Chris Dudley

Oregon's gubernatorial primary Tuesday night left voters with two distinct options when they go to the polls in November: John Kitzhaber, a former two-term Democratic governor seeking an unprecedented third spin in office, and Chris Dudley, a former Portland Trail Blazer turned Republican politician.

Kitzhaber easily beat former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury in the Democratic primary, 66 percent to 29 percent, The Oregonian reports. The Republican primary was tighter: Dudley beat high-tech businessman Allen Alley by a mere eight points. Voter turnout was around 38 percent.

Chris DudleyThe primary set up a colorful contest in November, where Kitzhaber will attempt to sell his vast understanding of Oregon's government, which he ran from 1995-2003, and portray Dudley as an inexperienced outsider. Kitzhaber did not mention Dudley in his acceptance speech Tuesday night, but the state Democratic Party has already launched a website called DudleyDoLittle.com that highlight's the former basketball player's lack of government experience and expertise.

Dudley, who spent 16 years in the NBA, will likely campaign on Kitzhaber's record as well, asking voters why they would vote for someone who put the state on its current path. Dudley previewed that theme in his acceptance speech Tuesday night, saying the November contest would be a choice between "our past or our future, a comeback or a rerun."