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Mayor of Portland, Oregon

Government role in Oregon, US

Mayor of Portland, Oregon
Summary

Government role in Oregon, US

FieldValue
postMayor
inauguralHugh O'Bryant
formation1851
termlengthFour years
salary$175,463
styleMayor
bodyPortland, Oregon
incumbentsinceJanuary 1, 2025
incumbentKeith Wilson
imagesize200px
imageMayor Keith Wilson at Portland Waterfront 01 (cropped).jpg
insigniacaptionSeal of Portland, Oregon
insigniasize200px
insigniaSeal of Portland, Oregon.svg

The mayor of Portland, Oregon, is the official head of the city of Portland, Oregon, United States. The officeholder is elected for a four-year term and has no term limits. By law, all elections in Portland are nonpartisan. The current mayor is Keith Wilson, who has served since January 1, 2025, and was first elected in the 2024 election.

The current term for mayor of Portland is four years, having been increased from two years in 1913. Mayoral elections were previously held in May of U.S. presidential election years (years divisible by four), during the Oregon primary election, with a runoff between the top two vote-getters held in November of the same year should no candidate garner a majority vote in the May election, however a new system taking effect in 2024 holds a single general election in November of presidential election years using the instant runoff ranked choice voting method. The mayor-elect takes office the following January.

Duties and powers

Prior to 2025, Portland used a city commission government, the last major city to do so. The mayor and commissioners were responsible for legislative policy and oversaw the various bureaus tasked with day-to-day operation of the city. The mayor served as chairman of the council, and was responsible for allocating department assignments to his fellow commissioners. The mayor's power included declaring an emergency and acting as police commissioner.

Beginning with the 2025 mayoral term, Portland switched to a Council-Mayor form of government. The executive mayor works with a professional city administrator to implement the laws enacted by council and administer the city’s bureaus, employees, facilities, and resources. The executive mayor develops and proposes the city’s budget to council for review and approval, may introduce measures before the council, and breaks tie votes in the council.

Elections

Gallery of the mayors of Portland

The mayor is elected in citywide election. Elections utilize the instant runoff ranked choice voting method, beginning with the 2024 general election. The city charter also allows for write-in candidates. The mayor is elected to a four-year term with no term limits. The office of mayor is officially nonpartisan by state law, although most mayoral candidates identify a party preference. Mayoral elections happen in conjunction with the United States presidential election. Elections followed a two-round system prior to 2024 where the first round of the elections was a primary election. If a candidate received a majority of the vote in the primary they were elected outright, however, If no candidate received a majority the top two candidates advance to a runoff election, called the general election.

The most recent election was in 2024, when businessman Keith Wilson defeated 19 other candidates.

