portland-voting-district-map_bqfl2d Portland’s New City Council: What to Know — A map of Portland’s new city council districts.

Just over two years after Portlanders voted on a series of sweeping changes to the city charter, the municipal government’s bold next chapter has arrived. We have a new mayor (Keith Wilson), a powerful unelected city administrator, and an expanded, retooled city council, with three people elected geographically from each of four districts. The 12-person council includes a third-grade teacher, a former touring rock musician, a TikTok “policy angel,” and, naturally, several longtime politicos.

The group kicked off with a tussle for the council presidency, leading to a nine-round vote with socialist Mitch Green defecting to the moderate faction to elect Elana Pirtle-Guiney. After campaigns filled with ambitious visions for Portland, a splash of cold water hit in the form of a projected $100 million budget shortfall, made even steeper after the council voted to increase their staff budget. Tough choices loom, and half of the councilors are up for reelection next year and may be highly sensitive to public opinion.

● Labor alliance backed
▲ Business alliance backed
◼︎ Progressive alliance backed
✖︎ Police backed

District 1-East Portland

Candace Avalos ●◼︎

Age: 36 / Neighborhood: Mill Park / Previous gig: Executive director, environmental resilience nonprofit Verde

A driving force behind charter reform, activist Avalos was the progressive bloc pick for council president. Now chairing the Homelessness and Housing Committee, Avalos is expected to champion a housing-first approach to the region’s unsheltered homelessness crisis.

Jamie Dunphy ●

Age: 40 / Neighborhood: Parkrose / Previous gig: Government relations director, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

A veteran government staffer, Dunphy is laser-focused on changing the city code that allows police to shut down permitted music events based on subjective standards. In his view, Portland is on the cusp of a musical renaissance—if we can get out of our own way.

Loretta Smith ▲ ✖︎

Age: 59 / Neighborhood: Wilkes / Previous gig: Political consultant

Former county commissioner and chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon’s Black Caucus, Smith ran on a pro–law enforcement platform in a district disproportionately impacted by crime. She now chairs the Labor and Workforce Development Committee and aims to address income inequality by creating jobs for working-class Portlanders.

District 2-north & northeast Portland

Sameer Kanal ◼︎

Age: 38 / Neighborhood: Portsmouth Previous gig: Project manager, Police Accountability Commission

Best known for his police accountability work, this former staffer to Washington Governor Jay Inslee cochairs the Community and Public Safety Committee alongside the more law enforcement–friendly Steve Novick.

Elana Pirtle-Guiney ● ▲ ◼︎

Age: 39 / Neighborhood: Vernon / Previous gig: Political consultant

Running on a return to “The City that Works,” Pirtle-Guiney alone earned endorsements from both the progressive and business alliances—positioning her as the compromise candidate for council president. So far she’s wielded her gavel carefully, balancing committees and seeking consensus whenever possible.

Dan Ryan ● ▲ ✖︎

Age: 62 / Neighborhood: Arbor Lodge / Previous gig: Portland City Commissioner

The only holdover from the previous council and an outspoken critic of charter reform, expect the sharp- elbowed Ryan to fight for expansion of his Safe Rest Village program in negotiations over Mayor Wilson’s homelessness strategy.

District 3-inner southeast & part of northeast Portland

Tiffany Koyama Lane ● ◼︎

Age: 38 / Neighborhood: Sunnyside / Previous gig: Public school teacher, Sunnyside Elementary

In her campaign, “Teacher Tiffany” successfully grounded her progressive ideals in lived experience as a public school teacher and working mom. Koyama Lane’s inclusive style made her a unanimous choice for council vice president.

Angelita Morillo ◼︎

Age: 28 / Neighborhood: Kerns / Previous gig: Lobbyist, Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon

The council’s lone 20-something, Morillo built her campaign on her large social media following. Don’t be surprised if she continues to deploy her unmatched online skills to mobilize public engagement surrounding key progressive priorities.

Steve Novick ● ▲ ✖︎

Age: 62 / Neighborhood: Woodstock / Previous gig: Attorney

When Novick last served on the city council, starting in 2017, he was on its far-left wing. In today’s landscape, he’s a pragmatic middle-of-the-road type. He’s well-liked enough to serve as a bridge-builder and has already defused tense moments with a well-timed cornball joke.

District 43-west side plus sellwood

Olivia Clark ● ▲ ✖︎

Age: 70 / Neighborhood: South Portland / Previous gig: Policy and legislative advocate

Few first-time electeds have Olivia Clark’s vast political experience, having worked for former Gov. John Kitzhaber and TriMet. Clark articulates a vision of restored prosperity reinforced by unglamorous but reliable government services and chairs the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Mitch Green ◼︎

Age: 43 / Neighborhood: West Portland Park / Previous gig: Economist, Bonneville Power Administration

Green successfully gambled that running as an unapologetic socialist would vault him to the top of a crowded progressive field in District 4. A trained economist, expect Green to bring innovative, left-wing ideas to the Arts and Economy Committee he cochairs.

Eric Zimmerman ● ▲ ✖︎

Age: 40 / Neighborhood: Markham / Previous gig: Chief of staff for County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards

Zimmerman’s extensive bureaucratic experience and savvy behind-the-scenes moves landed him the potentially powerful chairmanship of the Finance Committee, positioned to shape the city budget.

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