Mayoral election in Portland, Oregon (2020)

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2020 Portland elections

Election dates
Filing deadline: March 10, 2020
Primary election: May 19, 2020
General election: November 3, 2020
Election stats
Offices up: mayor
Total seats up: 1 (click here for other city elections)
Election type: Nonpartisan
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2020

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Incumbent Ted Wheeler defeated Sarah Iannarone and Teressa Raiford (write-in) in the general election for mayor of Portland, Oregon on November 3, 2020.

Nineteen candidates ran in the May 19 primary. Wheeler received 49.1%—less than the majority needed to win the election outright. Iannarone received 24%, and Raiford received 8.5%. As the top two vote-getters, Wheeler and Iannarone advanced to the general election.

Associated Press' Gillian Flaccus wrote the following:[1]

“  |

Months of protests against racial injustice and police violence have made Portland national news in a divisive election year, and President Donald Trump routinely derides Mayor Ted Wheeler as a weak liberal unable to stop unrest in his "anarchist" city.

But as Wheeler spars with Trump, the mayor is also facing a threat at home from the opposite end of the political spectrum: a far-left challenger who supports $50 million in law enforcement cuts and slams her opponent for what she describes as an aggressive police force.[2]

|  ”

|
|

Wheeler said he led on police reform and the city's COVID-19 response. His campaign website said, "We are in the midst of a pandemic, the ensuing economic crisis, racial justice reckoning, and facing the constantly growing effects of climate change. We have an incredible amount of work ahead, and need continued leadership now more than ever."[3]

Iannarone's campaign website said, "The current Mayor’s record is full of broken promises on solutions for houselessness and inequality. He’s shown no leadership on civil unrest or public safety. ... I’m offering a progressive alternative."[4]

Click here for more on candidates' key messages.

Wheeler had support from United for Portland, a group that formed in October and included the Services Employees International Union, the Portland Business Alliance, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, and the Portland NAACP.[5] Iannarone's endorsers included Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Our Revolution, and the Oregon Progressive Party.[6]

This election was a battleground race. Other 2020 battlegrounds included:

* Florida State Senate elections, 2020
* Maryland's 7th Congressional District special election (February 4, 2020 Democratic primary)
* Texas' 13th Congressional District election, 2020 (July 14 Republican primary runoff)

|

## Contents

* 1 Election procedure changes in 2020
* 2 Election results
* 3 Candidates and results
* 4 Additional elections on the ballot
* 4.1 Candidate profiles
* 4.2 Polls
* 4.3 Campaign finance
* 4.4 Endorsements
* 4.5 Timeline
* 4.5.1 2020
* 4.5.1.1 October
* 4.6 Campaign ads
* 4.6.1 Sarah Iannarone
* 4.6.2 Satellite group ads
* 4.7 Campaign themes
* 4.7.1 Candidate survey
* 4.7.2 Ted Wheeler
* 4.7.3 Sarah Iannarone
* 4.7.4 Teressa Raiford
* 4.8 Debates and forums
* 4.8.1 October 15, 2020
* 4.8.2 October 8, 2020
* 4.9 2016 election
* 4.10 Mayoral partisanship
* 4.11 About the city
* 4.11.1 City government
* 4.11.2 Demographics
* 4.12 Pivot Counties
* 4.12.1 Presidential results by legislative district
* 4.13 See also
* 4.14 External links
* 4.15 Footnotes

## Election procedure changes in 2020[edit]

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

Oregon did not modify any procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

## Election results[edit]

Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.

# Candidates and results[edit]

General election

##### General election for Mayor of Portland

Incumbent Ted Wheeler defeated Sarah Iannarone and Teressa Raiford in the general election for Mayor of Portland on November 3, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Ted Wheeler (Nonpartisan)  |

46.0

| 166,543

| Sarah Iannarone (Nonpartisan)  |

40.8

| 147,437

| Teressa Raiford (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) |

| 0
|  | Other/Write-in votes |

13.2

| 47,703

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 361,683

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

##### Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Portland

The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of Portland on May 19, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Ted Wheeler (Nonpartisan)  |

