Election: Runyan a winner, Dudley in close race [View All]

Former NFL lineman Jon Runyan won election to Congress in New Jersey, while former NBA center Chris Dudley was in a close race for governor in Oregon in two of the most prominent elections across the country featuring sports figures. Runyan, a Republican and former Philadelphia Eagles lineman who spent 14 years in the NFL, defeated Democrat John Adler in a tight U.S. House race in New Jersey.

Dudley, 6-foot-11 center from Yale who once played for the Portland Trail Blazers, was clinging to a slim lead in his race against Democrat John Kitzhaber, The Oregonian of Portland reported. But thousands of votes remained to be counted in Multnomah County, a Democratic stronghold, according to the report.

During the race Dudley -- who also played for the Nets, Knicks, Cavaliers and Suns -- drew on his NBA connections; among his supporters was commissioner David Stern.

"Right now, we're up," Dudley told supporters on Tuesday night at the Rose Garden, the arena where he played for the Blazers, according to The Oregonian. "Tomorrow morning, we'll be up. Tomorrow afternoon, we'll be up. Tomorrow, the comeback begins."

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