Our new research report analyzes Portland City Council’s voting record in 2025, the city’s first year under proportional representation. Diversity of opinion increased substantially in 2025—read the report to learn more. ⬇️

Rose City Reform wishes City Administrator Michael Jordan a happy retirement. It was a treat to sit down for a final, frank conversation about his experience overseeing one of the largest government overhauls in modern city history.

Our latest story takes a look at Portland city leaders’ social media use. Spoiler: One politician stands out for her large and devoted online following.

Is social housing coming to Portland? The debate is only just getting started. Mitch Green joins the podcast to explain why he thinks it could work in the City of Roses. @councilorgreen.bsky.social

In the latest episode of Stump Talk, Mayor Wilson discusses his hallmark shelter plan, council pushback, and neighborhood opposition. With commentary from Lillian Mongeau Hughes of The Oregonian. @mayorkwilson.bsky.social @lmonghughes.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/5asi...

Our latest research brief examines how alliances shaped Portland’s 2025–26 budget process—the first under the city’s new proportional representation system. We analyzed 64 non-unanimous budget votes to measure councilor alignment, test bloc cohesion, and compare patterns across districts.

I had a blast breaking down Portland’s budget season with these smart City Hall reporters. @shanedkavanaugh.bsky.social @alexzee.bsky.social @sophiegreenleaf.bsky.social

When Portland adopted proportional representation in 2022, experts predicted that new political coalitions would form. They might have been on to something. ⬇️

Wednesday's budget vote is the first big test for Portland's fresh cohort of city leaders. Find out what to expect from Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney and Finance Committee Chair Eric Zimmerman. @elanapirtle-guiney.bsky.social

In Episode 14 of Stump Talk, I chat with mathematician Moon Duchin and More Equitable Democracy’s George Cheung about the impact of electoral reform on Portland’s 2024 election. You don’t need to be a math nerd to find this convo fascinating: organizers and campaign managers should take notice.

Portland's new government is 100 days old today. Here's our snapshot of what's happened so far—and what might be in store for the next 100.

OPB reporter Alex Zielinski and the Oregonian's Lillian Mongeau Hughes join the Stump Talk podcast to discuss city leaders' scramble to address homelessness during a brutal budget cycle. As Zielinski predicts, "interesting conversations" are likely on the horizon. @alexzee.bsky.social

In the latest episode of Stump Talk, Councilor Sameer Kanal @councilorkanal.bsky.social and his chief of staff Lisa Freeman—a former council candidate herself—chat about public safety, community engagement, and the occasional need for dissent. Many thanks to the guests for taking the time!

Here's a question we get a lot: Does Portland Have a "Strong" or "Weak" Mayor? In a new research brief, Rose City Reform explores the scope of the mayor's formal powers.

Bonus episode! Shane Kavanaugh of The Oregonian and Willamette Week's Sophie Peel return to help us analyze the "first day of school vibes" at City Hall. Tune in for their always thought-provoking and entertaining takes. This is a fun one! @shanedkavanaugh.bsky.social @willametteweek.bsky.social

District 1 reps Candace Avalos and Jamie Dunphy believe the council's choice of Elana Pirtle-Guiney as council president was a missed opportunity to demonstrate City Hall's commitment to East Portland. Yet both have confidence in Pirtle-Guiney's leadership. Catch the conversation here.

As an unprecedented election year comes to an end, read the synopsis of Rose City Reform's research report on the events and trends that shaped the 2024 cycle (link to full report in story). Happy New Year—and please follow us for more steep learning about our new system in 2025!

When Portland adopted its new electoral system—multimember districts combined with ranked choice voting—many speculated that candidates would form slates to win seats. So—did they? Listen to this conversation between Councilors-Elect Tiffany Koyama Lane and Angelita Morillo and judge for yourself.

Portland is the only major city in the United States to use single transferable vote (STV)—but it wasn't always so! In my latest post, political scientist Jack Santucci breaks down how Portland's election results compare to historic STV elections in cities like Cincinnati and New York.

