Report: Ore. Senate candidate accused of stalking, harassment by ex-boyfriend

National Republicans’ pick to challenge Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) was accused last year by her ex-boyfriend of stalking him and harassing his employees, according to a Politico report. 

In the Portland, Ore., police report, lumber magnate Andrew Miller accused Monica Wehby, a pediatric neurosurgeon who’s vying for the Oregon GOP Senate nomination Tuesday, of entering his home without permission as their relationship was ending. He reportedly considered getting a protective order, but that was never sought. 

Miller’s relationship with Wehby has already been an issue in her Senate primary. He’s invested heavily in a super-PAC that’s attacked Wehby’s GOP primary rival, state Rep. Jason Conger, and hosted a fundraiser for Wehby. The Oregon Democratic Party has filed a complaint that the two have illegally coordinated messaging.  

Wehby told Politico she was unaware of the report before now. 

“The first time I ever learned of this report was this evening and there really isn’t much to it of consequence,” Wehby said in a statement. “A year ago I went through the process of concluding a relationship. That relationship ended amicably, and while I’m not pleased that it has been deemed newsworthy, I guess that is the cost of challenging the political status quo.”

Wehby, a centrist Republican, is seen by national Republicans as their best chance of making the Oregon Senate race competitive this fall. But first, she has to defeat the more conservative Conger in Tuesday’s primary. A group backing Wehby released a poll on Thursday showing her with a 41 percent to 24 percent lead over Conger in the all-mail primary. Conger also just picked up the endorsement of former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.). Wehby has been endorsed by former 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney, among others.