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Portland is entering a new era of representation in City Hall next year, where councilors will be elected to represent four new geographic districts. While each district holds about a quarter of Portland’s population, Southeast’s District 3 is home to the most people — with more than 167,000 residents.
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District 3 includes most Portland neighborhoods west of Interstate 205 and south of Sandy Boulevard. There are some exceptions: It excludes Hollywood, Lents, Reed, Sellwood, Eastmoreland and Ardenwald-Johnson neighborhoods. It also includes a few neighborhoods that cross Sandy Boulevard, like Rose City Park, Roseway, Kerns and Buckman. It’s home to Laurelhurst Park, Mt. Tabor Park, Montavilla Community Center, Mt. Scott Community Center, Rose City Golf Course and other city facilities. The schools in this district are largely part of Portland Public Schools, but some slivers of the district are included in Parkrose and David Douglas school district boundaries.
This district is less racially diverse than the city’s population as a whole, per the 2020 US Census. Just over 75% of District 3 residents are white, while 9% identify as Latino, 9% identify as Asian, and 4% identify as Black.
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It’s the second most affluent district in Portland, after westside’s District 4. The district’s median income is $84,000 and 11% of residents live below the poverty line.
In 2020, voters in District 3 turned in ballots at a higher rate than any other district. About 75% of all registered voters in the district voted in that election – compared to 55% in the eastside’s District 1.
The 30 candidates running for District 3 fall broadly across the political spectrum, with several conservatives vying for a seat on the city’s historically progressive council. Those in the running include public school teachers, small business owners, city employees, union organizers and several former local politicians.
Related: Listen to 'OPB Politics Now'
Read how Portland’s District 3 candidates answered our candidate questionnaire:
Matt Anderson: Anderson did not submit answers to the questionnaire.
Christopher Brummer: Brummer did not submit answers to the questionnaire.
Clifford Higgins: Higgins did not submit answers to the questionnaire.
Kent R Landgraver III: Landgraver did not submit answers to the questionnaire.
David O’Connor: O’Connor did not submit answers to the questionnaire.
Ahlam K Osman: Osman did not submit answers to the questionnaire.
Jaclyn Smith-Moore: Smith-Moore did not submit answers to the questionnaire.