On Tuesday, November 6, 2012, an election was held in Portland, Oregon, to elect the mayor. Charlie Hales was elected, defeating Jefferson Smith. Incumbent mayor Sam Adams did not seek a second term.
Portland uses a nonpartisan system for local elections, in which all voters are eligible to participate. All candidates are listed on the ballot without any political party affiliation.
All candidates meeting the qualifications competed in a blanket primary election on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. As no candidate received an absolute majority, the top two finishers advanced to a runoff in the November 6 general election. In the general election, former city commissioner Charlie Hales defeated state representative Jefferson Smith with approximately 61% of the vote.
Primary Candidates on the ballot David Ackerman, mailroom operator for The Oregonian Tre Arrow, environmental activist Max Bauske, student at Portland Community College Sam Belisle, manager at Red Robin Eileen Brady, businesswoman and co-founder of New Seasons Market Loren Brown, screenwriter Max Brumm, college student Dave Campbell, unemployed Robert Carron, artist and writer Bill Dant, real estate broker Scott Fernandez Charlie Hales, former Portland City Commissioner Lew Humble, retired mechanic Shonda Kelley, homemaker Michael Langley, businessman Blake Nieman-Davis, businessman Josh Nuttall, cashier Christopher Rich, media producer Scott Rose, architect for DLR Group Howie Rubin, insurance agent Jefferson Smith, state Representative Steve Sung, civil engineer Cameron Whitten, Occupy Portland protester
Declined to run Sam Adams, incumbent mayor Earl Blumenauer, U.S. Representative Jeff Cogen, Chairman of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners Jim Francesconi, former Portland City Commissioner Steve Novick, political strategist and Democratic candidate for the United States Senate in 2008 Mike Reese, Chief of the Portland Police Bureau Dan Saltzman, Portland City Commissioner
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SamAdams TreArrow EileenBrady MaxBrumm BillDant CharlieHales MikeReese JeffersonSmith Other UndecidedDMH ResearchDMH Research May 10–12, 2012 500 ± 4.4% — — 16% — — 32% — 24% 8% 21%SurveyUSA/KATUSurveyUSA/KATU May 4–7, 2012 563 ± 4.2% — — 28% — — 25% — 27% 5% 15%Elway/KGW/The OregonianElway/KGW/The Oregonian May 2–6, 2012 400 ± 5.0% — — 16% — — 29% — 28% 6% 18%DHM Research/KPTV/OPBDHM Research/KPTV/OPB April 28–30, 2012 400 ± 4.9% — — 23% — — 25% — 20% 6% 28% 18% — 21% — — 22% — 17% — 23%SurveyUSA/KATUSurveyUSA/KATU April 10–12, 2012 548 ± 4.3% — — 34% — — 22% — 15% 9% 21%SurveyUSA/KATUSurveyUSA/KATU February 23–26, 2012 555 ± 4.2% — 7% 25% 2% 3% 16% — 10% 8% 28%SurveyUSA/KATUSurveyUSA/KATU November 2–7, 2011 537 ± 4.3% — — 23% — — 19% – 14% — 44% — — 19% — — 13% 20% 11% — 38%
Debate + 2012 Portland mayoral election debate Date Host Moderator Link Nonpartisan Nonpartisan NonpartisanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Eileen Brady Charlie Hales Jefferson Smith1 Apr. 27, 2012 AM 860University of Portland Tim HohlYouTube
Results
General election The November 6 general election was a race between top-two primary finishers Charlie Hales and Jefferson Smith.
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror CharlieHales JeffersonSmith Other UndecidedSurveyUSASurveyUSA October 7–9, 2012 513 ± 4.4% 37% 30% — 33%SurveyUSASurveyUSA September 14–18, 2012 506 ± 4.4% 34% 29% — 37%
Results
References
External links General election candidates Charlie Hales for Mayor Jefferson Smith for Mayor
Primary candidates Max Bauske for Mayor Eileen Brady for Mayor Loren Brown for Mayor Max Brumm for Mayor Bill Dant for Mayor Scott Fernandez for Mayor Shonda Kelley for Mayor Chris Rich for Mayor Howie Rubin for Mayor Steve Sung for Mayor Cameron Whitten for Mayor