List of mayors

#ImageNameTermElectionPrevious office/occupationUnknown Party (United States)}};"1Unknown Party (United States)}};"2Unknown Party (United States)}};"3Republican Party (United States)}};"4Democratic Party (United States)}};"5Unknown Party (United States)}};"6Republican Party (United States)}};"7Democratic Party (United States)}};"8Republican Party (United States)}};"9Unknown Party (United States)}};"10Unknown Party (United States)}};"11Republican Party (United States)}};"12Unknown Party (United States)}};"13Republican Party (United States)}};"14Republican Party (United States)}};"15Democratic Party (United States)}};"16Democratic Party (United States)}};"17Unknown Party (United States)}};"18Republican Party (United States)}};"19Republican Party (United States)}};"20Republican Party (United States)}};"21Democratic Party (United States)}};"22Republican Party (United States)}};"23Republican Party (United States)}};"24Democratic Party (United States)}};"25Republican Party (United States)}};"26Republican Party (United States)}};"27Republican Party (United States)}};"28Republican Party (United States)}};"29People's Party (United States)}};"30Republican Party (United States)}};"31Unknown Party (United States)}};"32Republican Party (United States)}};"33Republican Party (United States)}};"34Independent (politician)}};"35Republican Party (United States)}};"36Republican Party (United States)}};"37Unknown Party (United States)}};"38Democratic Party (United States)}};"39Democratic Party (United States)}};"40Unknown Party (United States)}};"41Republican Party (United States)}};"42Republican Party (United States)}};"43Democratic Party (United States)}};"44Democratic Party (United States)}};"45Republican Party (United States)}};"46Democratic Party (United States)}};"47Independent (politician)}};"48Democratic Party (United States)}};"49Democratic Party (United States)}};"50Democratic Party (United States)}};"51Democratic Party (United States)}};"52Democratic Party (United States)}};"53Democratic Party (United States)}};"54
[[File:HughOBryant.jpgframeless122x122px]]Hugh O'Bryant1851–1852Officer in the Oregon Riflemen
[[File:ACBonnell.jpgframeless124x124px]]A. C. BonnellApril 1852 – November 1852
[[File:No image.svg100x100px]]Simon B. MaryeNovember 1852 – April 1853
[[File:Josiah Failing.pngframeless144x144px]]Josiah Failing1853–1854Member of the Portland City Council
[[File:5.8WilliamLadd.jpgframeless121x121px]]William S. Ladd1854–1855Member of the Portland City Council
[[File:George W. Vaughn.jpg116x116px]]George W. Vaughn1855–1856
[[File:James O'Neill (Washington politician).jpg112x112px]]James O'Neill1856–1857Agent for Wells Fargo & Company
[[File:5.8WilliamLadd.jpgframeless121x121px]]William S. Ladd1857–18585th Mayor of Portland
[[File:No image.svg100x100px]]A. M. Starr1858–1859Member of the Portland City Council
[[File:S. J. McCormick.png136x136px]]S. J. McCormick1859–1860Delegate to the Oregon Constitutional Convention from Multnomah County
[[File:11GCollierRobbins.jpgframeless125x125px]]G. Collier Robbins1860–1861Member of the Portland City Council
[[File:12JohnBreck.jpgframeless125x125px]]John M. Breck1861–1862City Assessor of Portland