Where do we begin? There is SO MUCH to unpack about Portland's historic 2024 election. In this episode, John Horvick of DHM Research and Councilor-Elect Olivia Clark help us get started on interpreting the results of Portlands enormous lift: electing fourteen city seats at once.

Our final installment of interviews with mayoral candidates features Carmen Rubio, who says her mix of experience and negotiating grit is what’s needed to move Portland forward. Listen to the series to judge for yourself whose vision is right for Portland.

Which mayoral candidate has the strongest vision for Portland? Rene Gonzalez says he’ll be the strictest mayor on the West Coast on public camping, tell the city to stop "virtue-signaling", and think big on economic development. ⁦⁦⁦Hear his pitch here ⬇️

In the latest episode of Stump Talk, we chat with business owner and Shelter Portland founder Keith Wilson about his plan to end Portland's unsheltered homelessness within his first year as mayor.

In my latest post, I write about the challenges and the vast potential of Portland's record-breaking candidate pool. On the one hand, we've never had as many qualified candidates. On the other, we still lack the post-reform civic infrastructure to help them get the message out to voters.

Why do voters need “validators” to vet candidates? What's Duverger's Law? And what drives political interest groups to spend money on races? The answers might surprise you. Have a listen to the latest episode of the Stump Talk podcast. 🌲

We're just over a month away from Election Day and competition is getting fiercer. The latest Stump Talk newsletter dives into campaign clashes and women's outstanding fundraising performance in the 2024 campaign cycle. rosecityreform.substack.com/p/sign-of-th...

Why is "summer camp" over for Portland city candidates? Who represents the status quo in Portland politics? And what's the "fed-up caucus?" Find out in the latest episode of the Stump Talk podcast. Thank you to OPB City Hall reporter Alex Zielinski and filmmaker Nathan Williams for the conversation.

Portland voters are divided on how to address public safety. Will our new electoral system - proportional representation - reflect it? New post from Rose City Reform ⬇️

Rose City Reform's July roundup is here! Notable trends? Council candidates are increasingly rallying behind mayoral frontrunners Rene Gonzalez and Carmen Rubio to boost visibility and differentiate themselves in crowded races.

Rose City Reform spoke to three council candidates who are breaking the campaign mold in their pursuit of a seat in Portland’s new multimember districts.

Portland will soon be the only major city in the nation with proportional representation. Curious how it works? These puppets have the scoop!

With sixty-eight candidates vying for twelve council seats, campaign pledges have become a popular tactic for candidates to signal their intentions to voters. Read our end-of-the-month update on Portland's bustling candidate pool.

The race for Portland City Council is full speed ahead and the Rose City is abuzz with political organizing. Read Rose City Reform's interview with Laurie Wimmer of the NW Oregon Labor Council, the convener of a soon-to-be-unveiled labor candidate table.

It was an honor to sit down with seven Portland City Council candidates to talk about their personal experiences with addiction. Read their important stories here. rosecityreform.substack.com/p/nothing-ab...

Leading up to the 2024 election, Rose City Reform will feature groups of candidates who have something meaningful in common. Our February edition, in celebration of Black History Month, introduces five candidates who identify as Black. rosecityreform.substack.com/p/meet-the-c...

Liv Osthus, aka Viva Las Vegas – a Portland-based stripper of national fame – is running for mayor. Osthus, a prolific writer, singer, and public speaker, has lobbied extensively for the rights of sex workers. Catch the latest on Rose City Reform's candidate tracker.

Portland Council District 2 is on fire with eighteen declared candidates. The newest additions are cider-maker Nat West and community organizer Marnie Glickman. Catch the latest on the Rose City Reform candidate tracker. rosecityreform.substack.com/p/portland-c...

Should Congress take its cues from Portland, Oregon, and adopt proportional representation? National reform advocate and thought leader Lee Drutman thinks so. Read Drutman's interview with Rose City Reform here. @leedrutman.bsky.social rosecityreform.substack.com/p/lee-drutma...

My story about the twists & turns of Portland's Small Donor Elections program and the potentially awkward vote coming up this summer, when four council members enrolled in the program must vote on its funding. 🔽 rosecityreform.substack.com/p/ice-storms...