49.1

| 109,159
✔ |

| Sarah Iannarone (Nonpartisan)  |

24.0

| 53,306

| Teressa Raiford (Nonpartisan) |

8.5

| 18,950

| Ozzie Gonzalez (Nonpartisan)  |

5.8

| 12,928

| Bruce Broussard (Nonpartisan)  |

5.2

| 11,589

| Randy Rapaport (Nonpartisan)  |

1.8

| 3,943

| Piper Crowell (Nonpartisan)  |

1.5

| 3,353

| Mark White (Nonpartisan)  |

1.1

| 2,346

| Cash Carter (Nonpartisan) |

0.7

| 1,539

| Sharon Joy (Nonpartisan)  |

0.4

| 926

| Willie Banks (Nonpartisan)  |

0.4

| 807

| Daniel Hoffman (Nonpartisan)  |

0.3

| 715

| Michael O'Callaghan (Nonpartisan)  |

0.3

| 658

| Michael Burleson (Nonpartisan)  |

0.2

| 426

| Lew Humble (Nonpartisan)  |

0.1

| 311

| Beryl McNair (Nonpartisan)  |

0.1

| 268

| Michael Jenkins (Nonpartisan)  |

0.1

| 267

| Jarred Bepristis (Nonpartisan)  |

0.0

| 107

| Floyd La Bar (Nonpartisan)  |

0.0

| 100
|  | Other/Write-in votes |

0.3

| 680

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 222,378

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

# Additional elections on the ballot[edit]

See also: Oregon elections, 2020

What's on your ballot?

Click here to find out using My Vote

## Candidate profiles[edit]

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[7] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.

Ted Wheeler

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office:

* Mayor of Portland, Oregon (Assumed office: 2017)
* Oregon Treasurer (Appointed then elected in 2010; left office 2017)
* Multnomah County Board of Commissioners Chairman (2007-2010)

Biography: Wheeler received a B.A. in economics from Stanford University, an M.B.A. from Columbia University, and an M.A. in public policy from Harvard University. He worked for Bank of America and Copper Mountain Trust. Wheeler founded Walk for the Wildwood and was a founding member of the Heron Point Wetlands Rehabilitation Project.

* * *

Key Messages

* * *

Wheeler said that under his leadership, Portland was one of the first cities to act on COVID-19, enacted a progressive Police Reform Action Plan, more than doubled its shelter capacity, and committed to transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2050.

* * *

Wheeler said his priorities included ending violence, cleaning up litter and graffiti, reducing the number of people experiencing homelessness, and helping local businesses reopen.

* * *

Wheeler said the city needed continued leadership amid the pandemic, economic crisis, racial justice reckoning, and climate change.

* * *

Sources: Ted Wheeler's 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 26, 2020; YouTube, "Portland mayoral debate: Ted Wheeler, Sarah Iannarone on protests, police reform and COVID-19," October 8, 2020; Vote Smart, "Ted Wheeler's Biography," accessed October 26, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of Portland in 2020

Sarah Iannarone

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography: Iannarone received a bachelor's degree in urban planning and sustainability from Portland State University. She worked as an educator, in urban policy and best practices, and as a small business owner. Iannarone was a member of several City of Portland committees, including the Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Bureau of Transportation Budget Advisory Committee.

* * *

Key Messages

* * *

Iannarone said her priorities were a just and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, police reform, and making sure everyone in the city had a home they could afford.

* * *

Iannarone said Wheeler did not deliver solutions on homelessness or inequality and that he did not show leadership on civil unrest or public safety.

* * *

Iannarone emphasized that she used public financing and said she was running a grassroots campaign focused on progressive change.

* * *

Sources: Sarah Iannarone's 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 26, 2020; YouTube, "Portland mayoral debate: Ted Wheeler, Sarah Iannarone on protests, police reform and COVID-19," October 8, 2020; Portland, Oregon, "Filing of Candidacy for Nonpartisan Nomination for City Office," accessed October 26, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of Portland in 2020

Teressa Raiford

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography: "My name is Teressa Raiford, and I am a fourth-generation resident of traditional village sites of Multnomah, Clackamas, and many other tribes currently known as Portland, Oregon. Growing up an inner-city youth in the Irvington/Alberta neighborhood, I was exposed to many of the issues our city still faces today; gun violence, housing displacement, discrimination and racism. It was these lived experiences that heightened my self-awareness to injustices. Providing testimony at city halls, state Capitals and state work group committee meetings, I've demanded audits surrounding equity, education, public safety, police accountability and state inter-agency access for our systemically oppressed and discriminated communities who need it most. When I received an invitation extended to advocates and national leaders against gun violence during the Obama administration, it became apparent to national and state leaders that my consistent and articulate leadership is rooted in a bold commitment to change. These systemic failures should require a direct approach that engages those most vulnerable and helps them become educated in civic process. I will focus on providing humane and effective solutions to the houseless crisis, fight for living wages, do the most for renters' rights and create true racial justice in our city. For more information on my grassroots campaign, please visit TeressaRaifordForMayor.com"

* * *

Key Messages

The messages below are the candidate’s own.

