Election 2024 voter guide: Portland mayor, ballot measures and county races

A total of 19 candidates are running for Portland mayor. The election will use ranked-choice voting, which means voters will be asked to rank their top six candidates in order of preference on their ballots. The list below is in alphabetical order by last name, but the five frontrunners are listed first.

RELATED: What Portland voters need to know about ranked choice voting this November

The frontrunners are candidates who have created a website, published a platform and registered with Oregon's campaign finance system, which is a legal requirement for candidates who expect to spend or receive more than $750 over the course of their campaigns.

The top five are also the only ones who have qualified for Portland's Small Donor Elections program, which offers matching funding to mayoral candidates who can collect at least 750 small donations from Portland residents to show that they have a significant number of supporters.

Rene Gonzalez

• Occupational background: Attorney, entrepreneur
• Political experience: Current Portland City Commissioner
• Small Donor Elections match: $100,000 (maximum)
• Cash raised: $224,455 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: reneforportland.com
• Notable endorsements: Multnomah County District Attorney-Elect Nathan Vazquez, Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton, Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth, Portland Firefighters Association, Portland Police Association Multifamily NW

RELATED: Rene Gonzalez maintains public safety focus, says he's slowed down in years since speeding tickets

Mingus Mapps

• Occupational background: Professor
• Political experience: Current Portland City Commissioner
• Small Donor Elections match: $100,000 (maximum)
• Cash raised: $145,524 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: mingusmapps.com
• Notable endorsements: PPS Board Chair Gary Hollands, former Portland Planning and Development commissions chair John Russel, former Oregon State Senator Margaret Carter, former Oregon State Senator Avel Gordly, Democratic Party of Oregon Chair Rosa Colquitt, PROTEC 17 (Portland city employees union)

RELATED: Mingus Mapps talks police, homelessness and running for mayor under Portland's new system of government

Liv Osthus

• Occupational background: Stripper, artist, musician
• Political experience: None
• Small Donor Elections match: $85,527
• Cash raised: $122,328 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: vivaforportland.com

RELATED: Liv Osthus running for Portland mayor talks homeless, climate plan

Carmen Rubio

• Occupational background: Latino Network executive director, policy advisor
• Political experience: Current Portland City Commissioner
• Small Donor Elections match: $100,000 (maximum)
• Cash raised: $242,806 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: carmenforportland.com
• Notable endorsements: Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, former Portland Mayor Tom Potter, former Oregon Governor Kate Brown, Metro President Lynn Peterson, Oregon AFSCME Council 75, Portland Association of Teachers

RELATED: Carmen Rubio highlights record on housing, apologizes for parking tickets and other driving violations

Keith Wilson

• Occupational background: Trucking industry executive, Shelter Portland founder
• Political experience: None
• Small Donor Elections match: $100,000 (maximum)
• Cash raised: $256,414 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: keithwilsonformayor.com
• Notable endorsements: Lake Oswego Mayor Joe Buck, Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway, Central City Concern Executive Director Don Clark, Oregon State Senator Mark Meek, UFCW Local 555, Sunrise PDX

RELATED: 'Portland's renaissance': Mayoral candidate Keith Wilson's ambitious homelessness plan

Saadiq Ali

• Occupational background: None listed
• Political experience: None
• Cash raised: Did not register
• Campaign website: None

Shei'Meka (BeUtee) As-Salaam

• Occupational background: Educator
• Political experience: PTA president
• Cash raised: Did not register
• Campaign website: None

James Atkinson IV

• Occupational background: Inventor
• Political experience: None
• Cash raised: Did not register
• Campaign website: None

Durrell Kinsey Bey

• Occupational background: Youth advocate, development director
• Political experience: None
• Cash raised: $887 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: durrellformayor.com

Michael Hayes

• Occupational background: U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development program director, real estate
• Political experience: Planning commissioner in Contra Costa County
• Cash raised: Did not register
• Campaign website: None

Yao Jun He

• Occupational background: None listed
• Political experience: None
• Cash raised: Did not register
• Campaign website: None

Josh Leake

• Occupational background: Finance executive, film producer
• Political experience: Interned for mayors Vera Katz and Sam Adams
• Cash raised: $0 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: joshforportland.com

James Macdonald

• Occupational background: Sales management
• Political experience: None
• Cash raised: Did not register
• Campaign website: None

Sharon Nasset

• Occupational background: Restaurant manager, real estate broker
• Political experience: North Portland Business Association Chair
• Cash raised: $0 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: electnasset.com

Michael Necula

• Occupational background: Bartender
• Political experience: None
• Cash raised: Did not register
• Campaign website: instagram.com/mikeyformayorpdx

Alexander Neely

• Occupational background: Winemaker
• Political experience: None
• Cash raised: Did not register
• Campaign website: None

Michael O'Callaghan

• Occupational background: Lawyer, unhoused advocate
• Political experience: Activist
• Cash raised: Did not register
• Campaign website: mayormikeoc.com

Martin Ward

• Occupational background: Political campaign worker, self-employed
• Political experience: Political campaign worker
• Cash raised: Did not register
• Campaign website: martinward4mayor.com

Dustin Witherspoon

• Occupational background: Construction, maintenance
• Political experience: None
• Cash raised: Did not register
• Campaign website: None

Multnomah, Clackamas and Clark counties each have two commission or council runoff races on the November ballot. Washington County has none, because its two commission races on the May primary ballot both ended with one candidate getting more than 50% of the vote, eliminating the need for a runoff.

