After a budget process full of 6–6 deadlocks, Jamie Dunphy says councilors need to learn to count to seven.

Two former charter commissioners on the effects of charter reform.

The council’s share of non-unanimous votes rose over 600% in 2025. Will it last in 2026?

City Administrator Michael Jordan reflects on a career that saved its greatest challenge for last.

Angelita Morillo and the phenomenon of political fandom.

Mitch Green joins the podcast to explain why he thinks Portland needs social housing.

Stump Talk Podcast · Episode

How six councilors stuck together during Portland’s first budget vote—and shaped the outcome.

In this episode of Stump Talk, councilors Elana Pirtle-Guiney and Eric Zimmerman explain what to expect when the mayor's proposed budget hits the council floor on Wednesday.

A mathematician and a national election reformer join the Stump Talk podcast to discuss why Portland's reforms matter outside city limits.

As Portland's new government reaches the 100-day milestone, city leaders are under intense pressure to make headway on decades-old problems.

OPB reporter Alex Zielinski and the Oregonian's Lillian Mongeau Hughes join the podcast to discuss how city leaders are confronting homelessness during a budget crunch.

Councilor Sameer Kanal and his chief of staff, Lisa Freeman, join the podcast to talk about public safety, community engagement—and what it's like to cast a lone vote in opposition.

That's the most frequent question we get from readers. In a new report, Rose City Reform explores the scope of the mayor's formal powers.

City Hall reporters Shane Kavanaugh and Sophie Peel return to the podcast to discuss the new government's first two weeks in office.

Rose City Reform unpacks the vote for council president with District 1 representatives Candace Avalos and Jamie Dunphy.

Reform transformed Portland's campaign season—will it do the same for governance?

Rose City Reform chats with Councilors-Elect Tiffany Koyama Lane and Angelita Morillo, who joined forces—and emerged victorious—in District 3.

Rose City Reform unpacks Portland’s 2024 election with Jack Santucci, who wrote a book about the history of Portland's new voting method.

Rose City Reform takes a first stab at analyzing the 2024 historic election with pollster John Horvick and Councilor-Elect Olivia Clark.

Podcast Episode · Stump Talk Podcast · 10/27/2024 · 43m

Podcast Episode · Stump Talk Podcast · 10/26/2024 · 42m

Podcast Episode · Stump Talk Podcast · 10/25/2024 · 40m

A reflection on the unique challenges of the historic 2024 Portland election.

Rose City Reform talks to labor leader Laurie Wimmer and United for Portland's Doug Moore about endorsements, campaigning, and money in politics.

Welcome to Stump Talk, your nifty end-of-the-month candidate tracker.

Rose City Reform sits down with OPB's City Hall reporter Alex Zielinski and local filmmaker Nathan Williams to parse the 2024 election cycle.

The city's new electoral system is supposed to give voters more agency to elect their preferred leaders. What does that mean for Portland?

Welcome to Stump Talk, your nifty end-of-the-month candidate tracker.

Some candidates are rewriting the campaign playbook in their pursuit of a seat on Portland City Council. Will it work to get them elected?

SINGLE TRANSFERABLE VOTE, OR PROPORTIONAL RANKED CHOICE VOTING In November 2024, Portland, OR, will transition to single transferable vote, or proportional ranked choice voting, for council elections. This video shows how the voting method works in practice. Single transferable vote sets a minimum threshold for candidates to be elected. In Portland, the election threshold is 25% plus one vote. In our mock election, 100 votes are cast. That means the threshold is 26 votes. Here’s a round-by-round breakdown of our mock election: First round: Mike (52 votes), Barb (22 votes), Linh (12 votes), Camila (8 votes), and Gus (6 votes). Mike reaches the threshold and is elected with a surplus of 26 votes. Since no other candidates have reached the threshold, a second round is necessary to fill the remaining seats. Second round: Mike’s surplus is distributed as follows: Barb (+1 vote), Linh (+14 votes), Camila (+7 votes), and Gus (+4 votes). Results: Mike (26 votes), Barb (23 votes), Linh (26 votes), Camila (15 votes), and Gus (10 votes). Linh is elected without a surplus. Since no other candidate has reached the threshold, a third round is necessary to fill the last seat. Third round: Gus is eliminated, and his votes are redistributed as follows: Barb (+5 votes) and Camila(+5 votes). Results: Mike (26 votes), Barb (28 votes), Linh (26 votes), Camila (20 votes). Barb is elected. The election is done! WHO WE ARE Rose City Reform is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research initiative to track and explain Portland’s ongoing reform process. Find more information at www.rosecityreform.org or reach out at info@rosecityreform.org CREDITS Directed by Devin Boone Produced by Maja Viklands Harris and Emily Medress Story by: Devin Boone Written by: Maja Viklands Harris Narrator: Kristen Studdard Animation: Ian Boone Additional Animation: Porter Young Puppets and Costumes by: Qing Wang Set and Prop Fabrication by: Kesiah Manival Music for this video: Carefree Melody by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Source: http://www.twinmusicom.org/song/302/carefree-melody Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org

Welcome to the April edition of Stump Talk, your end-of-the-month candidate tracker.

Laurie Wimmer on the coordinated effort to promote union-friendly council reps.

(Last updated on February 27, 2023) 58 council candidates. Six mayoral candidates. One candidate for auditor. Skip straight to The Money. The Support. The Media. The Social. The Rumors. Top Fundraiser...

(Last updated on February 22, 2023) 56 council candidates. Five mayoral candidates. One candidate for auditor. The latest. Reverend Nat and Marnie Glickman launch bids for City Council. Nat West, foun...

Rose City Reform chats with the founder of Fix Our House, a campaign to bring proportional representation to Capitol Hill.