* * *

Every Portlanders' lived experience should influence policy in City Hall. I believe in bringing the general public into the political process to raise civic engagement that improve outcomes in housing, infrastructure and jobs.

* * *

We need a reconstruction of Portland's form of government. I'll be known for building policies and directives that focus on utilizing audits and educational outreach to develop infrastructure that promotes improved government transparency.

* * *

We will decriminalize houselessness. We aren't providing enough resources to the immediate needs of our unhoused and undocumented communities in regards to accessibility for intake services.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of Portland in 2020

## Polls[edit]

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

Portland mayoral election polls (2020)

Poll  |  Date  |  Wheeler  |  Iannarone  |  Other/Undecided  |  Margin of error  |  Sample size  |  Sponsor
DMH Research |  Oct. 7-11  |  33%  |  34%  |  19%[8] |  ± 4.9  | 400  |  Oregon Public Broadcasting

## Campaign finance[edit]

## Endorsements[edit]

Click the links below for endorsement lists from each candidate's website.

* Ted Wheeler
* Sarah Iannarone

## Timeline[edit]

### 2020[edit]

* October 2020 (click to collapse)

#### October[edit]

* Oct. 30, 2020: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) endorsed Iannarone.[9]
* Oct. 11, 2020: A DMH Research poll showed Iannarone with 34% support and Wheeler with 33%. The margin of error was +/- 4.9 percentage points.

## Campaign ads[edit]

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

### Sarah Iannarone[edit]

"What is your background?" - Iannarone campaign ad, released October 10, 2020

"What makes Portland special?" - Iannarone campaign ad, released October 10, 2020

"What makes your campaign different?" - Iannarone campaign ad, released October 10, 2020

"How will you address the housing crisis?" - Iannarone campaign ad, released October 10, 2020

"What's the first thing you'll do as Portland Mayor?" - Iannarone campaign ad, released October 10, 2020

"What is your vision for Portland?" - Iannarone campaign ad, released October 10, 2020

"Are You ANTIFA?" - Iannarone campaign ad, released October 9, 2020

"Portland, This is Our Chance" - Iannarone campaign ad, released July 9, 2019

### Satellite group ads[edit]

Opposing Iannarone

* United for Portland ad, released October 7, 2020

## Campaign themes[edit]

See also: Campaign themes

### Candidate survey[edit]

Ballotpedia invites candidates to participate in its annual survey.
Click here to fill out the survey.

|

### Ted Wheeler[edit]

Wheeler’s campaign website stated the following:

“  |

* In my second term, I will be your champion for:

* Safe and affordable homes, with support services, for our most vulnerable community members living outside
* Support for small businesses—especially BIPOC-owned—to protect this unique and vital part of Portland’s economy through the extreme challenge of COVID-19
* Pandemic recovery centered in climate action and equity to ensure that we build back better and create a more resilient community
* Public safety system reform that reflects our community’s values and is responsive to calls for transformational change
* A healthy, sustainable parks and recreation system
* Continued leadership in the clean-up and re-opening of the Willamette River as a community gathering place
* Taking responsible steps to manage through the economic impacts of the pandemic and keep the City in good financial health[2]

|  ”

|
|

—Ted Wheeler’s campaign website (2020)[10]

### Sarah Iannarone[edit]

Iannarone’s campaign website stated the following:

“  |

* A Green New Deal for #OurPortland

* Declare a climate emergency, act with urgency, and center impacted communities
* Implement a climate action test for all new city policies and infrastructure
* Reach carbon neutrality by 2030, accelerating green energy goals
* Fight for universal access to fareless transit for all Portlanders
* Listen to this policy's Podcast Episode

* Rethinking Public Safety

* Expand innovative programs like Portland Street Response
* Stop the displacement of marginalized community members
* Create neighborhood safety hubs to meet our needs in the next disaster
* Accelerate the work of ensuring safe streets for everyone
* Stop throwing good money after bad in the Portland Police Bureau
* Listen to this policy's Podcast Episode

* Housing For All

* Launch a five year strategic plan to end the Housing State of Emergency
* Support and protect a Tenant’s Bill of Rights and work to prevent evictions
* Accelerate building of truly-affordable housing with money we already have
* Lead a progressive revenue process to ensure the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share to address the crisis
* Listen to this policy's Podcast Episode

* Good Government, For the People

* Get big money out of politics to ensure honest, inclusive elections
* Create municipal broadband as a public utility and establish a public bank
* Invest in guaranteed income for the most vulnerable people in our city
* Engage every Portlander in a robust process to reform our outdated form of government
* Listen to this policy's Podcast Episode