[[File:No image.svg100x100px]]William H. Farrar1862–1863Delegate to the Oregon Constitutional Convention from Multnomah County
[[File:David Logan (Oregon).png143x143px]]David Logan1863–1864Member of the Oregon Territorial Legislature from Washington County
[[File:Henry Failing - Oregon.png145x145px]]Henry Failingfailing_henry_1834_1898_Henry Failing (1834-1898)author=Chet Orloffaccessdate=February 13, 2016}}
[[File:Thomas J. Holmes.jpg125x125px]]Thomas J. Holmes1866–1867Member of the Portland Public Schools Board of Education
[[File:17.22.25 J A Chapman.jpgframeless127x127px]]J. A. Chapman1867–1868Major/Surgeon in the United States Army
[[File:No image.svg100x100px]]Hamilton Boyd1868–1869Multnomah County Commissioner
[[File:Goldsmith-Bernard.jpg136x136px]]Bernard Goldsmith1869–1871Director of the Library Association of Portland
[[File:20PhilipWasserman.jpgframeless124x124px]]Philip Wasserman1871–1873
[[File:Henry Failing - Oregon.png145x145px]]Henry Failing1873–187515th Mayor of Portland
[[File:17.22.25 J A Chapman.jpgframeless127x127px]]J. A. Chapman1875–187717th Mayor of Portland
[[File:23WilliamSNewbury.jpgframeless124x124px]]William Spencer Newbury1877–1879Mayor of Iola, Kansas
[[File:24DavidThompson.jpgframeless122x122px]]David P. Thompson1879–1882date=December 14, 1901title=D.P. Thompson Dies; Leading Citizen and Pioneer Passes Awayurl=http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1901-12-14/ed-1/seq-1/access-date=May 24, 2015work=The Morning Oregonianpages=1, 10}}
[[File:17.22.25 J A Chapman.jpgframeless127x127px]]J. A. Chapman1882–188517th and 22nd Mayor of Portland
[[File:26JohnGates.jpgframeless124x124px]]John Gates1885 – April 27, 1888date=Fall 2005title=Mayor William Mason's Magnificent Manseurl=http://www.visitahc.org/files/archived_newsletters/vol13no4.pdfaccess-date=April 29, 2013work=News & Notespublisher=Architectural Heritage Centerlocation=Portland, Oregonpage=8}}
[[File:27VanBDeLashmutt.jpgframeless125x125px]]Van B. DeLashmuttdate=May 3, 1888title=Mayor Van B. De Lashmutt; The Council Chooses a Head to the City Governmentpage=8newspaper=The Morning Oregonian}} – 1891
[[File:28WilliamMason.jpgframeless123x123px]]William S. Mason1891–1894
[[File:George P. Frank.png120x120px]]George P. Frank1894–1896
[[File:SylvesterPennoyer.png167x167px]]Sylvester Pennoyer1896–18988th Governor of Oregon
[[File:28WilliamMason.jpgframeless123x123px]]William S. MasonJuly 1, 1898 – March 27, 189928th Mayor of Portland
[[File:32WAStorey.jpgframeless123x123px]]W. A. Storeydate=May 18, 1899title=Took Oath of Office: Auditor Gambell Declined, So Storey Went Before a Notarypage=12newspaper=The Morning Oregonian}} –1900Member of the Portland City Council
[[File:Henry Spoor Rowe.jpg126x126px]]Henry S. Rowe1900–19021900
[[File:GeorgeHWilliams.jpgframeless124x124px]]George Henry Williams1902–190532nd United States Attorney General
[[File:Lane-Harry.jpg133x133px]]Harry Lane1905–1909Superintendent of the Oregon State Insane Asylum
[[File:36JosephSimon.jpgframeless124x124px]]Joseph Simon1909–1911United States Senator from Oregon
[[File:37AllenRushlight.jpgframeless121x121px]]Allen G. Rushlight1911–1913Member of the Portland City Council
