PORTLAND, Ore — This November, Portland will see a mayoral election like none before. Mayor Ted Wheeler is running against challenger Sarah Iannarone in a race defined by months-long protests and the coronavirus pandemic.
Wheeler had a healthy lead over Iannarone in the May primary, but fell just short of the threshold he needed to avoid a run-off. But days after that primary, the death of George Floyd and ongoing protests in Portland have upended the race. Recent polling showed Iannarone with an 11-point lead, but a large amount of voters were still undecided.
Both candidates made their cases to voters in a debate hosted by KGW and The Oregonian.
The candidates appeared Wednesday night from remote locations to ensure the debate was as safe as possible. Wheeler was at the offices of the local firefighters union, while Iannarone appeared from the office of a supporter in Southeast Portland. The debate was taped in advance to minimize the risk of any technical difficulties that would distract from the candidates' messages.
The full debate aired Thursday night at 7 p.m.
The candidates faced questions both from KGW anchor Laural Porter and The Oregonian reporter Everton Bailey, as well as questions Portland-area residents sent in via video.
If you missed the debate, watch it here:
Voter Guide 2020: Your election questions answered
Voter Guide 2020 : Everything you need to know about voting in Oregon
Watch on YouTube: KGW Investigates