* Community-Based Gun Violence Prevention

* Follow the leadership of impacted people, primarily youth of color, on Gun Violence Prevention (GVP)
* Ensure we do not target BIPOC communities through this work, avoiding repeating historical abuses and police profiling
* Create city standards on public building lockdowns to reduce alarmism and trauma while keeping schools and gathering places prepared
* Invest in youth peer intervention to empower young people to solve this problem for each other

* Economic Resilience

* Establish a Director of Small Business & Entrepreneurship in the Mayor's office
* Invest marijuana tax revenue in communities impacted by the War on Drugs
* Replace the Arts Tax with an equitable funding source that helps our arts community thrive
* Support our parks by bundling art and community safety funds to establish community safety hubs and childcare centers
* Listen to this policy's Podcast Episode

* Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot

* Fund a pilot GBI program through philanthropy, private investment, and existing revenue reallocation
* Pilot a 12 month program to offer 125 Black Portland mothers $1,000 monthly for one year
* Voluntarily track outcomes with the intention of demonstrating the improved life outcomes we see in other cities
* Ensure recipients receive GBI as value added, not in place of other social services, benefit payments, or other means tested programs
* Utilize resources reclaimed from failed and wasteful programs and bureaus to create greater tangible benefits for GBI recipients

* Community Action to Mitigate COVID-19 Outbreak
* Adopt a coordinated disaster response team approach and establish an Office of Community Resilience
* Ensure rapid emergency support for small business owners, their employees, and other COVID-impacted low- and moderate-wage hourly workers
* Maintain a moratorium on residential and commercial evictions and on sweeps of houseless camps
* Ensure we meet the food, shelter and supply needs of quarantining Portlanders to maintain wellness[2]

|  ”

|
|

—Sarah Iannarone’s campaign website (2020)[11]

### Teressa Raiford[edit]

Raiford’s campaign website stated the following:

“  |

* First 100 Days

In the first 100 days, Mayor Teressa Raiford will review audits of all city programs and departments. Audits expose the relationship of how we enact and propose policy by identifying where resources are needed most. Teressa has demanded and conducted past audits that have shown the disparities of Portland’s current city inadequacies. Her policies are rooted in the outcomes of audits and years of community engagement since the beginning of her campaign in 2017. These policies come from the people, by the people, and for the people of Portland.

* Accessibility

As Mayor, Teressa will

Ensure ADA is complied to every measure and press for further progress in City Hall.

Ensure that city council meetings, agendas, and city forums will be accessible. Ensuring that ASL and language interpreters will be present and live streams.

Uplift marginalized people of Portland often left out of the picture through increased access to City Hall.

* Cannabis Tax Reform

As Mayor, Teressa will

Divert Cannabis Tax from PPB to fund expungement clinics and other Second-chance Programs.

Fund Black neighborhood development through reallocated Cannabis Tax.

Form a Black Cannabis Counsel — taking a lead from what the Black community needs and wants.

Establish an Employment Council for transitional workers re-entering society by working with Oregon state legislators.

Divert cannabis taxes to social programs they were intended for and where they are needed.

* Civic Participation

As Mayor, Teressa will

Invest in open spaces, opportunities for healthy recreation and community connection-building.

Host city halls in our most marginalized communities — as they are often left unheard.

Close the loopholes that prevent civic participation like inaccessible times for working people and parents, inaccessible locations and lack of outreach of informing the public.

Host Summer youth programs for civic leadership preparation.

* COVID-19

As Mayor, Teressa will

Seek full rent cancelation for individuals by working with the city council and state officials.

Work with the Portland City Council to pay the Property Taxes of businesses until the curve has flattened.

Extend the eviction moratorium until our State of Emergency is declared over.

Start the process of Portland participating in a Universal Basic Income pilot program.

* Education

As Mayor, Teressa will

Endorse the Preschool for All initiative to ensure that this is fully funded for children and parents.

Create an official committee to empower marginalized students to hold Portland Public Schools accountable.

Create paid internships for BIPOC students and student unions to have a larger voice in the city government.

Work with PPS to ensure our education is comprehensive and adequately funded — prioritizing students that do not benefit from the current curriculum and invest in social service positions.

* Green New Deal

As Mayor, Teressa will

Ensure a path to Trimet’s transformation of energy systems to 100% renewable energy by 2030.

Prioritize environmental justice for Black, Indigenous and Persons of Color Communities located near fossil fuel production sites, landfills, industrial factory-farming, and in sites most vulnerable to natural disasters worsened by climate change.

Stop Zenith expansion. Revise and expand city code; hold Zenith financially accountable for their environmental damages done to our city — requiring full insurance in the event of an oil spill.

