Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon Republicans are talking up their party's unity in the upcoming race for governor.

Some of the former GOP candidates showed up at a Party luncheon Thursday in Newberg.

Former Gov. Vic Atiyeh at a GOP unity event

The headline speaker was gubernatorial nominee Chris Dudley. The former NBA player defeated nine GOP candidates this week.

Dudley was introduced by former Oregon governor Vic Atiyeh. The 87-year-old is known as the last Republican to hold the state's top office, more than two decades ago.

It's a distinction he'd like to get rid of, and hopes this is Dudley's year.

Vic Atiyeh: "I'm doing this for my self-interest, because if he's elected, he will represent how I feel, and how government hasn't reacted for the last 23 years."

Dudley was also endorsed by his chief rival in the primary, Allen Alley. But the third and fourth place finishers, John Lim and Bill Sizemore, did not attend the event.

Dudley faces Democrat John Kitzhaber in the fall election.