year for governor. Democrats have won every election for governor since 1986.

Sierra Pacific was co-founded in 1949 by their grandfather, the late Curly Emmerson, and their father, Archie Aldis “Red” Emmerson, 93, who is now chairman emeritus. Born in Grand Ronde, near Salem, Red Emmerson lived in eastern Washington before moving to California and joining his father in the California timber business. 

Red Emmerson was recently named “America’s largest landowner” in the Winter 2021 issue of The Land Report, a Dallas-based quarterly magazine covering large property owners and industries.

Sierra Pacific Industries moved into the top spot among private landowners last October when it purchased Eugene-based Seneca Sawmills, whose holdings include 175,000 acres of timberlands in southwestern Oregon. The transaction increased Sierra Pacific’s timberlands holdings to over 2.3 million acres, the most privately held land in the United States. Prior to the Seneca Sawmills purchase, Sierra Pacific’s land holdings were in California and Washington.

Red, George and Mark Emmerson have all given frequently to Republican, timber industry and other political actions committees, according to the Federal Elections Commission. 

Red Emmerson gave to the successful presidential campaigns of George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. He also gave to John McCain and Mitt Romney, the Republican nominees in 2008 and 2012 who both lost to President Barack Obama.

All three Emmersons contributed to Donald Trump, the Republican who won the presidency in 2016 and lost to President Joe Biden in 2020.

The “Bring Balance to Salem” PAC was formed late last year that has raised $1.6 million. The contributions have come primarily in large sums given by timber, construction and other companies. Under Oregon law, there is no limit to the size of campaign contributions.

The PAC has hired the Hood River consulting firm of former U.S Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, and his wife, Mylene Simons-Walden, to assist in its efforts. The former congressman’s sister-in-law, Marta Simons, also of Hood River, is listed as the group’s treasurer.

Along with Sierra Pacific, the more than $6 million raised by Johnson’s insurgent campaign for governor includes $1 million from Nike co-founder Phil Knight.

Oregon is one of five states that has no limits on campaign contributions. Congressional races fall under the tighter limits of the Federal Elections Commission. 

Under redistricting, the 5th Congressional District represented by Schrader has been shifted significantly to the east – including a portion beyond the Cascades that includes portions of northern Deschutes County around Bend, Redmond and parts of the Sunriver area. Schrader is facing a 2022 Democratic primary challenge from Jaime McLeod-Skinner of Terrebonne.

Schrader has also received two $500 contributions from Andrea Howell, Sierra Pacific’s corporate affair director. One was for the 2018 election and the latest was given on Sept. 22, 2021 for the 2022 election.

The winner of the 5th district primary will face the victor of the Republican primary, which includes former Happy Valley Mayor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Bend businessman Jimmy Crumpacker and Wilsonville physician John Di Paola.

Prior to 2022, the Bend area was in the 2nd Congressional District, represented by U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario. The lone Republican in the Oregon’s congressional delegation, he has received $4,000 from Emmerson family members in the past two elections. Under redistricting, Bentz still represents most of eastern, central and much of southwestern Oregon. 

Other than Schrader, the most money given to a Democrat in an Oregon race by Sierra Pacific was $1,000 to then-former Gov. John Kitzhaber’s successful 2010 bid to return to the governorship.