Enact a car-free downtown area in Portland.

Expand the current ​“Bicycle Plan for 2030” and ensure safer bike lanes for cyclists.

Divest from fossil fuel and private interests, invest in solar panels on city buildings and permaculture modifications.

Increase city standards and oversight of city sustainability practices, by enforcing Portland’s Declaration of Climate Change Emergency with clearer mandates.

* Housing for All

As Mayor, Teressa will

Invest in affordable housing and audit existing programs.

Uplift intergenerational housing needs and stop the demolition of Portland.

Center a preservation over gentrification policy, demanding transparency from real estate interests and developers, beginning with audits.

Demand real estate leaders educate clients that this is stolen land through land acknowledgements.

Seek Publically-funded, percentage-based rental development units.

Ensure easier access to these resources for our houseless communities.

* Intergenerational Community

As Mayor, Teressa will

Invest in Intergenerational support projects.

Ensure that our older generations in Portland have access and adequate funding to resources such as community centers.

Identify and support community needs, regardless of age.

* Immigration

As Mayor, Teressa will

Denounce ICE for their human rights violations and violence towards our immigrant communities and citizens.

Work with congressional representatives to remove ICE from Portland.

Require that all personnel at PPB are not aiding ICE, protecting Portland’s sanctuary city status.

Provide ESL resources and legal support at no cost to our community members.

* Living Wages

As Mayor, Teressa will

Seek Universal Basic Income with Oregon State Legislators.

Demand a living wage, beginning with at least $15 dollars an hour.

Make it easier to form and join a union through national mandates, protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (H.R. 2474).

* Mutual Aid

As Mayor, Teressa will

Invest in food security in Portland food deserts by supporting programs like PDX free fridge.

Invest in BIPOC land stewardship programs and farmers.

Empower community engagement to uplift marginalized community members by making local politics more accessible.

* Police Justice

As Mayor, Teressa will

Commit to disbanding the Portland Police Bureau, beginning with defunding at least by 50% and continuing after her terms as mayor are over.

Open PPB data to the Portland City Council for independent oversight.

Invest in a community-led People’s Budget platform.

Invest in proven community-based gun violence community coalitions and invest in alternatives to calling the PPB.

End qualified immunity and create a public Police Excessive Force Database to ensure accountability.

Increase racial and implicit bias training, until the PPB is dismantled.

* Public Safety

As Mayor, Teressa will

Invest in safe transportation infrastructure based on the recommendations of audits conducted in the first 100 days.

Partner with Trimet to advocate for a fare-free transit.

Expand the Street Response Team, currently led by Street Roots.

Invest in programs to support families dealing with trauma associated with public safety inadequacies.

* Racial Justice

As Mayor, Teressa will

Protect people over property. She will listen to the demands of the people and uplift their freedom of speech and healthy civic engagement.

Never approve permits to white supremacist rallies or organizations.

Audit and terminate PPB members found to be coordinating with white supremacist groups, including, but not limited to, the Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer.

Expose Portland’s racist past. Educate the city that Portland is built on stolen land, by stolen people.

Work with the Oregon legislature to begin the process of reparations for our Indigenous community and Black community members.

Remove statues of colonists around the city and urge schools to rename their campuses.[2]
|  ”

|
|

—Teressa Raiford's campaign website (2020)[12]

## Debates and forums[edit]

#### October 15, 2020[edit]

The City Club of Portland hosted a debate. View the video here.

#### October 8, 2020[edit]

KGW and the Oregonian hosted a debate. View the video here.

## 2016 election[edit]

See also: Municipal elections in Portland, Oregon (2016)

The city of Portland, Oregon, held elections for mayor and two of its four city commission seats on May 17, 2016. Despite a large number of candidates in all three races, the mayoral and City Commission Position No. 1 races were both determined in the primary with Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler (D) and incumbent Commissioner Amanda Fritz winning more than half the votes in their respective races.

The City Commission Position No. 4 race, however, required a runoff election on November 8, 2016. Incumbent Steve Novick was the top vote recipient in the primary, but did not secure a majority of the votes cast. He was defeated by Chloe Eudaly in the general election.