Unlike the race for Portland mayor, none of these races use ranked-choice voting — and it wouldn't make a difference if they did, since they're all runoffs with only two candidates on the ballot in each race.

Multnomah County Commissioner, District 1

Meghan Moyer

• Occupational background: Construction management, small business owner, policy director
• Political experience: Oregon Commission on Child Care, Oregon Youth Development Council
• Cash raised: $34,763 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: meghanformultnomah.org
• Notable endorsements: The Street Trust, Basic Rights Oregon, Portland Association of Teachers, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, Oregon Nurses Association, Oregon AFSCME Council 75

Vadim Mozyrsky

• Occupational background: Attorney, administrative law judge
• Political experience: Committee on Engaged Policing, Commission on Disability
• Cash raised: $99,775 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: votevadim.com
• Notable endorsements: Mingus Mapps, Keith Wilson, Rene Gonzalez, Dan Ryan, Sam Adams, Nathan Vasquez, Sharon Meieran, Loretta Smith, Portland Firefighters Association, Portland Police Association

Multnomah County Commissioner, District 2

Shannon Singleton

• Occupational background: Social worker, consulting, interim director of the Joint Office of Homeless Services
• Political experience: Multiple boards and committees
• Cash raised: $42,339 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: shannonsingleton.org
• Notable endorsements: Oregon AFSCME Local 88, SEIU, Portland Association of Teachers, UFCW Local 555, Color PAC

RELATED: Multnomah County commission candidates for North Portland discuss homelessness plan, camping bans

Sam Adams

• Occupational background: Nonprofit executive, political campaign manager
• Political experience: Former Portland mayor and city commissioner
• Cash raised: $165,303 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: multcoforsam.com
• Notable endorsements: Dan Saltzman, Jules Bailey, Portland Firefighters Association, Multnomah County Deputy Sheriffs Association, LIUNA Local 737

Clackamas County, Position 1, Chair

Tootie Smith (incumbent)

• Occupational background: Business owner, newspaper editor
• Political experience: Clackamas County Chair, previously County Commissioner and Oregon House member
• Cash raised: $242,454 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: tootiesmith.com
• Notable endorsements: Clackamas County Peace Officers Association, IAFF Local 1159, Clackamas County Commissioner Ben West, Happy Valley Mayor Tom Ellis, Molalla Mayor Scott Keyser, Estacada Mayor Sean Drinkwine

RELATED: Craig Roberts and Tootie Smith set for November runoff in Clackamas County chair race

Craig Roberts

• Occupational background: Clackamas County Sheriff
• Political experience: Chair of Oregon Task Force on School Safety
• Cash raised: $189,468 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: robertsforclackamas.com
• Notable endorsements: State Senate President Rob Wagner, State Sen. Mark Meek, Clackamas County Sheriff Angela Brandenburg, Lake Oswego Mayor Joe Buck, Milwaukie Mayor Lisa Batey, West Linn Mayor Rory Bialostosky, Wilsonville Mayor Julie Fitzgerald

Clackamas County Commissioner, Position 4

Mark Shull (incumbent)

• Occupational background: U.S. Military, design and development, logging
• Political experience: Clackamas County Commissioner
• Cash raised: $2,100 as of Oct. 15 (declined to fundraise)
• Campaign website: supportshull.com

Melissa Fireside

• Occupational background: Small business owner, project management
• Political experience: Former member of Clackamas County Mental Health and Addiction Advisory Council, former Chair of Compensation Board for Elected Officials in Clackamas County
• Cash raised: $74,820 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: firesideforclackamascounty.com
• Notable endorsements: U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai, State Rep. Jules Waters, State Rep. Mark Gamba, Milwaukie Mayor Lisa Batey

Clark County Councilor, District No. 3

Chuck Keplar

• Occupational background: Construction company owner, pastor
• Political experience: None
• Cash raised: $13,942 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: www.electkeplar.com
• Notable endorsements: Clark County Councilor Michelle Belkot, Clark County Deputy Sheriff's Guild, Clark County Association of Realtors, Building Industry Association of Clark County

Wil Fuentes

• Occupational background: Banking, nonprofit management
• Political experience: None
• Cash raised: $65,063 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: electwil.com
• Notable endorsements: Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, Clark County Councilor Sue Marshall, State Rep. Monica Stonier, State Rep. Sharon Wylie, State Sen. Annette Cleveland