[[File:38HRussellAlbee.jpgframeless122x122px]]H. Russell Albeetitle=City Elected Officials Since 1913url=http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?&a=4937&c=27134access-date=February 13, 2016publisher=Office of Auditor Mary Hull Caballero}}
[[File:GeorgeLBaker.jpgframeless116x116px]]George L. BakerJuly 1917 – July 1933Member of the Portland City Commission
[[File:Joseph K. Carson.jpg138x138px]]Joseph K. CarsonJuly 1933 – December 31, 1940
[[File:Earl Riley.jpg134x134px]]Earl RileyJanuary 1, 1941 – December 31, 1948Member of the Portland City Commission
[[File:Dorothy McCullough Lee 1957 (cropped).jpegframeless148x148px]]Dorothy McCullough LeeJanuary 1, 1949 – December 31, 1952Member of the Portland City Commission
[[File:No image.svg100x100px]]Fred L. PetersonJanuary 1, 1953 – December 31, 1956Member of the Portland City Commission
[[File:Portland mayor Terry Schrunk in Germany in 1965.jpg129x129px]]Terry SchrunkJanuary 1, 1957 – January 1, 197324th Sheriff of Multnomah County
[[File:Neil Goldschmidt.jpg134x134px]]Neil Goldschmidtlast=Jenningsfirst=Stevedate=August 23, 1979title=Schwab says Portland needs 'budgetary diet'page=C1newspaper=The Oregonian}}Resigned on August 15, 2009, to take office as United States Secretary of Transportation.Member of the Portland City Commission
Connie McCreadylast=Jenningfirst=Stevedate=September 6, 1979title=Mayor McCready takes officepage=1newspaper=The Oregonian}} – November 23, 1980city councilors]] due to the resignation of Mayor Neil Goldschmidt, who resigned after being appointed United States Secretary of Transportation.Member of the Portland City Commission
[[File:Frank Ivancie (cropped).pngframeless122x122px]]Frank Ivancielast=Williamsfirst=Lindadate=November 25, 1980title=Beaming Ivancie sworn in as Portland mayorpage=1newspaper=The Oregonian}} – January 3, 19851980Ivancie was elected in two concurrent elections. One to fill the seat for the final weeks of the term ending on January 3, 1981, and another for a full term (beginning the same day).Member of the Portland City Commission
[[File:Bud Clark 1988.jpg122x122px]]Bud ClarkJanuary 3, 1985 – January 2, 19931984
[[File:Vera Katz.jpg139x139px]]Vera KatzJanuary 3, 1993 – January 3, 20051992title=News: Mayor Vera Katz to Join PSUdate=December 10, 2004publisher=PSU Office of Marketing and Communicationsurl=https://www.pdx.edu/news/node/2111last=Santenfirst=Davidurl-status=deadarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212204739/https://www.pdx.edu/news/node/2111archive-date=December 12, 2017}}
[[File:Mayor Tom Potter in August 2008 (1).jpgframeless132x132px]]Tom PotterJanuary 3, 2005 – December 31, 2008200438th Chief of the Portland Police Bureau
[[File:Sam Adams Nov 2012 (cropped).jpg123x123px]]Sam AdamsJanuary 1, 2009 – December 31, 20122008Member of the Portland City Commission
[[File:MAX Orange Line Opening Day (21259942179) (cropped).jpgframeless139x139px]]Charlie HalesJanuary 1, 2013 – December 31, 20162012Member of the Portland City Commission
[[File:180421-N-UK248-023 (41616137742) (cropped).jpg126x126px]]Ted WheelerJanuary 1, 2017 – December 31, 2024201628th Treasurer of Oregon
[[File:Mayor Keith Wilson at Portland Waterfront 01 (cropped).jpgframeless132x132px]]Keith WilsonJanuary 1, 2025 – present2024CEO of Titan Freight Systems