The May election was called a primary, but it was functionally a general election. A runoff election—called in this case a general election—was only held on November 8, 2016, for races where no single candidate received a majority (50 percent plus one) of the votes cast on the May ballot.[13]

The following candidates ran in the mayoral primary election.[14]

Mayor of Portland, Primary Election, 2016

Candidate | Vote % | Votes
Ted Wheeler | 54.93% | 104,731
Jules Kopel Bailey | 16.43% | 31,323
Sarah Iannarone | 11.76% | 22,417
Bruce Broussard | 3.88% | 7,399
Sean Davis | 2.69% | 5,122
David Schor | 2.61% | 4,981
Jessie Sponberg | 1.65% | 3,146
Bim Ditson | 1.27% | 2,414
Patty Burkett | 1.21% | 2,310
David Ackerman | 1.16% | 2,207
Deborah Harris | 0.85% | 1,617
Lew Humble | 0.39% | 741
Trevor Manning | 0.25% | 478
Steven Entwisle Sr. | 0.21% | 396
Eric Calhoun | 0.18% | 345
Write-in votes | 0.55% | 1,044
Total Votes (>95.0% counted) | 190,671
Source: The Oregonian, "2016 Primary Election: Oregon results," accessed May 20, 2016

## Mayoral partisanship[edit]

See also: Partisanship in United States municipal elections (2020)

At the end of 2020, Democrats held mayorships in 65 of the 100 largest cities in the country.

Mayoral elections were held in 29 of the 100 largest U.S. cities in 2020. Seven party changes took place as a result of these 29 elections. Five offices held by Republican incumbents and two offices held by Democratic incumbents changed partisan control.

In Scottsdale, Arizona, independent David Ortega won the open seat. Incumbent Jim Lane (R) was term-limited. In Irvine, California, Democrat Farrah Khan defeated incumbent Christina Shea (R). In San Diego, California, Democrat Todd Gloria won the open seat. The incumbent, Kevin Faulconer (R), was term-limited. In Stockton, California, Republican Kevin Lincoln II defeated incumbent Michael Tubbs (D). In Honolulu, Hawaii, independent Rick Blangiardi won the open seat. Democratic mayor Kirk Caldwell was term-limited. In El Paso, Texas, Democrat Oscar Leeser defeated incumbent Donald Margo (R). In Corpus Christi, Texas, nonpartisan Paulette Guajardo defeated incumbent Joe McComb (R).

## About the city[edit]

See also: Portland, Oregon

Portland is a city in Oregon, located in  Multnomah County. As of 2013, its population was 609,456.[15]

### City government[edit]

Since 1913, the city of Portland has utilized a commission system. In this form of municipal government, a city council—composed of an elected mayor and a board of elected commissioners—serves as the city's primary legislative and administrative body.[16] In Portland, the council also possesses quasi-judicial powers.[17]

The city commission system is one of the oldest forms of municipal government in the United States. Portland is the only city out of America's largest 100 that still uses it.[17][18]

### Demographics[edit]

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic data for Portland, Oregon (2015)

| Portland| Oregon
Total population:| 612,206| 4,024,634
Land area (square miles):| 133| 95,988
Race and ethnicity[19]
White:| 77.6%| 85.1%
Black/African American:| 5.8%| 1.8%
Asian:| 7.6%| 4%
Native American:| 0.7%| 1.2%
Pacific Islander:| 0.5%| 0.4%
Two or more:| 5%| 4.1%
Hispanic/Latino:| 9.7%| 12.3%
Education
High school graduation rate:| 91.3%| 89.8%
College graduation rate:| 45.5%| 30.8%
Income
Median household income:| $55,003| $51,243
Persons below poverty level:| 18%| 18.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)

## Pivot Counties[edit]

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Two of 36 Oregon counties—5.6 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008

County  |  Trump margin of victory in 2016  |  Obama margin of victory in 2012  |  Obama margin of victory in 2008
Columbia County, Oregon | 11.46% | 5.16% | 12.02%
Tillamook County, Oregon | 5.58% | 4.86% | 9.89%

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Oregon with 50.1 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 39.1 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Oregon cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 73.3 percent of the time. In that same time frame, Oregon supported Republican candidates for president more often than Democratic candidates, 56.7 to 43.3 percent. The state, however, favored Democrats in every election between between 2000 and 2016.

#### Presidential results by legislative district[edit]

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Oregon. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[20][21]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 39 out of 60 state House districts in Oregon with an average margin of victory of 26.9 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 36 out of 60 state House districts in Oregon with an average margin of victory of 31.6 points. Clinton won four districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.

