Published 2:32 pm Friday, April 24, 2026 A Jan. 6 rioter is among the 10 candidates who failed to make the stage for the GOP governor’s race’s first major debate last week The top four Oregon Republicans running for governor spent their first debate attacking incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek’s leadership, while shying away from the GOP’s ties to President Donald Trump. But for at least one candidate who political observers say faces an uphill battle to ever receive the nomination, that relationship is far from avoidable. He’s just one of 10 candidates vying for the GOP nomination who lack the name recognition and political clout of their leading opponents: Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell, state Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, state Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, and former NBA player Chris Dudley. David Medina, a resident of the Portland area, made headlines in 2024 after facing felony and misdemeanor charges from the federal government for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S.…