{{short description|American physician and politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Bud Pierce | image = Bud pierce in front of state capitol (cropped2).jpg | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|10|3}} | birth_place = Wiesbaden, West Germany | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | spouse = {{marriage|Selma Moon|1981|2020|reason=died}} | children = 2 | education = University of California, Riverside (BS)<br>University of California, Los Angeles (MS, PhD, MD) | allegiance = {{flag|United States}} | branch = {{flag|United States Marine Corps}}<br>United States Navy Reserve | service_years = 1979–1985 (Active)<br>1989–1997 (Reserve) | unit = 18px United States Marine Corps Reserve }} '''William C.''' "'''Bud'''" '''Pierce''' (born October 3, 1956<ref name=theriault>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/07/republican_doctor_taking_on_kate_br.html|title=Republican doctor, taking on Kate Brown, pours $250,000 into campaign|author=Theriault, Dennis C.|publisher=The Oregonian (OregonLive.com)|date=July 31, 2015|access-date=June 18, 2016}}</ref>) is an American physician and politician. He was the Republican nominee for Governor of Oregon in the 2016 special election.<ref name=bud>{{cite web|url=http://www.budpierce.com/about-bud/|title=About Bud|publisher=Bud Pierce for a Better Oregon|access-date=June 18, 2016}}</ref><ref name=bud2>{{cite web|url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55ccc65ee4b030e8fe304ac9/t/561fd94fe4b0b8c55edc1297/1444927823498/BudPierceBioml+udpated+1015.pdf|title=William C. "Bud" Pierce, MD, PhD|access-date=June 18, 2016}}</ref>
==Early life and career== Pierce was born in Germany and raised in Riverside County, California. His father worked as a public school custodian and his mother was a homemaker. He graduated from Moreno Valley High School in 1974 and attended college at the University of California, Riverside, graduating in 1979, and medical school at the University of California, Los Angeles, receiving a Ph.D. in 1985 and M.D. in 1987.<ref name=bud2/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opb.org/news/series/election-2016/oregon-governor-2016-republican-bud-pierce-campaign/|title=Bud Pierce Announces Bid For Oregon Governor|author=AP|publisher=Oregon Public Broadcasting|date=September 10, 2015|access-date=June 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918160543/http://www.opb.org/news/series/election-2016/oregon-governor-2016-republican-bud-pierce-campaign/|archive-date=September 18, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 1979 to 1985, and moved to Salem, Oregon in 1994, where he currently works as an oncologist and hematologist. Pierce is also a clinical assistant professor of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University and College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Northwest.<ref name=bud2/>
==Political career==
===2016 gubernatorial election=== In March 2015, Pierce announced he would explore a campaign for governor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/03/republican_doctor_from_salem_c.html|title=Republican doctor from Salem contemplates gubernatorial run|author=Kullgren, Ian K.|publisher=The Oregonian (OregonLive.com)|date=March 16, 2015|access-date=June 21, 2016}}</ref> He won the Republican primary for governor on May 17, 2016, and received about 48% of the vote, defeating his closest challenger, businessman Allen Alley, by nearly 20 points.<ref name=primaryresults>{{cite web|url=http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873801|title=May 17, 2016 Primary Election Results|publisher=Oregon Secretary of State|access-date=June 21, 2016}}</ref> Pierce faced incumbent governor Kate Brown in the general election in November.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/09/kate_brown_lets_it_buck_in_pen.html|title=Kate Brown makes clear she's running for governor|author=Theriault, Denis C.|publisher=The Oregonian (OregonLive.com)|date=September 18, 2015|access-date=June 21, 2016}}</ref>