Clark County Councilor, District No. 4

Joe Zimmerman

• Occupational background: Farmer, finance manager
• Political experience: Chair of Clark-Cowlitz Farm Bureau Legislative Committee chair, Washington Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee VP, Clark County Solid Waste Advisory Commission VP
• Cash raised: $10,535 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: electjoez.com

Matt Little

• Occupational background: Public policy, conservation, resource management
• Political experience: Washington Fish and Wildlife Conservation Partnership co-chair, Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition policy analyst, senior advisor to former U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan
• Cash raised: $24,734 as of Oct. 15
• Campaign website: mattlittle4clarkcounty.org
• Notable endorsements: Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, Battle Ground Mayor Troy McCoy, State Sen. Ann Rivers, Clark County Association of Realtors, Firefighters Local 452

Portland has five charter amendment measures on the November ballot, although none of them approach the scale of 2022's massive charter reform measure that ushered in a complete overhaul of the city's system of government. Some of them could be fairly described as housekeeping measures, but a couple of them could have more significant impacts.

Measure 26-249 — Utility franchise agreements

This measure amends the charter to remove some of the specific requirements in the process for approving utility franchise agreements, such as publishing the entire document in a newspaper. The intent is to speed up a process that can sometimes drag out for months. In the future, the city council would be able to consider and adopt utility franchise agreements using the regular ordinance process.

Measure 26-250 — Independent Elections Commission

This measure would amend the city charter to create an independent Portland Elections Commission to oversee election programs and financing. The city already has an Elections Commission with a similar structure and function, but it's established through city code rather than the charter, which means the city council can change it. Putting it in the charter means it can only be altered by a majority vote from city residents.

Measure 26-251 — Natural area management

Another charter amendment, this one would expand and clarify the city's authority to manage recreational and natural areas, sewers and stormwaters. The city already has that authority under the current charter, but the language was last updated more than 50 years ago, so the amendment would add more specific definitions for some of the terms, such as clarifying that "recreational and natural areas" includes "parks, playgrounds, forests, wetlands and human-built natural facilities."

Measure 26-252 — Outdated charter language

This measure would delete or replace some current charter language described as "vague, archaic and inconsistent" such as the regulation of "offensive" businesses, a prohibition on "persons roaming the streets at unseasonable hours" and replacing the word "disability" with the more accurate "incapacity" in a provision describing a circumstance where the mayor is unable to preside over a council meeting.

Measure 26-253 — Older building weatherization

This measure would delete a section of the charter, added by voters in 1980, that prohibits the city from enacting a weatherization mandate for structures built prior to September 1979 without a citywide vote. Weatherization refers to energy efficiency upgrades such as new insulation.

Oregon has a significant crop of statewide measures on the ballot in November. Measure 118 has generated the largest share of headlines, but there are others with equally far-ranging potential impacts on how the state elects, pays and — if necessary — impeaches public officials.

Measure 115 — Impeachment of state officials

This measure would amend the Oregon Constitution to give the State House of Representatives the power to impeach the Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General or Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). Oregon is currently the only state where the legislature can't impeach statewide officials, although they can still be removed from office through recall votes. Impeachment would require a two-thirds vote in the House and conviction would require a two-thirds vote in the Senate.

Measure 116 — Setting salaries for elected officials

This measure would establish an "Independent Public Service Compensation Commission" to set salaries for most elected officials in the state government, removing that power from the legislature. Salaries for all state government elected officials, including state legislatures, are currently set by statute and can only be changed by legislation.

Measure 117 — Ranked-choice voting

This measure would switch Oregon to a ranked-choice voting system for most of its statewide elections including President, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Attorney General and BOLI Commissioner, allowing voters to rank the candidates in those races in order of preference. 

RELATED: How would ranked-choice voting work in Oregon? Here's a look

It would also apply during primary elections, requiring each political party to use the process to elect its nominee for each office (the primary election would be eliminated for the nonpartisan BOLI Commissioner position). Local governments would be able to choose whether to switch to ranked-choice voting for their own local elections. The measure would not apply to state legislative races.

Measure 118 — Corporate tax revenue rebate

This measure would add a 3% gross receipts tax on corporations with sales exceeding $25 million, with the revenue being distributed to Oregon taxpayers through rebates, likely around $1,600 per person per year. The measure is notable for drawing opposition from an exceptionally wide cross-section of the political spectrum, with the Democratic and Republican caucuses in the Oregon Legislature both speaking out against it and arguing that it would lead to higher consumer prices and potential job losses.

RELATED: Measure 118 is on the November ballot. Here's what the 'Oregon Rebate' would do

Measure 119 — Cannabis industry labor relations

This measure would require cannabis retailers and processors to remain neutral when their employees are contacted by labor organizations, enforced by a requirement that each cannabis company reach a "labor peace agreement" with a labor organization as a condition of maintaining their state license. The measure's backers argue that because cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, cannabis companies have been able to skirt existing laws that protect the rights of employees to unionize.