Tania Wildbill, of Pendleton, has announced she is running in the 2024 election for Oregon Senate District 29.

PENDLETON — Tania Wildbill of Pendleton has announced she is running to succeed Bill Hansell of Athena in the Oregon Senate.

Wildbill recently declared she is running as a Democrat for Senate District 29.

“Let us come together to meet the needs of community members of District 29 and to take action steps as citizens to volunteer time and contribute resources to bridge the fiscal shortages,” she stated.

Wildbill has lived on the Umatilla Indian Reservation near Pendleton for 24 years and has two daughters who are enrolled members with the Confederated Tribes of The Umatilla Indian Reservation.

“When my mother was dying in 2015 from stage 4 advanced ovarian cancer I asked her, ‘Mom, what’s the most important life message you want to leave me?’ She said, ‘When you receive a call to serve your community, you say yes.’”

Wildbill said that call came Oct. 9 from Patrick Cahill, Umatilla County Democratic Party chair, asking her to run for the Senate.

“I heard my mother’s life message and I said, ‘Yes!’ to the call to serve District 29,” she stated.

Wildbill co-wrote, produced and directed the award-winning documentary “American Cowboys” about the 1911 Pendleton Round-Up. She created the Yoga Round-Up in Pendleton that ran 2009-16, with 600-800 participants annually from across the United States, Canada, France and South America.

Wildbill has a Master of Science degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York City. She said she worked for CNN at the 1992 Democratic National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City and for NBC Television at the 1992 Republican National Convention in Houston, Texas.

She also said she has “decades of fundraising and grant writing” experience, having helped secure $9.5 million in federal, state and private funds. She also said she secured the initial grant for $350,000 from the Oregon Department of Education to open the Nixyaawii Community School on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Wildbill in her announcement promised her campaign will accept donations to cover expenses as needed. She also issued a challenge to community members and potential donors in the seven counties of Senate District 29. “Having raised millions in my career, I want to invite all of you to take a deep look at your city and county and determine a community needs assessment and examine the fiscal shortfalls,” she stated.

Senate District 29 covers all of Umatilla, Morrow, Union, Gilliam and Sherman counties and as well as parts of Wasco County.

Wildbill joins the race that already has four Republicans: Andy Huwe, of Wallowa County; Jim Doherty, former Morrow County commissioner; Todd Nash, Wallowa County commissioner; and Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann.