🗳️ The latest results from Portland’s primary election

Visit Portland, Says 'Today' Show

The “Today” show featured Portland as a top travel spot for tourists traveling solo. The food, coffee, and art cultures all got a nod, as did the walkable downtown, the Columbia River Gorge, and The Hoxton hotel. [Oregonian]

$9M for Overserving Inebriated Man

The High Dive bar, in Southeast Portland, faces an unusual $9 million lawsuit for allegedly serving tequila shots to a man who has now been charged with killing another customer that evening. The alleged murderer was noticeably intoxicated and had “physical confrontations with at least four different people,” according to prosecutors. Oregon law lets victims sue bars that serve visibly impaired patrons who then cause injury, but the lawsuits usually involve drunk driving, not stabbings. [Oregonian 🔒]

City Fighting $1M Award for Fatal Police Shooting

In 2021, a Portland police officer shot and killed a man in the middle of a mental health crisis. This month, a jury awarded $1 million for negligence in the case. But now the city has asked for a retrial. The lawsuit argued that the officer could have armed himself with less lethal ammunition to comply with a recent state law ordering officers to use alternatives to deadly force in some circumstances. The city now argues that the law wasn’t meant to cover decisions made prior to a moment of crisis. [OPB]

Montavilla’s Claim to Best Neighborhood

The City Cast Portland podcast continues its series of guides to Portland neighborhoods with why Montavilla residents think they’ve got it best. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

The results have started to pour in for key races after the May primary election:

Incumbent Multnomah County District Attorney Behind

DA Mike Schmidt was significantly behind in his reelection fight against one of his deputies, Nathan Vasquez, who promised to be tougher on crime. Schmidt, a criminal justice reformer first elected four years ago, had 41.5% of the vote to Vasquez’s 58%, as of 9:15 p.m.

Schmidt’s struggles were a clear indication of how fed up voters were with a rise in murders (even as shootings have been falling). In 2020, Schmidt supported Measure 110’s decriminalization of drug possession. He reversed his position as Democrats rolled back key parts of the measure. But the votes were leaning toward Vasquez.

Democratic Nominee for 3rd Congressional District – Maxine Dexter 🟦

Oregon state Rep. Maxine Dexter is now all but certain to replace U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who is retiring at the end of the year after nearly three decades of service. Dexter, who is a doctor, has served in the legislature since 2020. She benefited from the more than $5 million in independent expenditures that poured into the race to support her — with significant sums tied directly to political donors who have backed Israel in the past. The second place finisher, Susheela Jayapal, had backed a ceasefire in the war in Gaza.

Democratic Nominee for 5th Congressional District – Janelle Bynum 🟦

State Rep. Janelle Bynum has won the nomination to be the Democratic candidate for the 5th District. She’ll face an incumbent Republican, Lori Chavez-DeRemer. The district is considered a “toss up” by national political analysts, and will be a focus for both Republicans and Democrats. Bynum has faced Chavez-DeRemer in two statehouse races, both of which Bynum won. But this time Chavez-DeRemer has the advantage of incumbency. If she wins, Bynum would be Oregon’s first Black member of Congress.

Clackamas County Chair

As of 8:30 p.m. last night, former Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts, a Democrat, was leading the incumbent Clackamas County Chair Tootie Smith, a staunch Republican. While it’s usually the case that incumbents hold the advantage, a long succession of Clackamas County chairs have failed to win reelection.

Notable Results for Local Measures

Voters agreed to renew some existing taxes — and approved at least two new ones. But voters in one Portland suburb rejected a plan to expand their city.

• ❌ North Plains voters rejected the city’s plan to double in size, though the courts will still weigh in on whether this result is the final verdict.
• ✅ Portland voters agreed to renew the 10-cent-per-gallon gas tax, which funds city road maintenance.
• ✅ Voters in the Portland Public Schools district kept an existing levy to pay for teachers.
• ✅ Multnomah County voters agreed to increase property taxes to improve the flood controls near the Columbia River.
• ✅ Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District won approval for a new levy.

For more results: Check the state elections website, which will be updated as votes are counted for state, statehouse, and Multnomah County results.

The mural of the street-sign-charging rhino is on Southeast Morrison near 13th. “The Collector” was painted by Josh Keyes in 2015. And it’s true — it shows signs of graffiti damage. I hope it gets a full repair someday soon.

A shoutout to the readers who knew the location: Phil Hochstetler, Dan Herrick, José Jiménez, and Franco.

Where’s this mural? Your hint: the photo comes from Bryan M. Vance, City Cast’s director of digital strategy, who is a guest today on the City Cast Portland podcast.

Is Montavilla the Best Neighborhood in Portland?

It’s the next installment of neighborhood guides—featuring Portlanders willing to dish about the good, bad, and ugly of where they live. This time, Bryan M. Vance, City Cast’s director of digital strategy and a Montavilla partisan, not only shares his neighborhood's secret borders but also comes prepared with some fighting words for anyone who thinks their farmers market can compete with Montavilla’s.