Some Reasons To Celebrate | East Multnomah County Election Analysis

Of the 24 candidate races East County Rising Action Fund endorsed in,17 won, and history was made in several races. We also supported 6 ballot measures that saw a mixed bag of results, with three measures passing and three ending in defeat.

Statewide, workers in the Cannabis industry will have an easier time forming unions thanks to Measure 119 passing. In Gresham, voters did away with an archaic and unfair barrier to democracy by lowering the threshold to pass charter amendments to a simple majority vote (50% plus one vote) thanks to Measure 26-255. Portlanders enshrined an independent Portland Elections Commission into the city charter with the passage of Measure 26-250.

Oregon statewide offices remain in the hands of pro-democracy leaders. Outgoing State Treasurer Tobias Read won his race for Secretary of State, defeating an elections denier and bringing much experience to this vital office that conducts elections, audits, and oversees business registration in Oregon. Attorney and former Speaker of the House Dan Rayfield won his election to become Oregon’s next Attorney General – to serve as a bulwark against any potential Trump administration interference against Oregonians’ laws and resources. 

Locally, Multnomah County District 2 is a pivotal seat that represents much of N and NE Portland, including the Parkrose area. East County Rising is thrilled to help send social worker and housing policy expert Shannon Singleton to to the Multnomah County Commission, 

Portland voters continued to make history by electing Rep. Khanh Pham to the Oregon State Senate, marking her the first Vietnamese American to serve in the Oregon Senate, and the chamber’s only Asian American member currently. To join her in the state Senate, East County voters re-elected labor leader Sen. Chris Gorsek to another four-year term. For the state House, East County Rising was thrilled to work hard to successfully re-elect education advocates and Representatives Hoa Nguyen, Zach Hudson, and Ricki Ruiz – three of the most closely fought legislative races in Oregon. Other ECR-backed candidates that will head back to Salem, but didn’t face competitive November elections, include Representatives Andrea Valderrama, Thuy Tran, and Willy Chotzen. East County Rising is looking forward to working with our legislative partners to direct needed investments to East County, to help our communities thrive.

Often overlooked but incredibly important to our region’s efforts to provide clean water and climate action, ECR was thrilled to see our slate of East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District candidates win seats on the five-member board. Congratulations to Ramona DeNies, Mary Columbo, and Laura Masterson for East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District.

Similarly, Wood Village City Council will see the return of two familiar and experienced hands. Council President Jairo Rios-Campos and former Councilor Patricia Smith were elected to four year terms.

On the local front, it was a great night for ECR and for the region.

Results from Portland’s New Proportional Representation Election System

East County Rising was proud to be a large part of East Portland’s first election under our voter-approved changes to Portland’s system of government. In this election, the changes allowed voters to rank up to six candidates in order of preference, using ranked-choice voting; established four geographic districts, with three city council members elected to represent each district (expanding city council to a total of 12 members); and established a city council that focuses on setting policy and engaging with community, transitioning day-to-day oversight of bureaus to a mayor elected citywide and a professional city administrator.

In District 1 – East Portland, preliminary results show the likely City Councilors to be ECR-endorsed candidates Candace Avalos, Loretta Smith, and Jamie Dunphy. In the history of Portland city government, only two city councilors had served while living east of 82nd avenue. History was made this election as now three Portlanders living east of I-205 have been elected to represent East Portland. 

In a night of historic firsts, unfortunately some of our endorsed candidates were unable to reach their goals of elected office. Other ECR-endorsed candidates ran great races and placed amongst the top 7 in their district, including Steph Routh, Terrence Hayes, Timur Ender, and Cayle Tern. Mayoral candidate Carmen Rubio placed second in her field of 19 mayoral candidates, and was a top candidate in Portland’s first ranked choice voting election for mayor. We thank Commissioner Carmen Rubio for her great work these last four years as City Commissioner. While there is much work to do to breathe more life and political culture in District 1 – East Portland, we’re off to a very good start with a great group of leaders stepping up to serve their community.

Thank You For Running To Represent Our Communities

On the ballot measure front, voters missed out on the chance to strengthen Oregon’s democracy and better fund a local school district. 

Measure 116 garnered 47% of the vote statewide and would have created an independent compensation commission to determine elected pay for our state. East County Rising worked hard to support this legislative referral ballot measure because we believe our state government needs to be a place where everyone has a seat at the table – but right now that possibility is severely hampered by low pay for our elected officials. 

Measure 117 would have brought ranked choice voting statewide to federal and state level elections starting in 2028. While the City of Portland had success with ranked choice voting this election, and the Multnomah County Commission will conduct ranked choice voting elections in 2026 for the first time, voters decided against adopting the voting system across the state. East County Rising remains committed to creating a more inclusive democracy for all Oregonians.

Parkrose School District again referred a local school levy Measure 26–254 to fund teachers and classrooms and appears to have fallen short again by a narrow margin. This would mark the second time in three years that Parkrose School District residents narrowly rejected a schoo levy, by only a few hundred votes.

Elections are about competition and giving more choice to voters, and we are grateful for each candidate that contributes their voice and values.  

East County Rising is proud to serve the entirety of East Multnomah County, all the way out to the Hood River County line. In one of the closest legislative elections in the state, community health policy advocate Nick Walden Poublon came up just short in his race for House District 52.

In Gresham, Multnomah County’s second largest city, advocate Jack Hollis and former councilor Jacquenette Josefa McIntire ran competitive campaigns for Gresham City Council, but did not win seats in this go-round. In a large field of 11 candidates competing for Troutdale City Council, transportation advocate Frank Stevens and outdoor school advocate Bryce Bumgarner did not place in the top 4 and did not win seats this election. Community volunteer Marsh Santoro out in Fairview also did not prevail in her race for City Council.

Altogether ECR’s field team knocked on more than 40,000 doors and campaigned out in the field for more than two months – working alongside partners, candidates’ campaigns, and volunteers amid a difficult election year. We were a proud part of the city’s inaugural Portland voter education campaign to spread the word about ranked choice voting. We assisted candidates and campaigns up and down the ballot, and are proud to be the region’s most active force for election advocacy.

The 2024 election cycle is complete, and now we rest, plan, and prepare for the May 2025 Local School Board Elections. We would love for you to get involved in our c4 political work for the important election fights ahead! If you are interested, please contact Robin Ye, ECR’s Political Director, at robin@eastcountyrisingaction.org.