In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 21 out of 60 state House districts in Oregon with an average margin of victory of 20.3 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 24 out of 60 state House districts in Oregon with an average margin of victory of 24 points. Trump won three districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

2016 presidential results by state House district

District |  Obama |  Romney |  2012 Margin |  Clinton |  Trump |  2016 Margin |  Party Control
1  |  37.15%  |  59.91%  | R+22.8  |  30.45%  |  63.42%  | R+33  | R
2  |  35.86%  |  61.05%  | R+25.2  |  27.65%  |  65.58%  | R+37.9  | R
3  |  38.59%  |  58.64%  | R+20.1  |  32.16%  |  60.97%  | R+28.8  | R
4  |  34.06%  |  63.51%  | R+29.4  |  27.52%  |  66.33%  | R+38.8  | R
5  |  60.76%  |  35.69%  | D+25.1  |  58.86%  |  33.66%  | D+25.2  | D
6  |  43.64%  |  53.69%  | R+10  |  40.10%  |  52.36%  | R+12.3  | R
7  |  40.94%  |  55.86%  | R+14.9  |  32.79%  |  59.77%  | R+27  | R
8  |  68.36%  |  28.03%  | D+40.3  |  65.84%  |  26.50%  | D+39.3  | D
9  |  49.44%  |  47.54%  | D+1.9  |  40.23%  |  52.56%  | R+12.3  | D
10  |  55.67%  |  41.16%  | D+14.5  |  47.25%  |  45.02%  | D+2.2  | D
11  |  55.39%  |  41.57%  | D+13.8  |  50.86%  |  41.87%  | D+9  | D
12  |  56.62%  |  40.21%  | D+16.4  |  49.34%  |  41.70%  | D+7.6  | D
13  |  63.69%  |  32.89%  | D+30.8  |  62.35%  |  29.39%  | D+33  | D
14  |  57.20%  |  40.05%  | D+17.1  |  51.09%  |  40.77%  | D+10.3  | D
15  |  44.80%  |  52.00%  | R+7.2  |  39.46%  |  51.33%  | R+11.9  | R
16  |  68.67%  |  27.22%  | D+41.4  |  69.48%  |  20.98%  | D+48.5  | D
17  |  36.23%  |  60.65%  | R+24.4  |  27.71%  |  64.47%  | R+36.8  | R
18  |  38.39%  |  59.05%  | R+20.7  |  33.45%  |  58.97%  | R+25.5  | R
19  |  44.87%  |  52.96%  | R+8.1  |  42.46%  |  50.19%  | R+7.7  | R
20  |  50.99%  |  46.50%  | D+4.5  |  49.71%  |  42.02%  | D+7.7  | D
21  |  57.81%  |  39.39%  | D+18.4  |  53.19%  |  38.56%  | D+14.6  | D
22  |  54.27%  |  42.99%  | D+11.3  |  52.07%  |  40.38%  | D+11.7  | D
23  |  43.15%  |  54.01%  | R+10.9  |  36.74%  |  55.52%  | R+18.8  | R
24  |  47.77%  |  49.67%  | R+1.9  |  44.83%  |  46.73%  | R+1.9  | R
25  |  43.43%  |  54.28%  | R+10.8  |  40.87%  |  50.61%  | R+9.7  | R
26  |  49.24%  |  48.65%  | D+0.6  |  51.80%  |  40.43%  | D+11.4  | R
27  |  62.96%  |  34.72%  | D+28.2  |  66.84%  |  25.48%  | D+41.4  | D
28  |  59.90%  |  37.33%  | D+22.6  |  59.87%  |  31.58%  | D+28.3  | D
29  |  54.53%  |  42.09%  | D+12.4  |  52.00%  |  38.65%  | D+13.4  | D
30  |  56.91%  |  40.02%  | D+16.9  |  57.59%  |  33.00%  | D+24.6  | D
31  |  52.12%  |  44.60%  | D+7.5  |  44.06%  |  47.64%  | R+3.6  | D
32  |  52.75%  |  44.09%  | D+8.7  |  45.64%  |  46.09%  | R+0.5  | D
33  |  65.90%  |  31.83%  | D+34.1  |  72.64%  |  20.98%  | D+51.7  | D
34  |  63.85%  |  33.25%  | D+30.6  |  67.22%  |  24.53%  | D+42.7  | D
35  |  60.70%  |  36.93%  | D+23.8  |  63.83%  |  28.39%  | D+35.4  | D
36  |  79.34%  |  17.38%  | D+62  |  82.77%  |  11.05%  | D+71.7  | D
37  |  52.79%  |  45.42%  | D+7.4  |  57.22%  |  35.31%  | D+21.9  | R
38  |  65.77%  |  32.10%  | D+33.7  |  71.88%  |  22.01%  | D+49.9  | D
39  |  42.78%  |  55.07%  | R+12.3  |  38.83%  |  54.39%  | R+15.6  | R
40  |  53.15%  |  44.33%  | D+8.8  |  49.14%  |  42.74%  | D+6.4  | D
41  |  70.80%  |  26.25%  | D+44.5  |  70.28%  |  22.34%  | D+47.9  | D
42  |  87.06%  |  7.84%  | D+79.2  |  87.10%  |  6.08%  | D+81  | D
43  |  89.37%  |  6.92%  | D+82.5  |  89.00%  |  5.40%  | D+83.6  | D
44  |  82.65%  |  13.55%  | D+69.1  |  81.66%  |  11.41%  | D+70.2  | D
45  |  79.69%  |  17.31%  | D+62.4  |  80.42%  |  13.55%  | D+66.9  | D
46  |  79.45%  |  16.72%  | D+62.7  |  80.06%  |  13.10%  | D+67  | D
47  |  66.01%  |  31.23%  | D+34.8  |  63.57%  |  29.15%  | D+34.4  | D
48  |  61.00%  |  36.01%  | D+25  |  59.27%  |  32.83%  | D+26.4  | D
49  |  57.08%  |  40.26%  | D+16.8  |  51.57%  |  40.49%  | D+11.1  | D
50  |  54.82%  |  42.75%  | D+12.1  |  51.27%  |  41.12%  | D+10.2  | D
51  |  53.04%  |  44.74%  | D+8.3  |  50.91%  |  41.90%  | D+9  | D
52  |  51.53%  |  45.97%  | D+5.6  |  46.57%  |  45.78%  | D+0.8  | R
53  |  40.98%  |  56.77%  | R+15.8  |  39.36%  |  53.26%  | R+13.9  | R
54  |  54.38%  |  42.95%  | D+11.4  |  55.64%  |  35.94%  | D+19.7  | R
55  |  32.25%  |  65.13%  | R+32.9  |  24.43%  |  69.92%  | R+45.5  | R
56  |  28.24%  |  69.10%  | R+40.9  |  23.76%  |  69.30%  | R+45.5  | R
57  |  32.89%  |  64.08%  | R+31.2  |  27.24%  |  65.33%  | R+38.1  | R
58  |  33.98%  |  63.22%  | R+29.2  |  27.37%  |  65.78%  | R+38.4  | R
59  |  42.10%  |  55.62%  | R+13.5  |  36.82%  |  56.07%  | R+19.3  | R
60  |  26.45%  |  70.57%  | R+44.1  |  20.38%  |  73.39%  | R+53  | R
Total |  54.64%  |  42.46%  | D+12.2  |  51.96%  |  40.57%  | D+11.4  |  \-
Source: Daily Kos

