RoseCityReform.bsky.social

Thanks for reading! Ryan was the councilor most likely to cast the lone dissenting vote when the rest of the body agreed so that drives down his agreement not just with Peacock but others as well!

Based on voting patterns during NON-unanimous votes, where at least one councilor dissented.

Our new council vice president, Olivia Clark, agreed with non-caucus colleagues 74% on average, and with Peacock colleagues 54% of the time.

Some fun facts about our new council president: In 2025, Jamie Dunphy agreed with Peacock colleagues 83% of the time on average and with non-Peacock colleagues 52% of the time. Alongside Kanal, he was the Peacock member most likely to join non-caucus members on votes that split along caucus lines.

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

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. ⬇️

One fun fact is that historically, jurisdictions in the United States that used PRCV would often elect the candidate with the highest vote count as president. It was considered a referendum of sorts!

Charter Commission grants mayor tiebreaking vote. Legislation needs a path to move forward, commissioners agree.

I saw Avalos responded already but here’s a piece I wrote about the decision to give the mayor a tiebreaking vote. rosecityreform.substack.com/p/charter-co...

“My Job is to Be the Calm One." City Administrator Michael Jordan reflects on a career that saved its greatest challenge for last.

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.

The Viral Politician Angelita Morillo and the phenomenon of political fandom.

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.

Thanks for joining me!

“Social housing may be the only way to get the housing market started again." Mitch Green joins the podcast to explain why he thinks Portland needs social housing.

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

“That’s not who we are."

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...

Thanks for sharing!

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.

"This is so wildly different." Stump Talk Podcast · Episode

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

Thanks for reading! Moon Duchin's paper wasn't quite ready for publication when we recorded. I should have said! Glad you have it now!

The New Kids on the Bloc How six councilors stuck together during Portland’s first budget vote—and shaped the outcome.

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

“Budgets are a negotiation, right?” 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.

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

Hi Bulldog! Portland’s charter allows the mayor to cast the tie-breaking vote in a scenario where the council is deadlocked. Exactly how that is going to work remains somewhat unclear since the council has not yet established the procedure for inviting the mayor to vote.

"For good news, take a look at Portland, Oregon." A mathematician and a national election reformer join the Stump Talk podcast to discuss why Portland's reforms matter outside city limits.

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.

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

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.

"The reality is harsh." 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.

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

Agreed!

Thanks, Andrew! It’s fascinating to learn about their outlooks and how they interpret their mandates. I’m pleasantly surprised by their willingness to be open up about the challenges they face.

"My boss is not in that building." 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.

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!

Does Portland Have a "Strong" or "Weak" Mayor? 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.

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.

"We have had an absolute clean break with the old." City Hall reporters Shane Kavanaugh and Sophie Peel return to the podcast to discuss the new government's first two weeks in office.

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

"Sausage-making in public is a good thing." Rose City Reform unpacks the vote for council president with District 1 representatives Candace Avalos and Jamie Dunphy.

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.

A New Year, a New Chapter Reform transformed Portland's campaign season—will it do the same for governance?

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!

"It's gonna be us." Rose City Reform chats with Councilors-Elect Tiffany Koyama Lane and Angelita Morillo, who joined forces—and emerged victorious—in District 3.

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.