← 2016
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2020 Portland elections |
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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 |
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]
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.
Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.
Incumbent Ted Wheeler defeated Sarah Iannarone and Teressa Raiford in the general election for Mayor of Portland on November 3, 2020.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
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✔ |
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Ted Wheeler (Nonpartisan) |
46.0
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166,543 |
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Sarah Iannarone (Nonpartisan) |
40.8
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147,437 | |
|
Teressa Raiford (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) |
|
0 | |
Other/Write-in votes |
13.2
|
47,703 |
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. |
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 |
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. |
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.
Incumbent: Yes
Political Office:
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.
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
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.
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
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"
The messages below are the candidate’s own.
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of Portland in 2020
Portland mayoral election polls (2020) | |||||||||
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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 |
Click the links below for endorsement lists from each candidate's website.
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.
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Opposing Iannarone
Ballotpedia invites candidates to participate in its annual survey. |
Wheeler’s campaign website stated the following:
“ |
|
” |
—Ted Wheeler’s campaign website (2020)[10] |
Iannarone’s campaign website stated the following:
“ |
|
” |
—Sarah Iannarone’s campaign website (2020)[11] |
Raiford’s campaign website stated the following:
“ |
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” |
—Teressa Raiford's campaign website (2020)[12] |
The City Club of Portland hosted a debate. View the video here.
KGW and the Oregonian hosted a debate. View the video here.
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]
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 |
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).
Portland is a city in Oregon, located in Multnomah County. As of 2013, its population was 609,456.[15]
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]
The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.
Demographic data for Portland, Oregon (2015) | ||
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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) |
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 | |||||||
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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.
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 | |||||||
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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 |
Portland, Oregon | Oregon | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
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