## See also[edit]

Portland, Oregon | Oregon | Municipal government | Other local coverage

|
|
|

* 2016 Portland elections
* Portland, Oregon
* Cities in Oregon

* 2020 Oregon elections
* Public policy in Oregon
* Influencers in Oregon
* Oregon

* Top counties
* 100 largest cities
* Current mayors
* Current council officials

* 2020 municipal elections
* 2020 school board elections
* 2020 local ballot measure elections
* 2020 local judicial elections

## External links[edit]

* Search Google News for this topic
* City of Portland

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Associated Press, "Oregon protest fallout dominates close Portland mayor race," October 13, 2020
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
3. ↑ Ted Wheeler's 2020 campaign website, "Our Progress," accessed October 29, 2020
4. ↑ Sarah Iannarone's 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 29, 2020
5. ↑ Willamette Week, "A New Coalition Will Spend the Campaign Dollars Mayor Ted Wheeler Can’t," October 7, 2020
6. ↑ Sarah Iannarone's 2020 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed October 23, 2020
7. ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
8. ↑ Raiford: 6%
Other write-in: 4%
Undecided: 10%
9. ↑ KOIN, "Bernie Sanders endorses Sarah Iannarone in Portland mayoral race," October 30, 2020
10. ↑ Ted Wheeler’s 2020 campaign website, “Priorities,” accessed October 16, 2020
11. ↑ Sarah Iannarone’s campaign website, “The Plan for Progress,” accessed October 16, 2020
12. ↑ Teressa Raiford’s 2020 campaign website, “Issues,” accessed October 16, 2020
13. ↑ City of Portland Auditor, "Time Schedule for 2016 Municipal Elections," accessed August 13, 2015
14. ↑ Portland Auditor's Office, "Registry of Candidates - May 17, 2016 Primary Election," accessed March 9, 2016
15. ↑ U.S. Census, "State and County Quick Facts," accessed September 2, 2014
16. ↑ City of Portland, "Elected Officials," accessed September 2, 2014
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 City of Portland, "City Government Structure," accessed December 19, 2014
18. ↑ National League of Cities, "Forms of Municipal Government," accessed September 2, 2014
19. ↑ Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
20. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
21. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017

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