In May 2016, Pierce endorsed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kgw.com/news/politics/oregon-republicans-react-to-trumps-likely-nomination/171419555|title=Oregon Republicans react to Trump's likely nomination|author=Dooris, Pat|publisher=KGW|date=May 4, 2016|access-date=October 2, 2016}}</ref> However, in September he released a statement stating he "was hopeful that Donald Trump would rise to the occasion and unify the party and nation during the general election. As each day goes by, more of the opposite has taken place. At this point in time I need to see more from Donald Trump in the way of specific policy proposals and a more inclusive tone in order to vote for him."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kgw.com/news/politics/gov-candidate-bud-pierce-undecided-on-trump/322145087|title=Gov. candidate Bud Pierce now undecided on Trump|author=Roth, Sara|publisher=KGW|date=September 20, 2016|access-date=October 2, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wweek.com/news/2016/09/21/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-bud-pierce/|title=5 Things You Didn't Know About Bud Pierce – The GOP nominee for governor just yanked his endorsement of Trump|author=Jaquiss, Nigel|newspaper=Willamette Week|date=September 20, 2016|access-date=October 2, 2016}}</ref> Following the release of video footage showing Donald Trump making lewd comments about women, Pierce condemned the comments, stating, "Mr. Trump's comments are degrading, unbecoming, and unacceptable, period."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2016/10/09/bud-pierce-denounces-trumps-lewd-comments-women/91830810/|title=Bud Pierce, Greg Walden denounce Trump's lewd comments about women|author=Friedman, Gordon|newspaper=Statesman Journal|date=October 10, 2016|access-date=October 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opb.org/news/series/election-2016/republican-pierce-denounces-comments-in-2005-trump-video/|title=Republican Bud Pierce Denounces Comments In 2005 Donald Trump Video|author=Manning, Rob|publisher=Oregon Public Broadcasting|date=October 8, 2016|access-date=October 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://koin.com/2016/10/08/bud-pierce-responds-to-trumps-lewd-comments/|title=Bud Pierce responds to Trump's lewd comments|author=KOIN 6 News Staff|publisher=KOIN 6 – Watching out for you|date=October 8, 2016|access-date=October 16, 2016}}</ref>
In September 2016, during a debate with Kate Brown, Pierce generated controversy and boos from the audience for saying educated women are less susceptible to domestic abuse.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/10/01/gop-oregon-gubernatorial-candidate-educated-women-arent-susceptible-to-abuse/|title=GOP Oregon gubernatorial candidate: Educated women aren't susceptible to sexual abuse|author=Phillips, Amber|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 1, 2016|access-date=October 2, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/34855315-75/oregon-gubernatorial-candidate-bud-pierce-booed-for-sexual-violence-remark.html.csp|title=Oregon gubernatorial candidate Bud Pierce booed for sexual violence remark|author=The Associated Press|newspaper=The Register-Guard|date=October 2, 2016|access-date=October 2, 2016}}</ref> He later apologized for his remarks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opb.org/news/series/election-2016/bud-pierce-sexual-assault-successful-women/|title=Pierce Booed For Sexual Assault Remarks, Later Apologizes|author=Mapes, Jeff|author2=Parks, Bradley W.|publisher=Oregon Public Broadcasting|date=October 1, 2016|access-date=October 2, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.attn.com/stories/11899/bud-pierce-argued-educated-women-cannot-experience-abuse|title=A Man Running for Governor Tried to Argue That Women in This Demographic Cannot Experience Abuse|author=Donovan, Laura|publisher=ATTN|date=October 7, 2016|access-date=October 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyemerald.com/2016/10/07/oregon-governor-candidates-debate-in-eugene-over-state-issues/|title=Oregon Governor candidates debate in Eugene over state issues|author=Field, Andrew|newspaper=Daily Emerald|date=October 7, 2016|access-date=October 16, 2016}}</ref>
On November 8, 2016, Pierce lost to Brown, receiving 43% of the vote.
===2022 gubernatorial election=== On November 30, 2020, Pierce announced he would be once again running for governor in the 2022 election. In his announcement, he criticized Governor Brown (who was term limited in 2022), saying, "Oregon is currently suffering under the guidance of an oppressive and poorly performing governor."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/11/30/the-2022-governors-race-is-officially-underway-dr-bud-pierce-declares-his-candidacy/|title=The 2022 Governor's Race Is Officially Underway: Dr. Bud Pierce Declares His Candidacy|last=Jaquiss|first=Nigel|newspaper=Willamette Week|date=November 30, 2020|access-date=December 1, 2020}}</ref> Pierce lost the primary to Christine Drazan, who went on to lose the general election to Tina Kotek.