Note: The color shown in the number (#) column denotes registered political party (red for Republican, blue for Democratic, teal for the People's Party (Populist), gray for Independent). Officially, Mayors run and serve as nonpartisan.

The City of Portland mayor's office, in the City Hall, contains a collection of mounted portraits of all the mayors to date. As of February 2024, only two mayors are missing from the collection; William H. Farrar (1862–1863) and Hamilton Boyd (1868–1869).

References

Notes

References

  1. "Final Report - City of Portland, Independent Salary Commission".
  2. "City elections in Portland, Oregon (2020)".
  3. (June 4, 1913). "Albee is Mayor ... 4-Year Term Begins July 1". [[The Oregonian.
  4. (2023-10-13). "Changing Roles for the Mayor and City Council {{!}} Portland.gov".
  5. "City Government Structure {{!}} About Council {{!}} The City of Portland, Oregon".
  6. Anthony Macuk. (November 6, 2024). "Portland mayoral race called for Keith Wilson; Carmen Rubio concedes". [[KGW]].
  7. [[Jewel Lansing. Lansing, Jewel]]. (2003). ''Portland: People, Politics, and Power, 1851–2001'', pp. 26–49.
  8. "Directory of Current and Past Elected Officials: Mayors of Portland". Auditor's Office, City of Portland, Oregon.
  9. Scott, Harvey. (1890). "History of Portland, Oregon with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent citizens and pioneers". D. Mason & Co..
  10. "Historical Sketch of Portland".
  11. (2009). "Biographical Sketch of William H. Farrar". [[Oregon State Archives]].
  12. Williams, George H.. (1901). "Political History of Oregon from 1853 to 1865". Oregon Historical Society.
  13. {{Oregon Encyclopedia. failing_henry_1834_1898_. Henry Failing (1834-1898). [[Chet Orloff]]
  14. [https://www.pps.net/cms/lib/OR01913224/Centricity/Domain/219/Board%20Members%20Historical%20List%202021.pdf Portland Public Schools Board Members 1851 to Present]
  15. (December 13, 1885). "Death of Dr. J. A. Chapman". [[The Oregonian.
  16. {{Oregon Encyclopedia. library_association_of_portland. Library Association of Portland. Cheryl Gunselman Accessed May 17, 2014.
  17. (December 14, 1901). "D.P. Thompson Dies; Leading Citizen and Pioneer Passes Away". [[The Oregonian.
  18. (April 28, 1888). "Death of Mayor Gates". The Morning Oregonian.
  19. (Fall 2005). "Mayor William Mason's Magnificent Manse". Architectural Heritage Center.
  20. (May 3, 1888). "Mayor Van B. De Lashmutt; The Council Chooses a Head to the City Government". [[The Oregonian.
  21. "[http://www.offbeatoregon.com/H1008a_governor-pennoyer-tells-president-to-drop-dead.html Oregon governor to United States president: Drop dead]", By Finn J.D. John, (August 1, 2010).
  22. "Mason at the Helm". ''The Morning Oregonian'', July 2, 1898, p. 8.
  23. (July 31, 1917). "William A. Storey Dies; Life in Portland For Many Years Was Prominent". [[The Oregonian.
  24. (May 18, 1899). "Took Oath of Office: Auditor Gambell Declined, So Storey Went Before a Notary". The Morning Oregonian.
  25. (July 31, 1917). "William A. Storey Dies; Life in Portland For Many Years Was Prominent". [[The Oregonian.
  26. Johnston, ''The Radical Middle Class,'' p. 31.
  27. "Joseph Simon". United States Congress.
  28. (January 7, 1930). "Allen G. Rushlight, ex-mayor, is dead". [[The Oregonian.
  29. "City Elected Officials Since 1913". Office of Auditor Mary Hull Caballero.
  30. [http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1917-03-20/ed-1/seq-20/ "George L. Baker is out for Mayor"] {{Webarchive. link. (2017-06-14. ''[[The Oregonian). The Morning Oregonian]]'', March 20, 1917, p. 20.
  31. "Dorothy McCullough Lee (1902-1981)".
  32. (October 18, 1985). "Fred Peterson, Portland's 'Elephant Mayor', Dead of Cancer at Age 89". The Oregonian.
  33. Cogswell, Philip. (2008). "Terry Schrunk (1913–1975)".
  34. Jennings, Steve. (August 23, 1979). "Schwab says Portland needs 'budgetary diet'". The Oregonian.
  35. (May 6, 2004). "Biography of Oregon political icon Neil Goldschmidt". KGW News.
  36. Jenning, Steve. (September 6, 1979). "Mayor McCready takes office". The Oregonian.
  37. (March 12, 1970). "McCready Gets Official Nod". The Oregonian.
  38. Williams, Linda. (November 25, 1980). "Beaming Ivancie sworn in as Portland mayor". The Oregonian.
  39. Painter Jr., John. (January 3, 1985). "Mayor Clark takes oath; new era begins". [[The Oregonian]].
  40. (May 2, 2019). "Frank Ivancie, last conservative mayor of Portland, dies at 94".
  41. Santen, David. (December 10, 2004). "News: Mayor Vera Katz to Join PSU". PSU Office of Marketing and Communications.
  42. (February 19, 2024). "Former Mayor Sam Adams Prepares to Run for Multnomah County Commissioner".
  43. Schmidt, Brad. (May 23, 2011). "Portland's competitive 2012 mayoral race under way with Charlie Hales' announcement". [[The Oregonian]].
  44. (July 9, 2015). "Treasurer Wheeler Announces Steps to Increase Oregon's Investments in Renewable Energy". Oregon Treasury.
  45. (August 21, 2024). "Mayoral Candidate Keith Wilson Is Indefatigable. But His Ambition Could Be His Downfall.".
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