FILE: Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards at a meeting in Portland, Ore., Aug. 20, 2025.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards has joined the race for Multnomah County chair.
“The County needs a proven, effective and collegial leader to rebuild trust and get the County on the right track,” said Brim-Edwards in a press release announcing her campaign Monday.
Brim-Edwards has represented Southeast Portland’s District 3 since 2023. She previously worked as a top lobbyist for Nike, and spent a total of 12 years on the Portland Public Schools board.
On the county board, Brim-Edwards has focused closely on opening the county’s 24/7 sobering center and addressing public safety concerns. She said she’s running to address the county’s crises with “greater urgency.”
“I am optimistic our community can be a safe, affordable, and thriving place to live, work, and raise a family. But we need strong leadership in the Chair’s Office to make that happen,” she said. “And I will provide that.”
County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced in December that she would not seek reelection. Vega Pederson’s past three years in office have been marked with frustration over how she’s addressed the region’s growing homelessness and behavioral health crises.
Brim-Edwards is the second county commissioner to throw her hat into the race. Last week, District 2 Commissioner Shannon Singleton announced her candidacy.
Vega Pederson hasn’t endorsed either of her colleagues for the position.
No other candidate has announced plans to join the race.
The chair’s race will be on the November ballot. This is the first year the Multnomah County board of commissioners won’t have a May primary election. In 2022, voters approved a plan to eliminate primary races and adopt ranked-choice voting.