==Political positions== Pierce opposed Oregon Ballot Measure 97 in 2016. It would have imposed a gross receipts tax on C Corporations with sales exceeding $25 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/opinion/readers/2016/08/19/brown-supports-measure-vote-bud-pierce/89023982/|title=Kate Brown supports Measure 97; vote for Bud Pierce|author=Lindsey, Gerald|newspaper=Statesman Journal|date=August 21, 2016|access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref><ref name=RG>{{cite news|url=http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/34798017-75/bud-pierce-calls-for-moderate-oregon-gop.html.csp|title=Gubernatorial candidate Bud Pierce calls for moderate Oregon GOP|author=Hubbard, Saul|newspaper=The Register-Guard|date=September 15, 2016|access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref> In 2016, Pierce called for a more moderate Oregon Republican Party.<ref name=RG/>
He is against vaccine mandates saying in February 2022, regarding COVID-19 deaths, "Most of those were 65 and over, past working age. Few people of working age have died, and society shouldn’t be brought to a halt." "It’s time to end the mandates."<ref>[https://www.nrtoday.com/news/elections/gubernatorial-candidate-bud-pierce-says-its-time-to-stop-fearing-covid-19/article_08f440ca-f84e-5f2c-8ea2-aed6ca061aa0.html Gubernatorial candidate Bud Pierce says it's time to stop fearing COVID-19], ''News Review'', Carisa Cegavske, February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.</ref>
==Personal life== Pierce married Selma Moon Pierce on June 6, 1981. The couple had two children and attended Salem First Christian Church in Salem, Oregon. Selma Pierce was also involved in politics; she ran for Oregon's 20th House district in 2018 and 2020, losing both times to Democrat Paul Evans.<ref name=bud/><ref name=bud2/> Selma died after being struck by a car in Salem in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/12/selma-pierce-wife-of-gubernatorial-candidate-bud-pierce-struck-and-killed-by-car.html|title=Selma Pierce, wife of gubernatorial candidate Bud Pierce, struck and killed by car|last=Ramakrishnan|first=Jayati|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=December 1, 2020|access-date=December 1, 2020}}</ref>
==Electoral history== thumb|Republican primary results by county. Red indicates a win by Pierce, yellow a win by Alley. {{Election box begin no change | title = Oregon gubernatorial special election, 2016 Republican primary<ref name=primaryresults/> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Bud Pierce | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 171,158 | percentage = 47.66 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Allen Alley | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 103,388 | percentage = 28.79 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Bruce Cuff | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 41,598 | percentage = 11.58 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Bob Niemeyer | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 35,669 | percentage = 9.93 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Bob Forthan | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 4,290 | percentage = 1.19 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = ''Write-ins'' | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 3,020 | percentage = 0.84 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 359,123 | percentage = 100 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Kate Brown | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 1,008,558 | percentage = 50.90% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Bud Pierce | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 854,924 | percentage = 43.14% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Independent Party of Oregon | candidate = Cliff Thomason | votes = 48,262 | percentage = 2.44% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Libertarian Party (United States) | candidate = James Foster | votes = 46,049 | percentage = 2.32% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Constitution Party (United States) | candidate = Aaron Donald Auer | votes = 19,537 | percentage = 0.99% }}
{{Election box candidate no change | party = | candidate = write-ins | votes = 4,281 | percentage = 0.22% }}
{{Election box total no change | votes = 1,981,611 | percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=Oregon gubernatorial election, 2022 Republican primary}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Christine Drazan|votes=85,255|percentage=22.99}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Bob Tiernan|votes=66,089|percentage=17.82}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Stan Pulliam|votes=41,123|percentage=11.09}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Bridget Barton|votes=40,886|percentage=11.02}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Bud Pierce|votes=32,965|percentage=8.89}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Marc Thielman|votes=30,076|percentage=8.12}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Kerry McQuisten|votes=28,727|percentage=7.74}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Bill Sizemore|votes=13,261|percentage=3.57}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Jessica Gomez|votes=9,970|percentage=2.69}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Tim McCloud|votes=4,400|percentage=1.19}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Nick Hess|votes=4,287|percentage=1.15}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Court Boice|votes=4,040|percentage=1.09}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Brandon Merritt|votes=3,615|percentage=0.97}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Reed Christensen|votes=3,042|percentage=0.82}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Amber Richardson|votes=1,924|percentage=0.52}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Raymond Baldwin|votes=459|percentage=0.12}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=David Burch|votes=406|percentage=0.11}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=John Presco|votes=174|percentage=0.05}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Stefan Strek|votes=171|percentage=0.05}}{{Election box total no change|votes=370,910|percentage=100}} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Dennis Richardson}} {{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Governor of Oregon|years=2016}} {{s-aft|after=Knute Buehler}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pierce, Bud}} Category:1956 births Category:21st-century American medical doctors Category:Candidates in the 2016 United States elections Category:Living people Category:American oncologists Category:Oregon Republicans Category:Medical doctors from Oregon Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni Category:University of California, Riverside, alumni Category:Politicians from Salem, Oregon