PORTLAND, Ore. — In a significant political shift, residents of Portland, Oregon have chosen Keith Wilson, an unconventional candidate, as their new mayor. Wilson’s campaign effectively tapped into the mounting concerns surrounding homelessness, rampant drug use, and overall quality of life in the city. He outperformed three City Council members, one of whom was embroiled in a scandal related to driving violations.
As the CEO of a trucking firm and founder of a nonprofit aimed at enhancing homeless shelter availability, Wilson campaigned on a bold promise to eradicate unsheltered homelessness within his first year in office. He intends to achieve this by increasing access to nighttime emergency shelters in places like churches and community centers, which already provide some level of shelter during adverse weather conditions.
Wilson’s message struck a chord in a city where recent surveys have identified homelessness as a critical challenge. “It’s time to end unsheltered homelessness and open drug use, and it’s time to restore public safety in Portland,” he declared during his acceptance speech at a community center in north Portland that has been used as an overnight shelter. He emphasized the need for action, stating, “Voters aren’t interested in pointing fingers. They just want us to get things done.”
The mayoral contest, which included 19 candidates, was prompted by the decision of incumbent Mayor Ted Wheeler not to run for reelection after holding the post since 2017. Wheeler gained national attention during the summer of 2020 when protests against racial injustice swept through Portland and other U.S. cities following the death of George Floyd.
Wilson’s victory marked the first use of ranked-choice voting in a Portland mayoral election. This voting system allows voters to rank candidates according to their preferences. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the initial votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their supporters’ votes are transferred to their next preference. This process continues until a candidate achieves a majority.
According to preliminary results, around 35% of voters selected Wilson as their top choice, well ahead of City Council members Carmen Rubio and Rene Gonzalez, who received roughly 19% and 13% of first-choice votes, respectively. Both Rubio and Gonzalez promptly reached out to offer their congratulations to Wilson after the results were released.
Throughout much of the election year, Rubio and Gonzalez were considered the leading candidates. However, recent revelations regarding Rubio’s extensive driving record—including about 150 traffic violations and multiple suspensions—complicated matters for her. Meanwhile, Gonzalez also faced scrutiny related to past license suspensions and speeding tickets, though to a lesser degree.
In previous statements, both candidates expressed regret regarding their past actions, with Rubio apologizing for her violations and Gonzalez claiming to have matured in his approach to responsibility.
Wilson will be at the helm of a restructured government. In an effort to enhance representation, Portland is set to expand its City Council from five to 12 members, with representatives elected from specific districts rather than the entire city, while also introducing a city manager role to improve governance and oversight.